Take the kids for a day of learning and exploring at local gardens and events this month.

Children’s Story Garden and Gardening Day: The Children’s Story Garden is now in its 10th year at Hovander Homestead Park, a national historic site. Hovander Homestead Park includes a turn-of-the-century farmhouse, barn, demonstration gardens, greenhouse, and one mile of river beach.

The Children’s Story Garden at Hovander Homestead Park, run by Whatcom Master Gardeners, is a wonderful place for all ages to learn. Enjoy a special Gardening Day event here on Saturday, July 13 to see the gardens and demonstration tables, and ask questions. COURTESY OF MASTER GARDENERS

The WSU Whatcom County Master Gardeners Gardening Day at Hovander is coming up Saturday, July 13. Tour the Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens, Greenhouse, Children’s Story Garden, and Hovander Homestead. Bring your questions and Ask a Master Gardener about plant care and placement and diagnosis of pests and diseases. There will be demonstration tables and compost demonstrations throughout the day. The event runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hovander Homestead Park (5299 Nielson Ave, Ferndale). For more information visit www.whatcom.wsu.edu.

Glen Echo Garden: A must-see located 6 miles east of Bellingham, in the heart of an evergreen forest, the Glen Echo Garden offers 7 acres of multi-themed gardens created by owner Dick Bosch. It is here you will enjoy strolling the Blue Garden, Gigantic Stump Garden, Rose Garden, English Garden, Begonia & Fuchsia Garden, Natural Forest Garden, Mossy Garden and a Japanese Garden. The garden is open daily to the public and tickets are $12/adult, $10/senior, $7.50/student and youth, $4/child (6-12) and $25/family rate. The walkways are level and made of well-groomed crushed gravel. For more information, see www.glenechogarden.com.

WSU Discovery Garden: The WSU Discovery Garden is located at the WSU Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, 16650 State Route 536, in Mount Vernon, and is open to the public from dawn to dusk seven days per week. The gardens are inspiring, delightful, and offer the community a beautiful place to explore. Check out the Pollinator Garden, Shade Garden, Japanese Garden, Four Seasons Garden, Doc’s Arbor, Rose Garden, Rhododendron Garden, Lloyd Eighme’s Heather Garden, Succulents, Rhododendrons, the kids’ Dig-It Garden, and more. The Children’s Garden is so much fun – enter through a weeping mulberry and find perfect spots to play hide and seek, play checkers, helm the boat, or see Alice and the Queen of Hearts at the picnic table. Kids of all sizes can exchange a book at the Children’s Garden Lending Library.

Common Threads’ Insect Safari: Bugs are an essential part of the plant and living world. See species from around the globe at Common Threads’ 3rd Annual Insect Safari, a family-friendly FUNdraising celebration at Twin Sisters Brewing Company’s Bellingham Beer Garden from 1-6 p.m. Renowned entomologist Don Ehlen will be on hand to share his amazing collection of over 2,000 live (and not-so-alive) specimens. Suggested donation of $10 per adult support Common Threads cooking and gardening programs. There will also be face-painting, live music, and more. For more information on Common Threads Farm, visit our website  at commonthreadsfarm.org. Twin Sisters Brewing Company is located at 500 Carolina Street, Bellingham.

San Juan Island Lavender Festival: Do you wonder about lavender? Head to Pelindaba Lavender Farm on San Juan Island on Saturday and Sunday, July 20-21 to discover everything about it, from the field to the finished product. Take tours, see the exhibits, and walk through the Cutting Field to harvest bouquets from the many varieties in bloom. It smells so good! Demonstrations cover topics such as lavender cultivation, harvesting, essential oil distillation, history and uses, cooking with lavender and more. The Craft Tent is open all day long in the fields for adults and children to make wands, wreaths, crowns and more. Enjoy the tastes of lavender, with lavender ice cream, lavender lemonade, cookies, coffee and more. Local artists will have their work on display and for sale in the fields. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more details, see www.pelindabalavender.com.

Summer Garden Fun: The Deming Library is hosting Summer Garden Fun on Tuesdays, July 2 and July 9. Kids can learn about growing food and meal preparation with educators from Common Threads Farm. Have fun in the Deming Library Learning Garden while learning about healthy eating. Drop your kids off for this free program; designed for grades 1–5. Registration is required. 2-4 p.m. Deming Library, 5044 Mt. Baker Highway, (360) 592-2422.