The Oak Harbor Garry Oak Society is committed to the stewardship of Garry Oak Trees on Whidbey Island through outreach, education, and preservation.

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We Welcome Everyone

Dropping in on our general meetings is a great way to get to know us, and to learn more about volunteering. Click or tap on the meeting graphic to see the date, time, and location of our next meeting.

The society is a welcoming group of community members, artists, scientists, educators, foresters, landowners, volunteers, techies – and that’s just scratching the surface of what our members bring to the table! You’re sure to find a spot where your unique interests and skills will shine while making the community and our planet a better place.

Our grass-roots community organization is making a significant difference for the Garry oak on Whidbey Island – you can be a part of it all!

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Learn how to eat acorns from the Garry oak tree.

Garry Oak Society Mascot

“Garry” the society mascot!

History of the Oak Harbor Garry Oak Society

In only a short time since it was founded, the Oak Harbor Garry Oak Society has successfully planted and protected hundreds of Garry oaks while sharing in the joys of conservationism and education with our friends and community.

2023

Fall

  • Gleaned acorns from “mast” year event where thousands of them were available
  • Delivered acorns to Whidbey Camano Land Trust for oak reforestation projects
  • Provided acorns to Lopez Island Garden Club and Henry Jackson High School
  • Gave Lopez Island Garden Club a presentation all about Gary Oaks
  • Planted 4 Garry oaks at the Island Transit Headquarters near Coupeville
  • Planted Garry oaks at Joseph Whidbey State Park with Hillcrest Elementary
  • Continued to answer many email inquiries from the public regarding Garry oaks
  • Won LTAC tourism grant from Oak Harbor to place brochures on Whidbey ferries
  • Maintained an awesome OHGOS website used by thousands of people

Summer

  • Smith Park officially placed on Washington Heritage Register by WA State DAHP
  • Developed coloring activity and scavenger hunt brochure for Giant Acorn Carving
  • Continued to liaison with volunteer Garry oak woodworkers for fundraising
  • Cared for Garry Oak trees that were planted by the Society and City
  • Volunteers staffed outreach, and fundraising booths at Oak Harbor Music Fest
  • Maintenance and care performed at Post Office Native Garden and Smith Park
  • Planned with Whidbey Camano Land Trust to plant oaks at Keystone Preserve
  • Participated in Oak Harbor Garden Club 100 Year Anniversary Event
  • Ongoing Garry oak mapping through Sound Oaks Initiative as time has allowed

Spring

  • Transplanted seedlings from OH police department oak tree to our nursery
  • Made a strong connection with the new OH Parks and Rec. Director, Brian Smith
  • Met with Ms. Schulle, leadership teacher from OHHS re: student participation
  • Attended Park board meeting to introduce OHGOS to new board members
  • Presented OH Parks Dept. with a comprehensive Garry oak information binder
  • Advocated for new granite name sign placement in SW corner of Smith Park
  • Promoted Smith Park application for Washington Heritage Register
  • Volunteers staffed outreach, and fundraising booths at both Holland Happening
  • Provided kids Garry oak related activity sheets and crayons for Arbor Day

Winter

  • Planted 5 Garry oaks at Windjammer Park near the Splash Park
  • Garry Oak Tree Tour Brochure updated to include more trees and stops
  • Outreach booth at Westland Distillery’s Garryana Whiskey release event
  • Working to nominate Smith Park to the Washington Heritage Register
  • Tree maintenance program transitioned to new volunteers and strategy updated
  • Post Office Native Plant Garden cared for to mitigate the illegal damage
  • Smith Park native plant beds weeded and mulched just in time for blooms

Winter

  • Developed a new protective cage design to keep small planted oaks safe
  • Provided outreach to local groups and a display at the OH Library
  • Acorns and oak learning boxes were provided to South Whidbey Schools
  • Oak mapping continues, including on NAS Whidbey property

Spring

  • New Gary oak interpretive sign installed at Windjammer Park
  • Outreach booth for Easter egg hunt in Smith Park
  • Arbor day event planted two new oaks at Sumner Park
  • Members field trip to San Juan islands to view oaks and wildflowers

Summer

  • OHGOS scholarship presented to OHHS senior Ben Servatius
  • Work parties at Centennial Grove and Oak Crest cut broom and cared for oak trees
  • Management plan developed for Smith Park in collaboration with the City
  • Outreach booth at the Oak Harbor Music Festival was very successful
  • Volunteer care of planted Garry oak trees was in full swing

Fall

  • 15 Garry oaks planted at the new Whidbey Camano Land Trust’s Strawberry Point Preserve
  • Attended the Garry Oak Symposium in Friday Harbor to represent OHGOS
  • Post Office Native Plant Garden was illegally damaged by USPS landscapers
  • 7 Garry oaks planted at Joseph Whidbey State Park on Hillcrest Elementary’s Green Apple Day of Service
  • Presentations to the City Council on Garry Oak Trees and Sound Oaks Initiative Mapping
  • Giant acorn carving made from Post Office Garry Oak wood unveiled on Pioneer Way

Winter

  • Year of the Oak campaign begun. Mayoral proclamation at City Council mtg. Banner hung downtown. Year of the Oak lapel pins distributed to all.
  • Planted new oaks in Windjammer Park on the Dunes.
  • Seedling sale and oak-related art display in Old Town Mall.
  • Work party for spring cleanup in Smith Park
  • Coast-to-Coast newspaper coverage of Year of the Oak
  • Whidbey Rocks event to celebrate Year of the Oak with oak-related painted rocks.

Spring

  • Oak Harbor High School Scholarship awarded to OHGOS member Zach B.
  • GPS mapping conducted for Soundoaks.org. Mapping dictionary written.

Summer

  • Walking tours of Pacific Rim Institute oaks provided.
  • Centennial Grove Scotch Broom work party cleanup with Miss Oak Harbor Royalty.

Fall

  • Oak Harbor Music Fest outreach booth.
  • Planting events at J.W. State Park with Hillcrest Elem., planting at Del Fairfax Preserve with Whidbey Community Land Trust, and first ever planting event on South Whidbey at Maxwelton Farm.
  • Smith Park Management Plan drafted.
  • Educational sessions at OH Methodist Church Youth Group and SWHS Ag. class, and Retired Military Officers group were given. On-line educational session to Jefferson Co. Master Gardeners.
  • Plans finalized for Windjammer Park interpretive sign.
  • Craft sales coordinated at Garry Oak Gallery all year long.
  • Seedling sales coordinated all year long.
  • Tree maintenance coordinated all year long.

Winter

  • Oak Harbor Native Plant Garden and Smith Park mulched for spring.
  • Shooting stars planted in the lawn at Smith Park.
  • Eight Garry oaks planted at Oak Harbor Intermediate School with OHHS Key Club.

Spring

  • Work party held at Post Office Native Plant Garden to spread fresh mulch.
  • Work party to plant oaks with Oak Harbor intermediate students at OHIS campus.
  • Work party held at Smith Park to plant native wildflowers and weed landscaping beds.  Observing deferred mowing policy in Smith Park in the first year of enforcement.
  • Work party held at Rose Hill plant residential development to plant Garry oaks in common area.
  • City Council unanimously approved OHGOS request for honorary designation for SE 8th Ave. to be known as Avenue of the Oaks.
  • Recruited/organized tree maintenance volunteers.

Summer

  • Began holding monthly meetings remotely via Zoom.
  • Work parties held at Holland Gardens Garry Oak Grove and around Hawthorne Park oaks.
  • Debut of OHGOS video, How to Eat Acorns.
  • Continued Garry Oak mapping work under the Sound Oaks Initiative.

Fall

  • Work parties held at Smith Park to plant native flowering bulbs and disperse native flower seeds. Supplied fresh inventory to Garry Oak Gallery with Garry Oak woodworking items
  • Avenue of the Oaks signs installed by City staff, story featured in the Whidbey News-Times. Work parties held to plant/ replace oaks at Joseph Whidbey State Park, Freund Marsh Trail, and Navy Lodge.
  • New cages installed in some areas, other areas received support stakes and tree collars for protection.
  • Advocated for Garry oak trees to be spared removal at Cheleek Community Association at Ponell Point, and Victory Housing area on the Navy Seaplane base.
  • Sold record-breaking number of seedlings to Island residents and off-Island residents.
  • Completed English Ivy informational sheet to educate the public.
  • Submitted forms to State Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation for nomination of Smith Park to National Historic Register.

Winter

  • Volunteers staffed second annual outreach and sales booth at Sound Waters University at South Whidbey High School. Our booth saw a lot of traffic from people all over Whidbey and beyond.
  • Classroom education, All About Garry Oaks, was taught by an OHGOS volunteer in three classes at Broadview Elementary School, totaling 84 students. This effort later culminated in Garry oak planting at the school campus native plant garden. One new seedling to their campus was added.

Spring

  • OHGOS co-hosted field trip with Oak Harbor Parks at Smith Park for 75 Home Connection students. The students were taught a condensed version of All About Garry Oaks.
  • Volunteers staffed a Garry Oak education table at the well-attended Easter Egg Hunt in Smith Park.
  • Volunteers staffed outreach and sales booth for 3-day Holland Happening event.
  • Garry Oak multi-media art displayed for the month at Oak Harbor Library.
  • OHGOS field trip for Prairie Appreciation Days in the south Puget Sound. Glacial Heritage Preserve and Mima Mounds were visited.

Summer

  • Classroom education, All About Garry Oaks, was taught by an OHGOS volunteer in a class at Olympic View Elementary School, totaling 30 students, who also participated in acorn planting. Each student planted an acorn. All but one of those acorns sprouted, and await planting.
  • OHGOS volunteers pressure washed and painted a base coat on the building wall for the Garry oak mural, which OHGOS also partially funded. Once mural painting was complete, OHGOS volunteers applied a clear coat for protection of the mural.
  • First ever OHGOS scholarship awarded to OHGOS member and 0HHS Senior, Autumn Coker, in the amount of $500.00.
  • Third annual potluck party hosted by OHGOS in Smith Park.
  • Volunteers staffed OHGOS outreach booth for Outdoor Family Discovery Days at Fort Casey State Park. This event was in partnership with Sound Waters, Whidbey Conservation District, and State Parks.

Fall

  • Volunteers staffed 0HGOS outreach and sales booth at three-day music fest event. OHGOS volunteers staffed outreach and sales booth at Westland distillery for the 2019 Garryana whiskey release.
  • OHGOS invited as guest speaker at WSU Ext. Master Gardener’s monthly meeting, attended by 50 Master Gardener members.
  • 6 Garry oak seedlings were planted by OHGOS volunteers in Joseph Whidbey State Park near the previously planted oaks. This event was in partnership with Hillcrest Elementary staff, students, and parents.
  • OHGOS lobbied Oak Harbor City Parks Board for proposal of deferred mowing policy in Smith Park which was unanimously approved.
  • OHGOS achieved goal of fall planting campaign in Oak Harbor parks. 27 Garry Oak seedlings were planted in total, all of them were provided cage protection. Wooden cages were built by OHGOS volunteers.
  • All about Garry Oaks class taught at Oak Harbor’s Sno-Isle Library, attended by 20 members of the public.
  • OHGOS invited as guest speaker at OHHS Key Club meeting, attended by roughly 60 students, plus staff members.

Winter

  • Island Thrift generously provides a grant to the society for our Legacy Oak Project.
  • Society members present on Garry oaks at Sound Water Stewards University.
  • Power Point Presentation on Smith Park/OHGOS given to City Council.
  • Helped with improvements to Smith Park undertaken in partnership with City of Oak Harbor with installation of new name signage and interpretive signage. First GO tree replanting in the park undertaken by OHGOS as well as the start of native plant restoration at the site. (City of Oak Harbor undertook major pruning to clean up deadwood in park.)
  • Attended meetings with City of Oak Harbor Parks Department regarding Windjammer Park planting plan. Successfully lobbied for the removal in the planting plan of non-native Regal Prince Oak trees and elm trees, and increased number of native Garry Oak Trees in Windjammer Park.

Spring

  • Broadview Elementary students enjoy after school oak enrichment education. Lessons plans written for future use.
  • Society restores many native plants to Smith Park’s Garry oak understory.
  • Provided ongoing care of Native Garden at Post Office garden as well installation of name signs and increased number of native plants planted.
  • Led 6-week After School Enrichment Program, titled All About Garry Oaks, with a dozen
  • Staffed OHGOS outreach booth for Holland Happening weekend.
  • Arbor Day Garry oak planting (phase I) at Freund Marsh Trail. Also for Arbor Day, led Nature Walk.
  • Removed invasive Scotch broom at Navy’s Oak Crest site.

Summer

  • Society continues to build on our partnership with the US Navy in Oak Harbor.
  • Whidbey TV video crew films upcoming short about Garry oaks and the Society.
  • Society wins first legislative victory with the unanimous City Council vote to enhance Tree Protection Code.
  • Taped interview for Curious Islander video featuring Oak Harbor’s Garry Oak Trees.
  • Power Point Presentation on Native Garden/OHGOS given to Oak Harbor Parks Board and City Council.
  • Hosted second annual OHGOS Potluck Party in Smith Park.
  • Provided strong presence at multiple meetings of the Oak Harbor City Planning Commission and Oak Harbor City Council regarding the need for new language in Garry Oak tree protection code.
  • Successful legislative victory for Code enhancement regarding protection of Garry Oak trees during building and construction and prohibiting invasive English ivy on oak trees.
  • Staffed OHGOS outreach booth for Music Fest weekend.

Fall

  • Removed extensive English ivy from mature Midway Boulevard oak tree that was near death.
  • Acorn planting in pots accomplished using new taller nursery pots.
  • Conducted major planting projects: Navy’s Oak Crest site, Joseph Whidbey State Park and Freund Marsh Trail.
  • Implementation of phase 2 of Native Plant Garden. Draft of interpretive signs written.
  • Donated Garry oak seedlings for planting in Windjammer Park.
  • Provided oak seedlings for planting in the Swinomish Tribal cemetery in Oak Harbor.
  • Continued volunteer woodworkers as “guest artists” status at Garry Oak Gallery with all sale proceeds going back into OHGOS.
  • Implementation of education segment of Garry oak Legacy Project by purchasing oak-related books, compiling lesson plans, and creating Garry oak specimen collection boxes to donate to all schools in Oak Harbor.
  • Acorn Legacy Scholarship created for qualifying OHHS senior.
  • As of Nov. 14, 2018, our total sales income from the Garry Oak Gallery in the last 2 years come to $3,371.92! Our total volunteer hours come to 1,263!

Winter

  • Society formally adopts the Oak Harbor Post Office Native Plant Garden.
  • Clearing, mulching, and planting in the Native Garden makes great progress.

Spring

  • Members conduct Garry oak walking tour in celebration of native plant week.
  • Society provides protection for transplanted oaks at Oak Harbor Marina.

Summer

  • Oak Harbor City Council encouraged to enhance and clarify oak protection code.
  • The society conducts community outreach at the Oak Harbor Music Festival.

Fall

  • Garry oak mapping begins using city tree inventory data.
  • Elementary school kids enjoy learning about Garry oaks in Smith Park.
  • New park signs unveiled in Smith Park and at the Native Plant Garden.

Spring & Summer

  • Oak essay contest with Whidbey News Times, winners receive Garry oak trees.
  • Partnership with Navy to care for last remaining oak savannah on Whidbey Island.
  • The society becomes an official 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Fall

  • 32 Garry oak trees planted creating 12.5 acres of habitat along Regatta Dr.
  • 17 Garry oaks planted at Navy Lodge, King 5 feature story.
  • The society begins work cleaning up the Post Office Native Plant Garden.

Spring & Summer

  • Society founded, first oaks planted.
  • Outreach begins to protect existing oaks.

Fall

  • Hundreds of acorns planted at fall planting party.
  • Society members help plant Oak Harbor Centennial Grove.

The Oak Harbor Garry Oak Society is committed to the stewardship of Garry Oak Trees on Whidbey Island through outreach, education, and preservation.

We are governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors.

We believe that Partnerships are key to achieving our mission and goals.

We are so grateful for our Supporters, they are the best!

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Smith Park in Oak Harbor WA - Ancient Garry Oak Arboretum

“The presence of public trees is no guarantee that they will endure.”

-PA Trees.org