Thursday, September 14, 2023

Summer flowers on the Olympic Peninsula are fading as the days cool and become shorter. Don’t despair—a new burst of color in your garden is right around the corner! Join Clallam County Master Gardener Jeanette Stehr-Green for the Green Thumb Education Series presentation “Farewell to Summer: Autumn Leaves” and say hello to fabulous fall foliage.

Jeanette Stehr-Green will discuss why deciduous trees and shrubs lose their leaves in the fall and change color. She will explain the chemistry behind leaf color, why fall colors are brighter some years compared to others, and why the leaves of some plants turn brown while those of others turn eye-catching shades of yellow, orange, and red. Jeanette will suggest ways local gardeners can bring fall color into their landscape and how to use fallen leaves to benefit the garden by protecting plants and soil instead of bagging them and putting them for trash pickup.

Jeanette’s love of fall led her to research the science behind leaf color change and share that information with others. “After hearing this presentation, local gardeners will be able to select trees and shrubs that can brighten the fall landscape,” she said. Jeanette will also talk about the skills needed to recognize leaf color change of concern; color changes that are due to inappropriate care or disease and not the changing season.

Jeanette and her husband Paul love the color changes that occur across the north Olympic Peninsula in autumn. They enjoy hiking in Olympic National Park during the fall to witness the splashes of color from vine and big leaf maples, huckleberry and other native plants. Jeanette has been a Clallam County Master Gardener since 2003. She writes gardening articles for local newspapers and participates in gardening programs on local radio stations. Jeanette loves teaching and is a frequent speaker at Master Gardener and other educational events. Jeanette was the 2012 Clallam County Veteran Master Gardener of the Year and has attained the Lifetime Achievement status with Clallam County Master Gardeners.

The Green Thumb Education Series presentation “Farewell to Summer: Autumn Leaves” will be held in person on Thursday, Sept. 14 from noon – 1 p.m. at the Port Angeles Library’s Carver Room, 2210 S. Peabody St. in Port Angeles.

Or you may join via Zoom from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:

https://wsu.zoom.us/j/93629898830?pwd=UnRkYjdwSGNmTnA4Y2hxVFBuRHVkZz09

Meeting ID: 936 2989 8830

Passcode: 676224

Or join by phone: 253-215-8782

The Green Thumb Education Series, sponsored by the Washington State University Clallam County Master Gardeners, is held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month through October. In November, December, and January, one lecture is offered. Scheduled presentations are subject to change. Visit the WSU Extension Clallam County website calendar for the latest information on upcoming presentations. For questions, call 360-565-2678.