WSU Master Gardener Program of Thurston County

06/12/2026

🎉The peonies are blooming at Closed Loop Park Demonstration Garden. If you love flowers, you should definitely visit this display!
🥰Every year the peonies put on a magnificent display of blooms. There are over 70 peonies in the bed, with more scattered around the park. Each plant blooms for about a week, with blooms present from early May through June.

👀Come see them at 2420 Hogum Bay Road NE, Lacey, WA 98516. Closed Loop Park is open dawn to dusk, seven days a week.

📍Closed Loop Park is located inside the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center (WARC) off of Hogum Bay Road. Take Exit 111 off of I-5, and travel north and turn right into the WARC entrance. Upon entering take the first right into the garden/dog park parking lot. You’ll see a small sign that says “Dog Park” at the entry to the parking lot.

06/09/2026

👀The Dirt Works garden is full of visitors.
🗓Join them on Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (including June 10), and Fridays 9 a.m. to noon.

Photo credit: Tina W., WSU Thurston County Master Gardener volunteer

06/09/2026

🏃Get great plants at great prices and support gardening and waste reduction education in Thurston County!
🗓 Wednesday June 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
📍At the Plant Sale Nursery, adjacent to Dirt Works Demonstration Garden in Yauger Park in west Olympia.
Google Maps Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/wer3QcPvoFzSmWrf8

😎Knowledgeable WSU Master Gardener volunteers are there to help you select the right plant for your location. More information at https://www.mgftc.org/events/plant-sale/

100% of the revenue from this sale supports the WSU Master Gardener, Master Recycler Composter and Master Gardener Foundation of Thurston County outreach and educational activities.

06/05/2026

Asparagus patrol!

05/28/2026

👍A great video from Thurston Noxious Weeds on how to identify, remove, and dispose of Poison Hemlock.
👀Poison Hemlock is a noxious w**d and qualifies for free disposal.
🧤When digging it up, make sure to protect yourself by wearing long sleeves and pants, and gloves.

Learn more at Thurston County Noxious Weeds https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/public-works/noxious-w**ds/resources
Bag it up and bring it to the Waste and Recovery Center in Hawks Prairie.

05/25/2026

🌡As temperatures rise and we approach the time of the year when free water from the sky starts drying up, now is the time to get your garden irrigation system set up. 💦

Consider drip irrigation for your garden to conserve water and save time, while also supplying adequate water to the plants. Another benefit of drip irrigation to over-head/sprinkler watering is fewer w**d seeds germinate because only a small surface area gets wet.

Check out free resources at:
Drip Irrigation for the Yard and Garden by WSU https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/product/drip-irrigation-for-the-yard-and-garden

Got Gardening Questions?
Contact our free Question and Answer Clinic at [email protected]
WSU Master Gardener and Master Recycler Composter volunteers of Thurston County can help. Our certified volunteers will answer your questions using the most accurate, unbiased, scientifically proven, local information and resources.

This publication discusses how to set up a drip irrigation system for a small yard or garden space. ...

05/24/2026

🏃Get great plants at great prices and support gardening and waste reduction education in Thurston County!
🗓 Wednesday May 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
🎉With Artisan Pieces Sale!
📍At the Plant Sale Nursery, adjacent to Dirt Works Demonstration Garden in Yauger Park in west Olympia.
Google Maps Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/wer3QcPvoFzSmWrf8

😎Knowledgeable WSU Master Gardener volunteers are there to help you select the right plant for your location. More information at https://www.mgftc.org/events/plant-sale/

100% of the revenue from this sale supports the WSU Master Gardener, Master Recycler Composter and Master Gardener Foundation of Thurston County outreach and educational activities.

05/21/2026

😎Gardening tip: Floating row covers protect plants from pests, hungry birds, chilly nights, and adds some needed extra heat for heat-loving plants like tomatoes and peppers. What is there not to like? And it’s permeable so rain and sunlight go through.

Cut to size. Hoops not required. Just use rocks or shovel-fills of dirt to hold down the edges.

🆓Additional resources on using floating row cover:
How to Install Floating Row Cover, by WSU - https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/product/how-to-install-a-floating-row-cover-home-garden-series/

Vegetable Gardening, by OSU - https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/ec-871-vegetable-gardening-oregon -row-cover

Have gardening questions?
Contact our free Question & Answer Clinic by emailing [email protected]
WSU Master Gardener and Master Recycler Composter volunteers of Thurston County are here to help. Our certified volunteers will answer your questions using the most accurate, unbiased, scientifically proven, local information and resources.

05/20/2026

🤩Spots are still open for the 2026 Children's Garden Program. Space is limited and registration is required to participate.
Learn more and register at

FREE Gardening Programs for children ages 4-12 years old at Dirt Works Demonstration Garden in Yauger Park, Olympia   Join us for summer fun and hands-on learning in the Dirt Works Children’s Garden! WSU Master…

12/13/2025

2550 pounds of fruits and veggies was harvested from our Dirt Works Food Bank Garden in 2025 for the Thurston County Food Bank. Thanks to the WSU Thurston County Master Gardener and Thurston County Master Recycler Composter volunteers that planned, planted, tended, and harvested. And a big thanks to the kids and grown-ups that participated in our Children's Garden Program in July and August!