February 19-23, 2025

Seattle Convention Center

705 Pike Street, Seattle, WA

Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Seminar schedule subject to change, so we recommend checking back closer to the show for the current schedule. No ticket refunds in the event of Speaker cancellations.

What’s a ProTip? Some speakers provide a handout for their sessions. We post them each evening of the show for you to download.

Useful Information

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Name: Official Northwest Flower & Garden Festival
Start: 0001-01-01
End: 0001-01-01
Location: Seattle Convention Center

Rainier Room

(All seminars 60 minutes unless noted)

10:00 AM	10 Steps to Your Best Tomato Year Yet Bill Thorness - Author, speaker, educator, Master Gardener View More Do you spend a lot of time and money on growing tomatoes and then have disappointing results? The Holy Grail of the kitchen garden, tomatoes have a reputation as being one of the most challenging hot-season crops to grow in our short-summer maritime climate, but help is on the way! You’ll learn step-by-step techniques about indoor starts, season extension, fertilizing, watering, pruning, trellising and much more, including suggested varieties and where to get them.	10 Steps to Your Best Tomato Year Yet Do you spend a lot of time and money on growing tomatoes and then have disappointing results? The Holy Grail of the kitchen garden, tomatoes have a reputation as being one of the most challenging hot-season crops to grow in our short-summer maritime climate, but help is on the way! You’ll learn step-by-step techniques about indoor starts, season extension, fertilizing, watering, pruning, trellising and much more, including suggested varieties and where to get them. Sunday, February 23, 2025 10:00 AM
11:30 AM	Healing with the Trees Dr. JJ Pursell - Author, doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine, Masters in Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture View More Plant, grow and wildcraft medicine from trees. Learn about traditional and clinical uses of bark, leaves and blossoms from the trees in your yard and forests near by.	Healing with the Trees Plant, grow and wildcraft medicine from trees. Learn about traditional and clinical uses of bark, leaves and blossoms from the trees in your yard and forests near by. Sunday, February 23, 2025 11:30 AM
1:00 PM	Common Edible and Medicinal Garden Weeds of the PNW Sam Coffman - Author, gardener, herbalist MSAOM, RH[AHG], W-EMT View More Many common "weeds" in our gardens offer as much - if not more - nutritional density than the plants we grow as food. Many of these weeds also offer great medicinal benefits as well. Rather than trying to eradicate them from the garden, a much more practical approach can be to harvest, prepare, preserve and use them. In this seminar, we will explore several of the most common edible and medicinal plants that are usually seen as garden weeds here in the PNW. Learn some of the best harvesting, preparation and preservation methods of these plants and how to integrate them either into your menu, or how to use them in the home apothecary.	Common Edible and Medicinal Garden Weeds of the PNW Many common "weeds" in our gardens offer as much - if not more - nutritional density than the plants we grow as food. Many of these weeds also offer great medicinal benefits as well. Rather than trying to eradicate them from the garden, a much more practical approach can be to harvest, prepare, preserve and use them. In this seminar, we will explore several of the most common edible and medicinal plants that are usually seen as garden weeds here in the PNW. Learn some of the best harvesting, preparation and preservation methods of these plants and how to integrate them either into your menu, or how to use them in the home apothecary. Sunday, February 23, 2025 1:00 PM
2:30 PM	Closing Session: Tree Meditation Marcus Bridgewater - aka Garden Marcus, author, speaker View More In this special two-part, 90 minute session, Marcus will discuss his new book Seasons of Growth: A Journal for Well-Being Inspired by Trees (HarperOne 2024) then, after a short break, lead a guided meditation for a beautiful Spring 2025. A book signing and photo opportunities will follow.	Closing Session: Tree Meditation In this special two-part, 90 minute session, Marcus will discuss his new book Seasons of Growth: A Journal for Well-Being Inspired by Trees (HarperOne 2024) then, after a short break, lead a guided meditation for a beautiful Spring 2025. A book signing and photo opportunities will follow. Sunday, February 23, 2025 2:30 PM

Hood Room

(All seminars 60 minutes unless noted)

10:45 AM	Bird-Friendly Gardening Jen McGuinness - Author, photographer, blogger at FrauZinnie.com View More Learn how to make your garden spaces - small, medium or large - more welcoming for songbirds. With an emphasis on organic gardening and native plants, this presentation shares ways to attract common birds and migrators to the garden, emphasizing the components birds need for a safe habitat: food, shelter/nesting areas and access to fresh water.	Bird-Friendly Gardening Learn how to make your garden spaces - small, medium or large - more welcoming for songbirds. With an emphasis on organic gardening and native plants, this presentation shares ways to attract common birds and migrators to the garden, emphasizing the components birds need for a safe habitat: food, shelter/nesting areas and access to fresh water. Sunday, February 23, 2025 10:45 AM
12:00 PM	The Regenerative Garden: Small Scale Permaculture for the Home Garden Stephanie Rose - Award-winning author, Master Gardener, certified permaculture designer, herbalist, and wellness advocate View More Have you been interested in the ideas of permaculture and regenerative Gardening but don't know where to start? This is the place! Get the first look at the transformation of an urban garden in Vancouver BC from the standard squares of turf grass to a small scale regenerative garden built on permaculture practices. Stephanie Rose, author of the book, The Regenerative Garden: 80 Practical Projects for creating a self-sustaining garden ecosystem, will showcase how your garden can become more regenerative in easy pieces you can begin to apply right away.	The Regenerative Garden: Small Scale Permaculture for the Home Garden Have you been interested in the ideas of permaculture and regenerative Gardening but don't know where to start? This is the place! Get the first look at the transformation of an urban garden in Vancouver BC from the standard squares of turf grass to a small scale regenerative garden built on permaculture practices. Stephanie Rose, author of the book, The Regenerative Garden: 80 Practical Projects for creating a self-sustaining garden ecosystem, will showcase how your garden can become more regenerative in easy pieces you can begin to apply right away. Sunday, February 23, 2025 12:00 PM
1:15 PM	Groundcovers Greatest Hits: A Top 10 and Personal Favorites Kathy Jentz - Author, editor and publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine, host of GardenDC Podcast View More Groundcovers can provide many eco-system benefits from tree root protection to erosion control to wildlife food and shelter. Kathy Jentz, author of the new book, Groundcover Revolution, will cover several of these beautiful, hard-working plants and some of her personal favorites.	Groundcovers Greatest Hits: A Top 10 and Personal Favorites Groundcovers can provide many eco-system benefits from tree root protection to erosion control to wildlife food and shelter. Kathy Jentz, author of the new book, Groundcover Revolution, will cover several of these beautiful, hard-working plants and some of her personal favorites. Sunday, February 23, 2025 1:15 PM
2:45 PM	Grow Like a Chef Carissa Kasper - founder of Seed & Nourish Garden Design View More Join coach and kitchen garden designer Carissa Kasper of Seed & Nourish as she shares the secrets of growing alongside chefs at Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront rooftop garden. From the dirty to the divine, find out what goes on up on the hotel rooftop from battles with crows and horsetail to garden parties and buzzing bees. Learn the top varieties to grow in a culinary garden, inventive ways they can be used, and how to host your own garden to table dinners.	Grow Like a Chef Join coach and kitchen garden designer Carissa Kasper of Seed & Nourish as she shares the secrets of growing alongside chefs at Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront rooftop garden. From the dirty to the divine, find out what goes on up on the hotel rooftop from battles with crows and horsetail to garden parties and buzzing bees. Learn the top varieties to grow in a culinary garden, inventive ways they can be used, and how to host your own garden to table dinners. Sunday, February 23, 2025 2:45 PM
4:00 PM	Perennial Abundance: Growing More Food with Edible Perennials Marni Sorin - Garden Educator with Tilth Alliance View More Perennial edible plants are low-maintenance, great for supporting garden ecosystems, and offer abundant harvests over time. This seminar will explore the joys of growing edible perennial crops and how to set yourself up for success through garden planning. We'll discuss plant recommendations for the maritime northwest and talk about how to incorporate these edible trees, shrubs, vines and herbs into your growing space.	Perennial Abundance: Growing More Food with Edible Perennials Perennial edible plants are low-maintenance, great for supporting garden ecosystems, and offer abundant harvests over time. This seminar will explore the joys of growing edible perennial crops and how to set yourself up for success through garden planning. We'll discuss plant recommendations for the maritime northwest and talk about how to incorporate these edible trees, shrubs, vines and herbs into your growing space. Sunday, February 23, 2025 4:00 PM

DIY Stage

(All seminars 60 minutes)

10:00 AM	Replace the Grocery Store with Your Vegetable Garden Bailey Van Tassel - Writer, author, founder of The Kitchen Garden Society View More In this hands-on planning session learn how to map out your vegetable garden to replace the grocery store. In addition to key takeaways to map out your veg garden, you'll learn about companions, prioritizing plants, ROI for each plant, quantities based on your family size plus effective spacing. A live demonstration for an audience member's garden will showcase how to do this.	Replace the Grocery Store with Your Vegetable Garden In this hands-on planning session learn how to map out your vegetable garden to replace the grocery store. In addition to key takeaways to map out your veg garden, you'll learn about companions, prioritizing plants, ROI for each plant, quantities based on your family size plus effective spacing. A live demonstration for an audience member's garden will showcase how to do this. Sunday, February 23, 2025 10:00 AM
11:45 AM	I've Got A Seed For That! Geoffrey Johnson - School and community garden leader, founder Depend On Planet Earth (aka D.O.P.E.) View More Join community garden educator, Geoffrey Johnson, to dig a reasonable depth into the world of seeds and seed saving. Most gardeners are crazy for seeds and love the idea of seed saving - if not the actual practice. Feel the love on both fronts as Geoffrey shares all the goodness, tips and tricks around seeds and their saving with his easy going style and passion for the topic. If it involves seeds, he's got you covered!	I've Got A Seed For That! Join community garden educator, Geoffrey Johnson, to dig a reasonable depth into the world of seeds and seed saving. Most gardeners are crazy for seeds and love the idea of seed saving - if not the actual practice. Feel the love on both fronts as Geoffrey shares all the goodness, tips and tricks around seeds and their saving with his easy going style and passion for the topic. If it involves seeds, he's got you covered! Sunday, February 23, 2025 11:45 AM
1:30 PM	Ikebana - Communication With Plant Materials Nobuko Relnick - Teacher of Sogetsu School of IKEBANA (Japanese flower arrangement) for 30+ years View More Do you communicate with plant materials? Ikebana does. When we make ikebana, we have to know the characteristics of the plants you are handling. Not all plants make a great ikebana. We become very aware of the plants around us. In this session, Nobuku demostrates the principles of Ikebana for the beginner. Develop a deeper connection with plant materials in this introduction to an ancient plant-based art form.	Ikebana - Communication With Plant Materials Do you communicate with plant materials? Ikebana does. When we make ikebana, we have to know the characteristics of the plants you are handling. Not all plants make a great ikebana. We become very aware of the plants around us. In this session, Nobuku demostrates the principles of Ikebana for the beginner. Develop a deeper connection with plant materials in this introduction to an ancient plant-based art form. Sunday, February 23, 2025 1:30 PM
3:15 PM	Flowering Bulbs Crash Course for Beginners Sean and Allison McManus - Owners/hosts Spoken Garden, Authors The First Time Gardener View More Is this your first-time planting bulbs? Not sure how to get started? New gardeners (or anyone who needs a refresher) will learn hands-on skills and best practices for planting their flowering bulbs with confidence and ease. This session will provide skills you can apply to planting both spring blooming bulbs, like daffodils and tulips, and summer bloomers, like dahlias and gladiolus, to help your bulbs thrive, including correct planting depth, spacing, proper handling, and the materials and tools needed to get the job done.	Flowering Bulbs Crash Course for Beginners Is this your first-time planting bulbs? Not sure how to get started? New gardeners (or anyone who needs a refresher) will learn hands-on skills and best practices for planting their flowering bulbs with confidence and ease. This session will provide skills you can apply to planting both spring blooming bulbs, like daffodils and tulips, and summer bloomers, like dahlias and gladiolus, to help your bulbs thrive, including correct planting depth, spacing, proper handling, and the materials and tools needed to get the job done. Sunday, February 23, 2025 3:15 PM

Main Stage

11:00 AM	Container Showdown: Sunday Marcus Bridgewater - aka Garden Marcus, author, speaker Carissa Kasper - founder of Seed & Nourish Garden Design	Container Showdown: Sunday Sunday, February 23, 2025 11:00 AM
1:00 PM	All-America Selections Winners for 2025 Diane Blazek - Executive Director National Garden Bureau and All-American Selections View More Ever wonder what the AAS logo means on plants? Wondered about what "Tested Nationally & Proven Locally" really means? This 90 year-old non-profit organization tests plants all over North American and promotes only the ones with superior garden performance to ensure success in your garden. Diane is here to present the latest AAS Winners and give some sneak peeks into how the AAS Judges are trialing plants.	All-America Selections Winners for 2025 Ever wonder what the AAS logo means on plants? Wondered about what "Tested Nationally & Proven Locally" really means? This 90 year-old non-profit organization tests plants all over North American and promotes only the ones with superior garden performance to ensure success in your garden. Diane is here to present the latest AAS Winners and give some sneak peeks into how the AAS Judges are trialing plants. Sunday, February 23, 2025 1:00 PM
2:30 PM	Blooms & Bubbles: Design a Beautiful Centerpiece [additional ticket required] Alicia Houston - Owner of Healer's Harvest Stacy Marshall - Owner of Pitchfork and Petal View More Draw inspiration from the garden to create a spring centerpiece with two farmer florists, Stacy Marshall of Petal and Pitchfork and Alicia Houston of Healer’s Harvest. Both women are known for their gorgeous designs using flowers from their farms, grown for local florists and clients. As you create your centerpiece, learn design techniques, selection of flowers and foliage, proper scale and proportion for a centerpiece, and mechanics and placement of each stem as you design a fresh, romantic arrangement to grace your table at home. The workshop includes all the supplies and instruction for making a spring-inspired arrangement.	Blooms & Bubbles: Design a Beautiful Centerpiece [additional ticket required] Draw inspiration from the garden to create a spring centerpiece with two farmer florists, Stacy Marshall of Petal and Pitchfork and Alicia Houston of Healer’s Harvest. Both women are known for their gorgeous designs using flowers from their farms, grown for local florists and clients. As you create your centerpiece, learn design techniques, selection of flowers and foliage, proper scale and proportion for a centerpiece, and mechanics and placement of each stem as you design a fresh, romantic arrangement to grace your table at home. The workshop includes all the supplies and instruction for making a spring-inspired arrangement. Sunday, February 23, 2025 2:30 PM
4:00 PM	Small Space Solutions with Epic Gardening: Grow Your Own Groceries Bailey Van Tassel - Writer, author, founder of The Kitchen Garden Society View More Join the team from Epic Gardening and their friends for a daily dose of Small Space Solutions. Each day at 4pm on the Main Stage, tips and tricks will be provided to gardeners working with limited gardening space. From growing your own groceries to grow bags to trellising, smart seed starting for smaller plants to containers that go-go-go... join this fun, interactive session daily and enjoy new ideas and insights from the experts at Epic Gardening!	Small Space Solutions with Epic Gardening: Grow Your Own Groceries Join the team from Epic Gardening and their friends for a daily dose of Small Space Solutions. Each day at 4pm on the Main Stage, tips and tricks will be provided to gardeners working with limited gardening space. From growing your own groceries to grow bags to trellising, smart seed starting for smaller plants to containers that go-go-go... join this fun, interactive session daily and enjoy new ideas and insights from the experts at Epic Gardening! Sunday, February 23, 2025 4:00 PM

Plant Market

House of Plants Daily at 10, 11:30, 1:30, 3:30

Abby Perry - Founder/owner of Abby's Garden Parties, Master Gardener

Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Seminar schedule subject to change, so we recommend checking back closer to the show for the current schedule. No ticket refunds in the event of Speaker cancellations.

What’s a ProTip? Some speakers provide a handout for their sessions. We post them each evening of the show for you to download.