Submitted by the Orcas Garden Club.

Please join the Orcas Island Garden Club on Wednesday, Feb. 21 when we welcome Kathleen Foley Lewis, Special Projects Director for The San Juan Preservation Trust.

Sadly, our only native oaks, the Garry or Oregon White Oak, are not easily found on Orcas. More than just beautiful trees, they’re the linchpin for ecosystems important to native plants, animals and insect species. Our native bluebird, the Western, is one species significantly affected by the loss of Garry Oak habitats. Kathleen will talk about why our oaks have been in decline, efforts being made to bring bluebirds back to San Juan County and what you can do to help. As well- informed nature stewards, we can make a difference in supporting nature conservancy.

Kathleen Foley Lewis has been a Preservation Trust staff member since 2005. As Special Projects Director, Kathleen straddles the Preservation Trust’s Stewardship, Conservation, and Outreach programs. She manages SJPT’s species-specific projects, including the San Juan Islands Western Bluebird and Island Marble Butterfly Habitat Expansion projects. She is a Washington native with a long history of exploring the San Juan Islands by boat, kayak and foot, and enjoys a wide variety of outdoor pursuits. Kathleen has a B.S. in Wildlife Science from the University of Washington and a B.A. in Business/Marketing from Washington State University. She is a resident of San Juan Island.

The presentation will begin at 10 a.m. at the Orcas Center and will be followed by social time. The zoom presentation will also be available to watch from your home. For a link to the live zoom presentation go to the Orcas Island Garden Club website and click the link below the list of presentations. The presentation will be recorded and available to view. To watch the recorded presentation, go to the link ‘recorded presentations’ under resources on the club website.

This presentation is free and open to the public. For more information about some of the restoration projects underway on San Juan Preservation Trust Preserves click: Stewardship Projects.