< Sunday, April 25th 2010 >

Thousands of daffodils brighten the ten acre Gardens joining early blooming rhododendrons and cherry trees as they herald spring! Daily 9-4 Admission is $8 per adult. Children admitted free of charge.

The Gardens enter their peak blooming season in April, with the exact dates set by Mother Nature. Tens of thousands of daffodils, delicate cherry trees, magnificent magnolias and early rhododendrons provide a symphony of color throughout the ten acre gardens. The crescendo of rhododendron bloom begins in late April and continues through mid-May. Enter the Secret Garden and envelope yourself in the Bluebell Wood. Magical!

A Pacific NorthWest Art School Members Gallery Exhibition presents "The Waters We Live On". It is a juried show of maritime inspired art. An opening reception will be held on April 2nd, 5:30pm - 7:00pm.

Admission is free and open to the public.

During the month of April, MUSEO gallery welcomes the spring season with an exhibit of works inspired by the garden.

The show, entitled 'The Artful Garden', will present botanical-themed paintings by Lisa Snow Lady. Sculptural garden pieces by featured artists will also fill the gallery, all in celebration of the amazing gardens of Whidbey Island and the Pacific Northwest.

We will also be introducing jewelry by local Whidbey artist Jongae Swanson.
Architectural yet often organic in nature, we will be showcasing her sterling silver necklaces and earrings.

You are cordially invited to attend the show opening at the artist'
reception on Saturday, April 3rd from 5-7pm.

The course covers boating basics including safety, required equipment, navigational aids, "rules of the road", light and sound signals, knot tying, radio operations and an introduction to piloting and chart reading.

Course will qualify boaters for the WA State Safe Boating cards. Course is presented twice a week beginning Mon. April 5 through May 3. Registration and payment starts at 6:30pm on April 5. Cost is $25 per student and includes books. Spouses or family members who share a set of books are charged $13.

Learn about Deception Pass, the Bridge and surrounding area on this amazing tour aboard the "Island Whaler". Enjoy the thrill of the fast jet boat through Deception Pass with a knowledgeable interpreter. CLOSED WEDNESDAYS IN APRIL AND MAY.

Check web site for rates and directions

Forty years of Holland Happening, an annual 3 day celebration that honors the unique Dutch of Oak Harbor. Activities include a parade, food vendors and family carnival.

For the first time, Clipper Vacations brings to you Gray Whale Watching from downtown Seattle with a stop at historic Coupeville on Whidbey Island.

You will have an hour and a half to visit the seaport town. Stop into one of its many excellent restaurants for lunch or swing by its locally famous ice cream parlor for a sweet treat. Other features of Coupeville not to be missed are a saloon and the historic red wharf building containing the skeletons of a gray whale, a porpoise and a sea lion.

Coupeville Garden Club's annual plant sale

The show is a full on farce, complete with slamming doors, dead bodies, bald faced lies, mistaken identities and men dressing as women. This fast paced British farce concerns a con artist who has duped the welfare authorities for years by claiming every type of benefit for the innumerable people he claims live at his address. The scam nets him tens of thousands, until the welfare investigators show up.

Dance and choreography showcase presented by Whidbey Island Dance Theater, call or go online for more information

Celebrated around the world on and around April 22 every year, Earth Day broadens the base of support for environmental programs and rekindles public commitment and activism through local educational events and activities.

The Earth Day Festival on Sunday, April 25 features:

* Keynote speaker Joel Connelly speaking on "Climate Change: Just Look Around! What we can learn from the Pacific Northwest and our neighboring regions." Mr. Connelly is a staff columnist for seattlepi.com. He is a former columnist, national correspondent, and Washington, D.C. correspondent for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and past recipient of the Sierra Club's David Brower Award and lifetime achievement awards from the Alaska Wilderness Association and Idaho Conservation League. (12 noon)

* Community peace photo. Join in on our huge human peace sign! (12:30)

* "The Monstrous Plastic Happening," a participatory art project for children and adults. Learn about the worsening problem of plastic pollution in our oceans. (1 - 5 pm)

* Whidbey Island's first "Shed Band Rock Festival" featuring Slower Loris, Crissy, and KrashZen. Enjoy Whidbey Island's fine musical talent as they knock your socks off for Mother Earth! (1 - 5 pm)

* Hands on arts & crafts activities for children.

* Resource and networking tables with information from local organizations on a wide variety of topics related to green living and environmental sustainability.

* Take a test drive on an electric bike.

Join experienced birder and Audubon member Pam Pritzl, along with Roxie Rochat, Habitat Steward, for a field trip to two rich bird-viewing areas on Camano Island — English Boom Historical Park and Iverson Spit Preserve. Observe birds in diverse habitats that include extensive marshes, mud flats, and cropland nestled against a forested hillside, as well as shoreline and marsh area trails along Skagit Bay.

Meet at Terry's Corner Park and Ride, 860 N. Sunrise, behind Camano Coffee Roasters to stage in carpools and get directions to the county parks. Dress in layers appropriate for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and bring binoculars or scopes. Tour will take place rain or shine; no reservations required. This field trip is part of a public education series hosted by the Camano Wildlife Habitat Project, sponsored by Friends of Camano Island Parks.