Whether it’s the soil, wind or wide ranges of precipitation, Whidbey Island gives gardeners a variety of challenges.

“Gardening is different here,” C-J Nielsen said.

Nielsen is the chair of the Whidbey Gardening Workshop, which offers answers to gardening questions for both newcomers to the island and those entrenched in the soil.

The workshop is presented by the Island County Master Gardener Foundation in support of the Washington State University Master Gardener program.

It will take place Saturday, March 5, at Oak Harbor High School; however, online registration began last week and classes tend to fill up quickly.

The registration cost is $40 and will go up to $45 on the day of the event. To register online or get a breakdown of the 45 classes offered, go to www.whidbeygardeningworkshop.org

About 300 people are expected to attend three sessions of classes, which focus on popular areas such as fruit and vegetable gardening, garden design, ornamentals, sustainability and maintenance and gardening basics.

Other topics range from pruning basics to the art of bonsai to water gardening. There also are classes on making your garden friendly for birds and bats, caring for Japanese maples and the importance of bees.

The guest speaker will be Dan Hinkley, an internationally recognized author and lecturer. His keynote address starts at 9 a.m.

“I didn’t make this up. He’s been called the ‘Indiana Jones of the plant world,’” Nielsen said. “He goes around the world and finds plants.”