Category: Local Events

Mushroom season

We’ve had enough rain this fall that conditions are perfect for mushrooms. They seem to be everywhere: fairy circles on damp lawns, popping up in the garden, and everywhere in the forest duff. Here are some of the many different varieties I found on a recent walk.

The local mushroom society had an educational show last Saturday. They’re always well attended. Displays show common mushrooms from this area and poisonous varieties are shown alongside non-poisonous ones. An expert can tell the difference. There were enough examples to convince me I’m a long way from knowing enough to choose.

The Farmer’s Market

Summer months bring out the Sequim Farmer’s Market, an event held on Saturday’s downtown.

I was truly spoiled by farmer’s markets in California. Bigger metropolitan areas create a worthwhile demand for producers to truck their goods to these markets and California’s long growing season favors production. It’s not so bountiful and diverse in Sequim’s little corner of the world. Our local organic producer, Nash Huber, is the market’s “anchor” producer. There doesn’t seem to be too much other fresh produce at the market. Which isn’t to say it’s not available around here. It simply doesn’t make it to the Farmer’s Market.

I’ve read that the market is working to broaden their offerings and I know it’s not an easy proposition for a producer to spend a day sitting as a vendor at the market. In the meantime, there are plenty of tempting crafts and goodies to keep people coming back.

Master Gardener Demonstration Garden

There was a gathering of garlic geeks at the Sequim Master Gardener Demonstration Garden last Saturday. Actually, it was a “Class Act” presentation on garlic that drew growers and potential growers. I’ve missed it in previous years (and my somewhat bedraggled crop shows it). It was well worth the time, and afterwards I wandered through the gardens.

The garden is divided into various areas, including a rose garden, above. There are beautiful trees and vegetable patches.

The Master Gardener program provides in depth training to participants who, in turn, give back to the community by volunteering hours at plant clinics (advice for brown thumbs and problem-solving for the stumped) and offering community lectures. Plant sales are also held at the Sequim Demonstration Garden and each year they offer tours in outstanding private local gardens.

The Rodeo, 2 of 2

The Clallam County Rodeo is offered twice during the County Fair. This year we went on Saturday night and the grandstands were packed. There were hometown favorites riding and a few of the cow boys and girls were truly talented youngsters. The bull rider in the bottom right shot was 14 years old and I don’t think the girl on the bottom left could have been much older. And, believe it or not, the bronc rider on the top left walked off the field on his own.

Fair food

A week or two ago the local newspaper sent out a reporter who asked people, “What’s your favorite thing at the county fair?” If I recollect right, every single one answered, “The food!”

You can smell a brass band of cooking aromas as soon as you enter the fairgrounds: grilled meats, sweet whatevers, popcorn, and fried anything. The fair guide listed a vendor called “Fried Everything” … and everything on the menu was, from twinkies to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I don’t know if this is the Fried Everything stand, but they definitely had a robust offering – and what they didn’t have you could find at other vendors just steps away.

There are lots of food choices at the fair. We kept our distance from the deep fryers, but that doesn’t mean we managed to stay entirely virtuous.