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NWFGF welcomes the best gardening voices from all over…
The Seminars by Category are listed in chronological order. Please check the Seminar Schedule for a full list of all our seminars. No ticket refunds for Speaker cancellation.
All seminars at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival are FREE with your ticket!
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Made for the Shade, Creating the Shade Garden of Your Dreams Susan Calhoun - Journalist and regional reporter for Fine Gardening, award-winning designer, writer, and speaker
One of the hardest, but most rewarding, gardens to create is a shade garden. Living in the Pacific Northwest for most of her life and creating gardens here has given Susan the ability to say 'challenge accepted'. Sharing from her own garden as well as client gardens she will give information about planting for texture and color, not just flowers to create an all-season garden. Using bulbs, grasses and ground covers not just rhododendrons and azaleas will help give us the calm, leafy space a shade garden can be. We will talk about the different kinds of shade and how to plant for drought tolerance and soaking rain. We will discuss creating shade where there is none by planting manageable lovely trees. Susan will also include exotics like impatiens, orchids, and podophyllums that are hardy and add a sense of excitement and discovery to a shade garden. The shade garden will soon become your favorite garden! Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 9:30 AM / Hood Room
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Pruning Trees: Professional Tools and Techniques Allen Taylor - Lead arborist and founder of Conservation Tree Care
You might be surprised just how simple tree pruning can be. A small collection of quality tools allows for nearly endless possibilities when caring for your trees. In a market saturated with specialized pruning tools arborists tend to stick with the basics, hand snips, a hand saw, a couple pole tools, and an orchard ladder. The presentation will demonstrate techniques for making quality pruning cuts all while keeping yourself safe.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 10:00 AM / DIY Stage
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Disease and Death in the Garden: Pathological Musings from a Plant Doctor’s Perspective Jerry Weiland - PhD, plant pathologist at Oregon State University
Just as every single human on this planet has gotten sick at one point or another, so has every single plant. Disease and death are a fact of life in our gardens whether we like it or not. But, what exactly are plant diseases and what can we do about them? Join Jerry as he discusses the causes of plant disease, the ecological role that disease plays in the environment, evaluating the impact of disease on plant health, as well as tips for minimizing disease in your own home garden.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 10:45 AM / Hood Room
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Basic Propagation Ann M Amato - Horticulturist
Much like cooking, the craft of propagation can be engaging, performative AND recipes are often used and, sometimes, altered. Come watch and learn more about this green thumb skillset from a professional propagator who’s propagated thousands of plants for regional nurseries we all know and love. From seeds to cuttings, spores to simple grafts, air layering to division—to answering questions about tissue culture—Ann has seen it all! Please bring your questions. Tools and techniques will be highlighted as well.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 11:45 AM / DIY Stage
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Great Plant Picks: Plants for Pollinators Richie Steffen - Executive Director for the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden
Our gardens are built for beauty but serve as a resource for our regional wildlife. Our gardens can be a haven for honeybees and native pollinators with the addition of a varied and diverse selection of plants. Great Plant Picks (www.greatplantpicks.org ) is a regional resource that focuses on plants that thrive in our maritime Pacific Northwest climate. Learn about some of the best performing pollinator friendly plants that will flourish in your garden and how to create a space that encourages healthy pollinator populations.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 1:00 PM / Main Stage
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Cultivate the Rainbow Lorene Edwards Forkner - Author, maker, speaker, columnist for Seattle
Times and GardenRant.com contributor
Romp through a rainbow of plants that thrive in Pacific Northwest gardens. Color is the most obvious element of a garden and an essential tool in the creation of a landscape. In nature, color is a component of pollination, ripening, and other fundamental biological processes. Yet, from a human perspective color is often treated as simply an indulgent finishing touch. Color is powerful and can take a pleasing garden to dynamic heights. We’ll look at using color in the garden to manipulate space, leverage light, and explore ways to love your garden life in every hue and season." Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 1:15 PM / Hood Room
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The Herbal Rosarian Sue Goetz - Owner Creative Gardener, Author Complete Container Herb Gardening
Discover the purposeful herbal side of roses. Herbalists treasure the fragrant flowers for their sweet flavor, healing skincare, and medicinal virtues. Learn about their role in history used by apothecaries and used in modern day. Find out the best garden rose varieties to grow and use for herb preparation and flavor. Harvesting and preserving tips, recipes for skin care, culinary, and crafting.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 1:30 PM / DIY Stage
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Designing with Deer-Resistant Flowers Karen Chapman - Author, landscape designer, travel guide & owner of Le Jardinet
What does “deer resistance” really look like? It’s much more than just a shopping list. Join Karen Chapman to learn the concepts behind combining favorite deer-resistant flowers, perhaps with other plants you already have, to create artistic, multi-season vignettes that you’ll love but the deer won’t. With examples for both hot sunny areas and dry shade learn strategies to transform your garden into one you can be proud of but that the deer will leave alone.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 2:45 PM / Hood Room
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Get Bossy with Your Bulbs: Divide, Force, and Plant Successively for a Colorful, Bloom-filled Garden Sean and Allison McManus - Owners/hosts Spoken Garden, Authors The First Time Gardener
Be the boss of your bulbs by learning how to divide them, force them to bloom early, and plant them successively. Take advantage of how bulbs reproduce in your garden and learn how to divide or separate bulbs like daffodils, tulips, dahlias, bearded iris, gladiolus, and more, so you can spread them around your garden, share them with friends or family, or create new container designs without spending money on more bulbs. Discover how to force your bulbs to bloom early to get a jump on the growing season. Also, learn which specific bulbs you can plant successively throughout the summer to have months of blooms.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 3:15 PM / DIY Stage
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Dreamy English Gardens [additional ticket required] Justin Henderson - Executive Director and Head Gardener at Lakewold Gardens in Lakewood, Washington
Come along for this journey through England as Lakewold Executive Director, Justin Henderson, shares his experience at several of the most fabulous gardens in the UK. Be enchanted with a late summer exploration to see Great Dixter, Sissinghurst, Gravetye Manor, Hidcote, and more. The stories of these gardens and gardeners that Justin encountered are sure to inspire and bring horticulture delight.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 3:30 PM / Traveler’s Tea
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What Do Designers Know That You Might Not Phillip Waite - Author, educator University of Idaho, Washington State University, Utah State University
Have you ever looked at a beautiful landscape in a magazine or book and wondered “how in the world did the designer come up with such ingenious and beautiful ideas?” Have you ever wanted to hang out in a designer’s studio to watch how they come up with their ideas? How would a designer’s approach to your project differ from your own approach? What does a trained and experienced landscape designer know that you might not know? This session will explore the ‘rules of thumb’ and ‘guiding theories’ that landscape designers are trained in and use in creating functional, sustainable, and beautiful landscapes. This session will share the lessons and guiding theories from the worlds of art, design, sociology, psychology, and horticulture that influence a designer’s approach to problem solving and creating landscapes that are functional and beautiful. Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 4:30 PM / Rainier Room
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Alternative Orchid Growing Techniques Joseph J Grienauer - Owner Emerald City Orchids
This session will start with standard practices for orchid growing in pots and quickly move into alternative methods of growing orchids, with physical demonstrations for different methods. These will include examples of mounted orchids and a mounting demonstration, water culture orchids, and growing in a basket. The session will also address the differences in growing inside a home near a window, under lights, in a greenhouse, terrariums, and other types of environments.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 5:00 PM / DIY Stage
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PNW Month-by-Month Gardening: Tips for Cultivating a More Resilient Garden Christina Pfeiffer - Seattle based author and horticulture educator
In gardening, as with many things in life, timing can be everything. Some of our long time “tried and true” methods may no longer be as effective as in the past. Long time favorite garden plants and native species may now struggle. This talk will highlight how to optimize key garden tasks and timing for more sustainable and healthy landscapes.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 5:00 PM / Hood Room
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Boost Biodiversity in Your Garden with Insect-Friendly Habitat Amy Campion - Co-author Gardening in the Pacific Northwest: The Complete Homeowner's Guide
News of crashing insect populations may make you feel hopeless about the future. However, there are many things you can do to make a real difference in improving insect biodiversity where you live. In this talk, you'll learn simple steps you can take to create more insect-friendly habitat in your garden, and you'll meet some of the fascinating creatures that show up when you welcome them in.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 12:00 PM / Hood Room
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Companion Planting - Facts or Folklore? Linda Chalker-Scott - Author, Ph.D. in Horticulture, ISA and ASCA consulting arborist, WSU Professor
Companion planting is a legitimate horticultural practice that uses ecological principles of beneficial plant relationships to enhance establishment and survival of desired plants. The concept has been misapplied by those who have assigned zodiac, occult, or other pseudoscientific qualities to plants, which creates confusion for home gardeners. This session explains the science behind companion planting, while debunking misconceptions found in numerous popular gardening books and websites. Gardeners who use companion planting in a scientifically sound manner can improve plant health and productivity, decrease damage from insects and disease, and decrease the need for pesticides and fertilizers—all part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 9:30 AM / Hood Room
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Toolbox Essentials - Must Have Tools for Container Gardening Cindy Funes - Container Designer, Owner Garden Revelry LLC, President, Digging In Association
Cindy shares her wisdom accumulated as a successful container designer and business owner for 18 years. Save time, effort and frustration by using the tools the pros use. In this DIY session, Cindy shares her favorite gardening tools and how to use them. Learn the benefits of proper selection of use to rev up your container design projects. Whether you're planting two porch pots on either side of your door or running your own design business, this memorable presentation will make your (container design) life easier for years to come.
Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 10:00 AM / DIY Stage
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Dream Garden Terrariums Robin Haglund - Educator, Writer & Founder/President Garden Mentors®
If you’ve ever dreamed of growing your own forest, beach or even desert garden, a terrarium is the perfect place to start — even if you don’t have an outdoor garden plot of your own. In this lively session, Robin will demonstrate her favorite techniques, plants, and material combinations to craft gardening houseplant wonderlands that bring your dream garden indoors in even the tiniest home. Come away ready to quickly start designing and growing your own terrarium for bright or shadier indoor spots. Get ready to liven up your home with a tiny garden wonderland of your own imagining!
Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 11:45 AM / DIY Stage
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Secrets of a Plant Whisperer Anne Biklé - Gardener, soil health expert, co-author of The Hidden Half of Nature and What Your Food Ate
Gardeners often underestimate the power of the plants in their beloved gardens to take care of themselves. In this session, find out how to tap into what plants know about how to thrive in a "stuck-in-place" lifestyle and reap the rewards of a vibrant and resilient garden. Gain the know-how and confidence to tweak your gardening practices so they work with the green bodies of plants and the unique setting of your garden. In large part, plant health and beauty stem from the symbiotic relationships plants cultivate with the microbes and other life forms in the soil. Plants in your garden can feed fungi in exchange for much-needed nutrients. They recruit bacteria to live inside their roots that have the power to repel and vanquish soil pathogens. Symbioses between plants and other parts of the natural world are among the oldest interactions we know about in the history of life—and they matter immensely for plant health and well-being, the soil, and our planet at large. Learning how to get in on the conversations and relationships that plants strike up with soil life and their fellow plants is the pathway to enriching a gardener's repertoire and expertise. This is the secret to the good looks, functions, and feel we all want in our gardens. You just need to know how plants think and talk. Soon enough you’ll be coaxing your plants into rambunctious growth or nursing them back from the edge of death whether petunias in a window box or your favorite towering tree. Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 1:15 PM / Hood Room
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ROCK ON! Patrick R. Ryan - Master gardener, musician and education specialist at Alaska Botanical Garden
Hypertufa containers are the perfect homes for alpines, succulents, dwarf hostas, dwarf conifers, and more. Perhaps you’ve admired these beautiful troughs in other gardens but thought they’d be too hard to make. Patrick Ryan, from the Alaska Botanical Garden, shows you the techniques and easy skills needed to construct long-lasting, weatherproof, hypertufa containers. This demonstration includes building an actual trough right before your eyes, and a handout with a recipe and complete instructions. You’ll leave with the confidence to build an artistic—yet inexpensive—container to display your own garden treasures for your friends to admire. Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 1:30 PM / DIY Stage
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Hidden Gardens of Japan [additional ticket required] Lois Moss - Owner, Tour 2 Explore More
In this talk, Lois Moss (owner of Tour 2 Explore More) shares beautiful, visit-worthy Japanese gardens that you won't want to miss on your next garden tour of Japan. You've heard of the major garden destinations - Shinjuku Gyoen, Kenroku-en and Imperial Palace East Gardens. In this engaging talk, Lois will take us on a brief visual tour of these popular destinations then lead us off the beaten tourist path to focus on other amazing gardens you may have never heard of or seen. Get ready to be delighted... and plan your next visit to Japan!
Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 3:30 PM / Traveler’s Tea
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Container Conundrums: Mastering the Art of Extreme Design Christina Salwitz - Award-winning garden writer and author, Container and Landscape Designer Mary-Kate Mackey - Award-winning author, speaker and educator Fabulous containers are the finishing touch to any garden, but sometimes they need to be placed in extreme locations—blaring hot sun, deep shade, or high winds. The Personal Garden Coach Christina Salwitz and garden author Mary-Kate Mackey have teamed up to present the techniques to unleash your creativity in challenging garden spaces. The talk will include choice plant combinations and innovative solutions for these situations, as well as practical maintenance tips for your extreme garden masterpieces.
Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 4:30 PM / Rainier Room
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Strolling the Garden Camera in Hand Doreen Wynja - Author, Eye of the Lady inc professional garden photographer
Get inside the professional garden photographer's mind! This rapid-paced presentation is loaded with side-by-side examples of how you might take a different approach to what you’re really seeing, leading to better, more dynamic and dramatic photos. Loaded with options and professional approaches to your subject, this session gives you tools on important photographic elements like light, and the way it falls on a subject, finding other angles, time of day, and what's beyond what you think you see. [Note, this can pertain to more than just a garden!] Doreen covers everything from landscapes to close ups. You will walk away with new skills to use with your camera or your phone. The principles work no matter what device you're using to snap the photo... Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 5:00 PM / Hood Room
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Gardening with PNW Hardy Native Annuals Paul Bonine - Native plant grower, expert and owner Xera Plants, Portland, Oregon
Discover the history and overview of native hardy annuals, a class of plants whose native territory has shrunk to endangered levels. Often overlooked and forgotten, this category of plant is equally important to native pollinators as all other categories combined - trees, shrubs, perennials. They were once widespread and, aside from their importance to pollinators< they have beautiful and practical uses in the garden. They may be employed as a winter weed blocking cover crop for example. Paul will show you where to get plants and seed, how to identify them, (and their seedlings) and how to save seed and insure that they self sow. They have specific requirements for germination and I'll unlock all of those secrets to ensure success. This is a precious and important class of native plants that should be included in every Pacific Northwest garden. Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 12:00 PM / Hood Room
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The Easiest Seed-Starting: Winter Sowing and Seed Snails Erica Browne Grivas - Lifestyle journalist
Indoor seed sowing can be fun, but seedlings often need special lights, constant monitoring, regular potting up to larger pots, and then hardening off. It can take over your house – and life - for months as your kitchen is lit with eery purple light and counters are swallowed by plants. What if you could sow your seeds outdoors, wait until the seeds come up, and transplant once? Enter the magic of winter sowing. It lets you plant seeds from late winter through spring no matter how cold it gets. By creating a sheltered area with upcycled milk jugs or plastic storage bins, potted seeds can even sit in the snow – if we get any. As a bonus you’ll grow hardier, tougher plants than if grown indoors. Simply keep seedlings watered and away from high temperatures, and the seeds come up when the conditions are right. With winter sowing, you can plant once – no potting up - and transplant directly when plants reach 2-4” tall. They are already hardened off! Learn which plants work best in the Pacific Northwest, how to time your sowing, and get ready to try this stellar timesaving technique. Seed snails are a new viral method that saves so much space. Created by Farida Sober in the UK, you roll up your seeds and potting mix, fitting many more seeds than in a potting tray, with no repotting necessary. Works indoors or out! Friday, February 21, 2025 / 10:00 AM / DIY Stage
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Anemone and Ranunculus 101 Anne Long - Owner of The Dahlia House, Skagit Valley Washington
Enter the wonderful worlds of anemone and ranunculus - the cool weather harbingers of spring! Learn about the array of varieties available and all the tips and tricks you need to know to plant, tend and successfully harvest these cherished beauties.
Friday, February 21, 2025 / 10:00 AM / Plant Academy
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#fernsarethenewsucculents Loree L. Bohl - Author and blogger at theDangerGarden.com
Succulents have been the “it” plant for many years now, and their popularity shows no signs of fading. However, Loree suggests that ferns should rightfully be just as popular, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. Thus, one of her favorite Instagram hashtags: #fernsarethenewsucculents. There are nearly 13,000 recognized species of ferns. This includes everything from tropical tree ferns, small epiphytic ferns that grow like dragon scales on tree bark, and ferns that require a dry sunny location. There are ferns with single fronds (looking like a large leaf), and ferns with black fuzzy stems (stipes in fern talk). Think about that the next time you hear someone dismiss ferns saying “but they all look the same! In this seminar Loree will share many of her favorite garden-worthy ferns—both in her own garden and others she’s visited—and then show how she manages to grow fabulous species that aren’t technically hardy in her Zone 8 garden. Just as varied and spectacular as succulents, ferns can be grown in your garden soil, in containers and yes, epiphytically. Loree approaches ferns from a plant lover’s perspective, not a professional one—and she promises to butcher many of the hard to pronounce fern names in this talk! Friday, February 21, 2025 / 11:15 AM / Plant Academy
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How to Build a Miniature Garden to Last for Years Janit Calvo - Building & Serving the Miniature Garden Hobby, Since 2001
Jump-start your miniature garden adventure with Janit Calvo as she demonstrates how to build your own tiny living world in a container. Learn about the basics of the hobby: the right dwarf and miniature plants and trees, realistic miniature accessories that last, and authentic patio materials that you can use to create a truly enchanting, tiny garden world of your very own.
Friday, February 21, 2025 / 11:45 AM / DIY Stage
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Exciting Garden Trends and Design Concepts from Europe Brian Minter - Recipient of the Order of Canada, horticulturist, writers and co-founder, along with his wife Faye, of Country Garden Ltd.
Get a first-hand report on fresh and exciting new garden trends, ideas, plants and design concepts from IPM Essen - Europe's largest and most innovative horticultural show. Discover the future of horticulture from a highly creative European plant culture which is noted as being at least three years ahead of North America in terms of trends and innovation. Fast track your garden style with this insightful look at how other parts of the world are innovating in the garden space. Friday, February 21, 2025 / 1:00 PM / Rainier Room
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Large Scale Floral Installations Kiara Hancock - Acclaimed wedding and floral designer
Go big or go home! Come learn how to make show-stopping statement floral installations! Whether an arch or hanging installation, an expert in putting the WOW in events of all types, Kiara will teach you the techniques you can use to master floristry on a large scale. And create an epic floral installation while you watch!
Friday, February 21, 2025 / 1:30 PM / DIY Stage
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Ten Roses You Should be Growing in the PNW Robin Jennings - Senior Brand Marketing Manager at Heirloom Roses
In the wide world of roses, how can you pick the best variety for your PNW garden? Join Robin as she breaks down the ten essential roses for PNW gardens.
Friday, February 21, 2025 / 3:00 PM / Plant Academy
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Traveling with Plants Riz Reyes - Horticulturist, Floral Designer, and owner of RHR Horticulture
Are you moving or traveling and want to take plants with you? Do you want to send a start of a plant to a friend far away? Learn about the general guidelines and rules for shipping or transporting plants so you don't get in trouble and learn to process and pack your new babies so they come through and recover quickly once you get them safely home.
Friday, February 21, 2025 / 3:15 PM / DIY Stage
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Aging Gracefully in the Garden Patrick R. Ryan - Master Gardener, musician and education specialist at Alaska Botanical Garden
Gardening is a healthy, stimulating physical activity that can be enjoyed by older people. The garden, equipment and tools can all be modified to suit the needs of older people. Gardening increases levels of physical activity, and maintains mobility and flexibility. Having to adjust physical activities due to aging can be a difficult pill to swallow, so come see an actual living senior citizen/gardener who is still learning to adapt to his changing abilities. With practical advice and a nod to gravity, you will leave with new ideas to help you continue doing what you love." Friday, February 21, 2025 / 4:30 PM / Rainier Room
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Oaks for the Future! Evergreen Oaks for Climate Resilience and Beauty in Our Gardens John Coghlan - Garden designer Vashon Island, Washington
Evergreen Oaks have so much to offer: they thrive in our cold winters and our hot, dry summers. They are magnets for wildlife, and they create year-round beauty for our gardens. This seminar will dovetail with my Show Garden for 2025 which will feature unique and wonderful botanical treasures, many sourced from Sean Hogan of Cistus Nursery near Portland. Friday, February 21, 2025 / 4:45 PM / Plant Academy
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Revered Roots, Ancient Wisdom on Wild, Native and Medicinal Plants LoriAnn Bird - Indigenous Metis herbalist and educator
This workshop will uncover knowledge of ancestral plants and medicines and how to incorporate them into our everyday practices. Stories, practical applications, gifts for our more-than-human relatives, The Rooted Nations.
Friday, February 21, 2025 / 5:00 PM / Hood Room
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Plant Passions, Best Tips for Growing Cut Flowers Debra Prinzing and Robin Avni are co-authors of the forthcoming book, The Flower Farmers (Abrams, May 2025)
There is an ever-expanding interest in the floral lifestyle as gardeners and homeowners aspire to become floral fluent. The backyard gardener has moved on from simply planting vegetables or bedding plants; they want to grow unique botanicals in their own cutting gardens, containers, and raised beds -- floral elements for everyday enjoyment and cherished celebrations.
As gardeners seek ideas, inspiration, and expert information about best varieties, planting techniques, and unique seasonal blooms, they also are discovering the sustainable practices of North America's flower farmers -- a growing approach that is entirely adaptable to the residential cutting garden. In their new book, "The Flower Farmer," co-authors Debra Prinzing and Robin Avni, introduce the lives, farms, and flowers of growers across North America. Meet these intrepid, innovative, and artistic individuals who have built flower-filled lives. Learn about their "Plant Passions" and learn from their expertise about top botanical crops. We'll cover how to select must-have cultivars that the pro's grow and understand the best varieties for long-lasting arrangements. Friday, February 21, 2025 / 12:00 PM / Hood Room
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New Directions for Clematis: Up is Not the Only Option Linda Beutler - Author, Educator, Curator Rogerson Clematis Garden
Clematis as ground cover? Yes! Clematis knitting perennials together? Yes! Clematis as container plants? Yes! Let's explore the other ways clematis may be used in gardens besides growing relentlessly up. There is more to life than growing clematis only on your built environment. Each new clematis does not require a new trellis.
Friday, February 21, 2025 / 12:30 PM / Plant Academy
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Learn About Mason Bees, Their Predators and How to Care for Them Thyra McKelvie - Managing Director & Pollination Program Educator for Rent Mason Bees
Bees are becoming an increasingly popular addition to gardens - but not just honeybees. If you’re thinking of hosting bees in your yard, releasing solitary Mason bees should be top on your list. Solitary bees make up 90% of all bees on the planet and are one of mother nature’s best pollinators! On average, each mason bee can visit over 2,000 blooms daily and pollinate 95% of the flowers they land on, in comparison to the meticulous pollen gathering of honeybees who only have a 5% pollination rate. This makes them the unsung heroes of the pollinating world! Not only can they help us grow more food, but their belly flopping pollen-collecting methods make surrounding habitat healthier. Solitary bee activity helps filter out pollutants from air and water streams – increasing overall ecosystem health everywhere these little bees buzz around. Learn more about solitary bees and how to create a healthy habitat for them. Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 9:30 AM / Hood Room
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Vegetable Garden Journaling Willi Galloway - Author of Grow Cook Eat: A Food Lover's Guide to Vegetable Gardening and the upcoming cookbook Veggies for Breakfast (Spring 2026)
Keep better track of the edible plants you grow with a garden journal! Learn about what information to keep track of, options for laying out your journal, and recommendations for journaling tools, including photo stickers, waterproof pens, and specific journal recommendations.
Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 10:00 AM / DIY Stage
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Fuchsia-La! The Hidden Empire of Fuchsia Species for the Garden & Greenhouse. R. Theo Margelony - Blogger at Fuchsietum.com, President of the Oregon Fuchsia Society. PNW
While we're all familiar with the many, many fuchsia hybrids bred for our gardening pleasure over the last 225 years, there are a number of little-known fuchsia species. Besides Fuchsia magellanica, the classic hardy fuchsia of our garden beds in the Pacific Northwest, there are a number of other species that can be grown in the ground or in the greenhouse. Take a trip of discovery through the hidden empire of these uncelebrated beauties.
Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 11:15 AM / Plant Academy
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Dishing Dirt with Bess and Richie – The Best and Worst for 2025 Bess Bronstein - horticultural consultant/educator and ISA Certified Arborist® Richie Steffen - ED for the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden. What are the best plants and garden tips for the upcoming spring? Come and hear what Bess and Richie have to say about it in this interactive, audience-centric talk. Bess Bronstein, an arborist, educator, and lecturer along with Richie Steffen, executive director of the Elisabeth C Miller Botanical Garden are ready to give their unbiased opinion on the what is good for the garden and what is a waste of time. Their horticultural knowledge is immense, and they are ready to solve your garden issues.
Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 1:00 PM / Main Stage
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Tips and Ideas to Make Your Garden More Interesting Ciscoe Morris - Beloved author, television and radio host, newspaper columnist and garden celebrity
Whether you have a small garden or a grand estate, learn how to spice it up. Ciscoe will talk about how to incorporate art, water features, hardscape, rare plants and other attractions to make your garden the jewel of the neighborhood. Sharing insights gathered from decades of gardening experience, garden travel and being in on the newest trends and ideas, you'll thank Cisco every time you enjoy your "newly spicy" garden spaces.
Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 1:00 PM / Rainier Room
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Blooms & Bubbles: From Garden to Vase: Spring Floral Design [additional ticket required] Gina Leighann Thresher - Owner From the Ground Up Floral
Rebecca Raymond - Owner Rebecca Raymond Floral Design Learn floral design from two local floral professionals, Gina Thresher of From the Ground Up Floral and Rebecca Raymond of Rebecca Raymond Floral Design. These gifted floral designers will share some of their favorite eco-friendly techniques for creating an updated version of a spring centerpiece. Learn design techniques, including selection of flowers and foliage, proper scale, proportion, mechanics and placement of each stem as you design a fresh, romantic arrangement to grace your home. The workshop includes all the supplies and instruction for making a spring-inspired arrangement. Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 2:30 PM / Main Stage
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Crazy About Coral Bells! (And Their Allies…) Dan Heims - Award-winning author, president Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Dan presents a brief history of this group of plants (the Saxifragaceae), followed by slides of native populations and the breeding programs that have transformed this quiet woodland group into some of the most sought-after perennials today.
Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 3:00 PM / Plant Academy
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Vermicomposting Ann M. Amato - Horticulturist
Composting with worms turns household food and paper waste into something far more valuable for your garden. In addition to being a soil amendment that improves your soil, it’s also a rich fertilizer. This presentation will present the differences between traditional compost and vermicompost, as well as different ways to incorporate vermicomposting systems into your living spaces. This can be a great way to produce less waste, and it may even inspire some to eat better so you’ll be better able to provide your worm bin with the best possible scraps to keep it productive and healthy. We’ll also discuss common mistakes to avoid losing worm colonies.
Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 3:15 PM / DIY Stage
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The Gardens of Marrakech [additional ticket required] JJ De Sousa - award-winning garden and interior designer
Join JJ in Marrakech, an ancient Moroccan city known for the bustling rose colored Medina and its lush, beautiful gardens. Many are hidden within the walls of palaces and Riads while others are out in the open, but all of which are a treat for all the senses. This delightful seminar explores in detail three large traditional and exotic gardens. Examine the rich plant life, cultural history, architectural details and color palettes as well as how you can incorporate these ideas into your own spaces. JJ adores Marrakech she's excited to share her experiences with you!
Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 3:30 PM / Traveler’s Tea
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Growing a South American Garden in the PNW Pilar Hernandez - Bilingual Latina food writer, and urban gardener
After living in Houston, Texas, for 20 years, Pilar Hernandez moved to Seattle, WA, in 2022. With that came back the memories of the garden where her mother, grandmother, and great-aunts raised her in the Central region of Chile. The shadow of the mountains and the powerful influence of the Pacific Ocean are once again guiding her gardening plantings. In this seminar, Pilar will share what plants, vegetables, herbs, and flowers she grows to enhance her authentic cooking. She will also discuss her successes and failures in hunting for seeds, testing different varieties of herbs and vegetables, and understanding how the names of the same vegetables and fruits change between countries in Latin America. If you are curious about new varieties to grow for your tomatoes, corn, beans, peppers, basil, oregano, etc, and how to incorporate them creatively in your cooking, you will enjoy this seminar. Also, Pilar will disclose which ornamental plant, frequently featured in PNW gardens, is a salad ingredient in Chile. Can you guess it? Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 4:00 PM / Hood Room
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Soil Care Basics Hailey Lampe - Owner of Cruising Climate - a regenerative landscape design and coaching company
What is soil? Why should you care about it? How can you tend to it? To answer these questions, this session will explore basic soil science, the connections between soil and ecosystem health, and soil care routines you can start implementing as soon as you get home.
Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 5:00 PM / Hood Room
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Dry Gardening in the Pacific Northwest: Tips, Tricks and Plant Selection Ideas Bryon Jones - Horticulturist/Arborist Lead - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington
Let’s talk about Dry Gardening! What plants do you plant when it rains less? How do you prepare your garden for warmer Pacific Northwest Summers? Why would you want to understand the soils your plants thrive in? Come join Bryon as he dives deeper into understanding how you too can create beautiful spaces and be successful with Dry Gardening.
Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 12:00 PM / Hood Room
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Captivating Camellias Nita-Jo Rountree - Speaker, Author Growing Roses in the Pacific NW
Discover and or discover again these underused versatile shrubs that come in a variety of colors, sizes, and flower shapes. Nita-Jo explains how these plants are great for PNW gardeners and highlights some of her favorites as well as tips and tricks for the happiest camellias.
Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 12:30 PM / Plant Academy
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10 Steps to Your Best Tomato Year Yet Bill Thorness - Author, speaker, educator, Master Gardener 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 / Rainier Room
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Healing with the Trees Dr. JJ Pursell - Author, doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine, Masters in Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture
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 / Rainier Room
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Common Edible and Medicinal Garden Weeds of the PNW Sam Coffman - Author, gardener, herbalist MSAOM, RH[AHG], W-EMT
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 / Rainier Room
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Ikebana - Communication With Plant Materials Nobuko Relnick - Teacher of Sogetsu School of IKEBANA (Japanese flower arrangement) for 30+ years
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 / DIY Stage
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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 / Main Stage
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Grow Like a Chef Carissa Kasper - founder of Seed & Nourish Garden Design
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 / Hood Room
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Flowering Bulbs Crash Course for Beginners Sean and Allison McManus - Owners/hosts Spoken Garden, Authors The First Time Gardener
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 / DIY Stage
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Perennial Abundance: Growing More Food with Edible Perennials Marni Sorin - Garden Educator with Tilth Alliance
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 / Hood Room
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The Regenerative Garden: Small Scale Permaculture for the Home Garden Stephanie Rose - Award-winning author, Master Gardener, certified permaculture designer, herbalist, and wellness advocate
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 / Hood Room
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