The Island County Master Gardeners are offering a series of one-hour gardening classes free to the public this winter.

The series consists of three classes on timely gardening subjects beginning Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 6:30 p.m. All of the classes will be held at Skagit Farmers Supply in Oak Harbor, located at 31686 Highway 20.

These winter classes are examples of the more than 50 classes that will be offered at the 2010 Island County Master Gardener’s Gardening Workshop that is held every March at the Coupeville Middle and High Schools. The 2010 workshop will be held on Saturday, March 20. The keynote speaker is well known author and Whidbey Island resident Valerie Easton. She will talk about “The New Low Maintenance Garden,” the subject of her newest book.

At the first class on Nov. 24, Master Gardener Bud Wilkinson will be teaching about gardening tools. He will speak about the proper tools for specific gardening tasks and demonstrate how to maintain, clean and sharpen tools, including chainsaws. The public is invited to bring their gardening tools to the class and learn how to sharpen their particular tools.

The second class will be held Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 6:30 p.m. at the Skagit Farmers Supply store. Master gardener Deb Mitchell will teach “Growing Plants by Seeds.” She will provide an overview on starting garden plants by seeds and demonstrate germination, potting and transplanting techniques.

Master Gardener Jim O’Connor will teach the third class on pruning. It will be held Feb. 23 at 6:30.p.m. He will discuss pruning needs of plant varieties and demonstrate proper pruning techniques on different plants.

This series is sponsored by the Island County Master Gardeners. Registration for the 2010 Island County Master Gardener’s Gardening Workshop that will follow this winter series will begin in February.

For more information on these classes contact Kristine Smith at 360-678-3303. or email krisedfred@verizon.net.