Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship

08/21/2026

Welcome back to our monthly Pacific Rim Educational ASMR!
This month we are covering the Wooly Sunflower!
The Woolly sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum), This sun-loving prairie aster is one of our more "assertive" native plants. That is - it can hold its own against many weeds. In a garden it will grow in large bush-like form - up to 1.5 feet in diameter and over 12" tall. In the prairie, depending on soil, water, etc., it may do the same or just spread out slowly as single or double stem plants. It is a prolific seed producer and pollinators love it. When we harvest collect them with the partial stems to help with the drying proccess in a controlled area. This helps our odds in seed harvest and our conservation efforts

If you would like to help us in future harvesting or tending, visit us at
https://www.pacificriminstitute.org/
or if you would like to Donate to help our mission and cause visit
https://pacificriminstitute.networkforgood.com/projects/206507-general-donations

08/11/2026

We have several great volunteer activities happening in August. If all the spots are filled for a particular volunteer time, you are still welcome to join us. Just email [email protected] so we know how many people to expect. Learn more or sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0445A9AC2DAAF4C16-65067112-august #/
Yarrow Collection: Aug 12-14 starting at 8:30 AM
Seeds and a Show (Cleaning Golden Paintbrush): Aug 12, 13, and 17 at 6 PM
Digging up bulb beds: Aug 17-18 and 26-27 starting at 9 AM
Out Planting at Ebey Lookout info spot: Aug 20-21

08/08/2026

This week on our fun facts: Golden Paintbrush Seeds! Did you know that the Golden Paintbrush's flowers are actually protective leaves called bracts? At Pacific Rim Institute, we hand-harvest our golden paintbrush in midsummer, instead of early fall, and process each seed to help it thrive into a golden paintbrush plant the following year.

To learn More about the Golden Paintbrush visit us at :
https://www.pacificriminstitute.org/our-history
or at
https://www.fws.gov/species/golden-paintbrush-castilleja-levisecta

08/07/2026

Beach mode activated and cider in hand, but let's be real, we're just counting down the minutes till Whidbey Cider Fest 🏖️🍺

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Tickets are still Availiable! For more info visit:
https://www.pacificriminstitute.org/ciderfestival

07/31/2026

✨Welcome back to our weekly Fun Fact! Today we have the Brittle Prickly Pear✨ This prickly cutie grows west of the Cascades and can withstand the freezing temperatures of the PNW by shriveling its stems to remove most of the water, so it does not rot. This cactus grows as far north as B.C., Canada. This sneaky cactus tends to reproduce not by flowering (which is rare) but by its brittle stem! The stem is so fragile that with the slightest brush by an animal or human, it will fall off and sprout its own roots into the ground to create another cactus, similarly to some succulents.
How ever when it does bloom the flowers produce a beautiful fragrance and are usually a vibrant yellow.

To learn more about the brittle-prickly pear, visit :
https://burkeherbarium.org/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Opuntia+fragilis

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To learn more about Pacific Rim Institute mission or if you like to volunteer,
visit us at: https://www.pacificriminstitute.org/
or if you would like to donate to our cause, visit
https://pacificriminstitute.networkforgood.com/projects/206507-general-donations

The WTU Image Collection provides a comprehensive online collection of photographs and information for the vascular plants, fungi, and lichenized fungi of Washington state.

07/30/2026

Early bird special for the Whidbey Island Cider Festival is almost over. Register soon and save $10 on the at-the-door price.

Only 2 weeks and 3 days left before this Early Bird deal flies away on July 31st!
⏰ Don't sleep on this awesome $10 discount!
Get your Whidbey Island Cider Festival Ticket today!
🍐🍏🍎 ⬇️ 🍎🍏🍐
https://www.pacificriminstitute.org/ciderfestival

07/29/2026

✨Cider Vendor Spotlight✨ Bend Cider Co. is coming up all the way from Oregon and they have some lovely ciders they are bringing along!

Welcome back to Cider Vendor spotlight, Whidbey Island Cider Festival is excited to announce that Cider Co. will be joining for 2026 !

Coming from all the way from Bend, OR, Bend Cider is a botanically focused hard cidery (not a winery) located in the unincorporated community of Tumalo, Oregon, known for their dry ciders, vibrant wildlife-themed art (created by their local artist: Sheila Dunn) cans, and an eco-friendly taproom space.

They have won:
2020 Sips Magazine- Silver Medal
2021 Sips Magazine - Gold Medal
2020 Cider Craft Awards - Judges Pick
Portland International Cider Cut

To learn more about Bend Cider Co. visit:
https://www.bendcider.com/
IG:

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We still have the Early Bird Ticket special until July 31st, 2026 hurry now before they
fly away!
https://www.pacificriminstitute.org/ciderfestival

07/24/2026

Welcome back to PRI’s Fun Fact of the week! This week is about the
Pacific aster. These plants are super resilient and tolerates high salinity, drought and clay soils. They also can be propagated through seeds or by splitting the rhizomes.
Once established, Pacific aster generally doesn't require management, how ever once planted it can be really difficult to be removed due to the rhizomes!
Pacific aster is a great native plant to help with Enviroment conservation and restoration. This plant blooms from June to October helping all the pollinators with late season food sources. It also prefers full to partial shade for growth.

To learn more about the Pacific aster visit :
https://burkeherbarium.org/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Symphyotrichum+chilense
or
https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_sych4.pdf
🌱🌻🌱
To learn more about Pacific Rim Institute mission or if you like to volunteer,
visit us at: https://www.pacificriminstitute.org/
or if you would like to donate to our cause, visit
https://pacificriminstitute.networkforgood.com/projects/206507-general-donations

07/23/2026

Welcome to our Behind the Scenes at Pacific Rim Institute!
Ever wonder what happens to all those seeds that we harvest from the prairie and garden center?
This is how we proccess and clean Starry Cerastium seeds featuring our amazing Julie Clark!

If you would like to help us in future harvesting or tending, visit us at
https://www.pacificriminstitute.org/

or if you would like to Donate to help our mission and cause visit
https://pacificriminstitute.networkforgood.com/projects/206507-general-donations