Pend Oreille County Master Gardeners - WSU

08/01/2026

Just a reminder to register for the Yard Art class, August 13th.

WSU/Pend Oreille County Extension

News Release: July 30, 2026

Contact: Beverly Sarles [email protected]

Washington State University (WSU)

WSU Master Gardeners to offer a Creative “Yard Art” Class

The WSU Pend Oreille County Master Gardeners will offer an engaging, hands on Yard Art Class on Thursday, August 13, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at the WSU Pend Oreille County Extension Office, located at 227A South Garden Avenue, Newport WA, 99156. This creative workshop invites participants to discover the fun of designing art for outdoor spaces while learning practical techniques that can enhance any home garden.

The class will begin at the Extension Office before moving to the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, where each participant will create an individual concrete steppingstone to take home. Following the project, instructors will introduce the concept of yard art, explore general design principles, and highlight the best materials and tools for crafting durable, attractive pieces suited for outdoor environments. Because the class includes outdoor, hands on activities, attendees should wear sturdy shoes and dress for potentially messy work. All materials will be provided. The cost of the class is $5.00 per person which can be paid by cash or check. Class size is limited. The registration deadline date is Monday, August 10, so early registration is encouraged.

To register for this class, contact Beverly Sarles, M-F, 8-4:30pm, at 509-447-2401 or email anytime at: [email protected].

WSU Extension programs are offered without regard to race; s*x; religion; age; color; creed; national or ethnic origin; physical, mental or sensory disability; marital status; s*xual orientation; and/or status as a Vietnam-era or disabled veteran. Persons with a disability requiring special accommodation while participating in this program may call: 509-447-2401 at least 14 days before the program.

07/21/2026

🌿 Create Your Own Yard Art! Join the WSU Pend Oreille County Master Gardeners on Thursday, August 13, 9:00 a.m.–Noon for a fun, hands‑on Yard Art Class in Newport!
Start at the Extension Office, then head to the Demonstration Garden to make your own concrete steppingstone—a unique piece you’ll take home. You’ll also learn design principles, materials, and techniques for creating durable, eye‑catching art for your outdoor spaces.
👟 Dress for outdoor, potentially messy activities 🎨 All materials provided 💵 Cost: $5 (no discounts) 📅 Registration required by Monday, August 10 📞 Call 509‑447‑2401 to register ⚠️ Class size is limited—sign up early!
Grow your creativity and add something special to your garden this summer. 🌼

WSU/Pend Oreille County Master Gardeners
227-A South Garden Avenue
Newport, WA 99156
509 447-2401
https://extension.wsu.edu/pendoreille/
[email protected]

Photos courtesy of Master Gardener Jean Wakeley

07/13/2026

Following Yesterday's Photos of the Demonstration Garden, we received the following photo from Master Gardener Jean Wakeley of Ladybugs in a Rocky Mountain Bee Plant. BTW, there are plenty of Bees in the garden now also!

07/12/2026

Big thanks to Master Gardener Terri Contreras for the photos of the Pend Oreille County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden on Circle Dr. in Newport. The garden is coming along after our expansion this spring, with temporary irrigation in, and permanent irrigation system being installed. The native plants are blooming, The Straw Bale garden is growing also, with Squash and Tomatoes. Stay tuned for garden updates and class announcements.

07/09/2026

Today 1 PM WSU Extension office

WSU/Pend Oreille County Extension office 227-A South Garden Avenue, Newport WA 99156 with a tour of the Demonstration Garden current and future irrigation systems following.

News Release: June 29, 2026

Contact: Beverly Sarles [email protected]

Washington State University (WSU)

WSU Master Gardeners to offer a “Drip Irrigation Class and Demonstration Tour”

The WSU Pend Oreille County Master Gardeners will present a Drip Irrigation Class on Thursday, July 9, at 1:00 PM at the WSU Extension Office, located at 227-A South Garden Avenue, Newport WA 99156. This practical, information packed session is designed for gardeners interested in improving water efficiency, reducing labor, and learning how to design or maintain a drip irrigation system.

The class will introduce participants to the advantages and disadvantages of drip irrigation, essential drip system terminology, and the components that make up a complete system. Instructors will also cover system planning, maintenance, winterizing, tips and hints for successful operation, and common troubleshooting techniques to keep systems running smoothly throughout the growing season. The cost of the class is $5.00 per person, which can be paid by cash or check.

To register for this class, contact Beverly Sarles, M-F, 8-4:30pm, at 509-447-2401 or email anytime at: [email protected].

WSU Extension programs are offered without regard to race; s*x; religion; age; color; creed; national or ethnic origin; physical, mental or sensory disability; marital status; s*xual orientation; and/or status as a Vietnam-era or disabled veteran. Persons with a disability requiring special accommodation while participating in this program may call: 509-447-2401 at least 14 days before the program.

05/29/2026

Hello Everyone,
The Pend Oreille County Master Gardeners invite the public to join them, in partnership with the W**d Board staff, for a special field trip exploring the diverse native plant communities of northern Pend Oreille County.
See the News Release attached for more information.

Best,

Beverly Sarles, CPP
Acting County Tribal Director
Extension Volunteer Coordinator
4-H & Master Gardener Program Coordinator
WSU/Pend Oreille County Extension
P O Box 5045
Newport, WA 99156
(509) 447-2401 (Phone)
(509) 447-6912 (Fax)
[email protected]

WSU/Pend Oreille County Extension

News Release: May 28, 2026

Contact: Beverly Sarles [email protected]

Washington State University (WSU)

WSU Master Gardeners host a Field Trip to Explore Native Plants of North Pend Oreille County

The Pend Oreille County (POC) Master Gardeners invite the public to join them on a special field trip exploring the rich native plant communities of north Pend Oreille County. The excursion, offered in partnership with the Pend Oreille County W**d Board, will take place Saturday, June 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. South County participants may meet at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot of the WSU POC Extension Office to receive maps, review the day’s route, and organize carpooling. All other attendees should plan to meet at the first stop, which will be at Sweet Creek County Park at 9:00 a.m. where W**d Board staff will lead a guided “W**d Walk” focused on identifying native plants and discussing bagged noxious weeds. Following the park tour, Tom Pulford, from the W**d Board, will lead the caravan to explore a variety of native trees, shrubs, and understory plants unique to the intermountain West. As time and road conditions allow, the field trip will travel through several distinct ecological zones: beginning in the Ponderosa Pine Community near the river, climbing into the mid elevation mixed conifer forest shaped by long winters, and potentially reaching the subalpine zone, where participants may have the chance to see the iconic Whitebark Pine.
This educational outing is free of charge and open to all. All attendees must provide their own transportation. 4 wheel or all wheel drive vehicles are required for the upper elevation portions of the tour. Bring a sack lunch, water, mosquito protection, sunscreen, hiking shoes, and binoculars. Carpooling will be arranged at the start of the event. For community members interested in native plants, forest ecology, or simply experiencing the natural beauty of Pend Oreille County, this field trip offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from knowledgeable guides in the landscapes they know best.


WSU Extension programs are offered without regard to race; s*x; religion; age; color; creed; national or ethnic origin; physical, mental or sensory disability; marital status; s*xual orientation; and/or status as a Vietnam-era or disabled veteran. Persons with a disability requiring special accommodation while participating in this program may call: 509-447-2401 at least 14 days before the program.

05/28/2026

The Pend Oreille County Master Gardener Foundation thanks the community for their wonderful support of our annual plant sale this year. We are grateful for everyone that stopped by and purchased plants as well as the Newport Miner for highlighting the sale in the newspaper and Selkirk Ace Hardware for donating items for our drawing.
The majority of the plants are grown and donated by the Master Gardeners with all the proceeds from the sale used to develop educational opportunities for the public and to purchase supplies for our demonstration garden (located on Circle Drive) such as wood and soil for new beds.
It was exciting to visit with all of the community members who came to the sale and shared their love of gardening. The Master Gardeners are always interested in sharing gardening information, or learning something new from other community members, so feel free to stop by any time you see us in the demonstration garden.

Amy Dillon
PO Cty Master Gardener Foundation

05/20/2026

🌿 Explore the Native Plants of North Pend Oreille County! 🌿
The Pend Oreille County Master Gardeners invite you on a special free field trip on Saturday, June 13, to discover the incredible native plant communities of north Pend Oreille County. This unique outing is offered in partnership with the Pend Oreille County W**d Board and is open to all who love learning about the natural world.
The day begins with a guided W**d Walk at Sweet Creek County Park at 9:00 a.m., where W**d Board staff will help participants identify native plants and learn about bagged noxious weeds. Afterward, Tom Pulford from the W**d Board will lead the caravan through several ecological zones, highlighting native trees, shrubs, and understory plants that define the intermountain West. Depending on conditions, the group may even reach the subalpine zone for a chance to see the iconic Whitebark Pine.
📍 South County Meet‑Up: 8:00 a.m. at the WSU Pend Oreille County Extension Office (maps, route review, and carpool organization)
📍 Main Meet‑Up: 9:00 a.m. at Sweet Creek County Park
🕒 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 💵 Cost: Free 🚗 Transportation: Provide your own transportation; 4WD or AWD required for upper elevations 🥾 Bring: Sack lunch, water, mosquito protection, hiking shoes, binoculars
Whether you’re passionate about native plants, curious about forest ecology, or simply eager to explore the beauty of Pend Oreille County with knowledgeable guides, this field trip is a rare opportunity to learn directly in the landscapes that make our region so special.
🌱 Join us for a day of discovery and connection with the natural world.

WSU/Pend Oreille County Master Gardeners
227-A South Garden Avenue
Newport, WA 99156
609 447-2401
https://extension.wsu.edu/pendoreille/
[email protected]

Welcome to Pend Oreille County Washington State University Pend Oreille County Extension connects the people of Pend Oreille to the research and knowledge bases of the state’s land grant research…

05/11/2026

We still have 4 Geranium baskets and planters (2 each) left from our recent plant sale. Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in purchasing.

05/11/2026

From our Friends at The Miner;
(a friendly reminder of the class this Thursday)

To register for this class, contact Beverly Sarles, M-F, 8-4:30pm, at 509-447-2401 or email anytime at: [email protected].

Create a honeybee, pollinator-friendly garden

NEWPORT — The WSU Pend Oreille County Master Gardeners invite community members to attend a gardening class, “Creating a Honeybee and Pollinator-Friendly Garden,”at 1 p.m.Thursday, May 14 at the WSU Extension Office, located at 227 South Garden Avenue in Newport.
Guest speaker Tracy O’Brien, owner of Willow Wood Honey Farm in Priest River, will present practical strategies for designing and maintaining gardens that support both managed honeybees and native pollinators. Drawing from firsthand experience, Tracy will share insights based on methods she and her family have found successful in the Inland Empire region.
The presentation is suitable for beginner gardeners, seasoned plant enthusiasts and anyone interested in enhancing pollinator habitat at home. Attendees will also have an opportunity to win one of several door prizes at the conclusion of the session.
The cost of the class is $5. To register, contact Beverly Sarles from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at 509-447-2401 or email [email protected] anytime.
Those interested in learning more about Willow Wood Honey Farm or submitting questions in advance are encouraged to connect via Facebook or Instagram at Willow Wood Honey Farm LLC.