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

February 19-23, 2025

Seattle Convention Center

705 Pike Street, Seattle, WA

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Find solutions for coping with new garden realities from rain gardening with grasses to water-wise and gravel gardens…

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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SEMINARS BY CATEGORY LIST

Grasses for a Greener World; Grasses and the Wider Environment Neil Lucas - Recipient of RHS Victoria Medal, Executive Director Knoll Gardens, Author Neil Lucas, recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal knows ornamental grasses. In this session, we'll take a look at how grasses can work in ‘functional’ horticulture, with a focus on rain gardens and, also, lawn replacement. Neil will also share how his interest in grasses led to a deeper understanding of our natural systems and the formation of a small charity, the Knoll Gardens Foundation, which is tasked with learning more about the relationship between Knoll naturalistic style and the gardens wildlife. Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 10:00 AM / Rainier Room	Grasses for a Greener World; Grasses and the Wider Environment Neil Lucas, recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal knows ornamental grasses. In this session, we'll take a look at how grasses can work in ‘functional’ horticulture, with a focus on rain gardens and, also, lawn replacement. Neil will also share how his interest in grasses led to a deeper understanding of our natural systems and the formation of a small charity, the Knoll Gardens Foundation, which is tasked with learning more about the relationship between Knoll naturalistic style and the gardens wildlife. Wednesday, February 19, 2025 10:00 AM
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	Disease and Death in the Garden: Pathological Musings from a Plant Doctor’s Perspective 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
How to Become a Resilient Gardener Kim Stoddart - Award-winning UK journalist and authority on resilient gardening. Editor Amateur Gardening magazine. Resilience in the garden is as much about the gardener's inner approach to it as nurturing plants in a new reality. Join resilient garden expert, Kim Stoddard, for all the how-to's for your garden and your heart as we, as humans, navigate this shift in our world and our gardens. Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 4:00 PM / Hood Room	How to Become a Resilient Gardener Resilience in the garden is as much about the gardener's inner approach to it as nurturing plants in a new reality. Join resilient garden expert, Kim Stoddard, for all the how-to's for your garden and your heart as we, as humans, navigate this shift in our world and our gardens. Wednesday, February 19, 2025 4:00 PM
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	Boost Biodiversity in Your Garden with Insect-Friendly Habitat 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
Gardening for Biodiversity Tony Avent - Author, owner Garden Delights Nursery While many conventional landscape architects and landscapers encourage gardeners to limit their plant palette, we prefer the opposite. Like our society at large, gardens are much healthier and ecologically beneficial when we maximize plant diversity. This requires understanding plant needs, habits, and sizes, and merging those with sound design principles. Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 10:00 AM / Rainier Room	Gardening for Biodiversity While many conventional landscape architects and landscapers encourage gardeners to limit their plant palette, we prefer the opposite. Like our society at large, gardens are much healthier and ecologically beneficial when we maximize plant diversity. This requires understanding plant needs, habits, and sizes, and merging those with sound design principles. Thursday, February 20, 2025 10:00 AM
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	Secrets of a Plant Whisperer 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
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	Gardening with PNW Hardy Native Annuals 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
The Water-Smart Garden: Strategies to Use Water Efficiently in a Changing Climate Noelle Johnson - Conserve Water, Cultivate Beauty It's time to talk about how much water we are using in our gardens. Groundwater supplies throughout the country are decreasing quickly due to drought and water overuse. Many regions are experiencing higher temperatures and less rain, which means that we are having to water our plants more. Water is being pumped from groundwater supplies, often faster than it is replaced, in both dry climate regions and those that experience higher rainfall amounts. In short, we are using more water than is being replenished, which isn't sustainable. Household water use for the lawn and plants around your home is higher than you think—ranging from 30% to 70%. The good news is that you can have a garden that uses water efficiently by taking strategic steps toward a more sustainable future. From your plant choices, soil amendments, and where you place your plants to exploring efficient irrigation methods and rain harvesting - there are many ways to decrease your reliance on supplemental water for your plants. We will also discuss waterwise techniques for container gardens and vegetable gardening. Overuse of water invites us to re-examine our relationship with water and not take it for granted. You'll come away with actionable steps that can be implemented in your own outdoor spaces. Friday, February 21, 2025 / 4:00 PM / Hood Room	The Water-Smart Garden: Strategies to Use Water Efficiently in a Changing Climate It's time to talk about how much water we are using in our gardens. Groundwater supplies throughout the country are decreasing quickly due to drought and water overuse. Many regions are experiencing higher temperatures and less rain, which means that we are having to water our plants more. Water is being pumped from groundwater supplies, often faster than it is replaced, in both dry climate regions and those that experience higher rainfall amounts. In short, we are using more water than is being replenished, which isn't sustainable. Household water use for the lawn and plants around your home is higher than you think—ranging from 30% to 70%. The good news is that you can have a garden that uses water efficiently by taking strategic steps toward a more sustainable future. From your plant choices, soil amendments, and where you place your plants to exploring efficient irrigation methods and rain harvesting - there are many ways to decrease your reliance on supplemental water for your plants. We will also discuss waterwise techniques for container gardens and vegetable gardening. Overuse of water invites us to re-examine our relationship with water and not take it for granted. You'll come away with actionable steps that can be implemented in your own outdoor spaces. Friday, February 21, 2025 4:00 PM
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	Learn About Mason Bees, Their Predators and How to Care for Them 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
Five Gardening Rules to Ignore David Mizejewski - Naturalist, author and television presenter with the National Wildlife Federation Beautiful gardens and well-designed landscapes are pleasing to the eye and give us a place to enjoy nature, right? Wrong. Though it might look green and natural, the standard American landscape is anything but and often does more harm than good to our planet. But it doesn't have to be that way! National Wildlife Federation Naturalist David Mizejewski will break down the five common gardening practices that hurt the natural world and offer alternatives that will help you create the perfect slice of nature, right outside your door for you and the wildlife that calls your space home, too. Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 10:00 AM / Rainier Room	Five Gardening Rules to Ignore Beautiful gardens and well-designed landscapes are pleasing to the eye and give us a place to enjoy nature, right? Wrong. Though it might look green and natural, the standard American landscape is anything but and often does more harm than good to our planet. But it doesn't have to be that way! National Wildlife Federation Naturalist David Mizejewski will break down the five common gardening practices that hurt the natural world and offer alternatives that will help you create the perfect slice of nature, right outside your door for you and the wildlife that calls your space home, too. Saturday, February 22, 2025 10:00 AM
Gravel Gardening Andrew Bunting - Vice President of Horticulture at Pennsylvania Horticulture Society In this presentation, join Andrew Bunting, Vice President of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society as he explores gravel gardening, a new water-wise alternative to more traditional garden design and landscaping approaches. Learn about the many aesthetic and ecological benefits of gravel gardens, including offering an easy stormwater management solution, creating habitat for vital pollinators, and providing hardiness and resiliency, while also adding drama and ornament in the garden. The presentation will showcase examples of the versatility and beauty of gravel gardens ranging from Bunting’s own award-winning home garden Belvidere, alongside corporate campuses and other non- residential locations. You will learn how to establish gravel gardens from conception to final execution and will acquire information for key considerations such as infrastructure, plant choices, planting approaches, material selections, and planting design. Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 11:30 AM / Rainier Room	Gravel Gardening In this presentation, join Andrew Bunting, Vice President of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society as he explores gravel gardening, a new water-wise alternative to more traditional garden design and landscaping approaches. Learn about the many aesthetic and ecological benefits of gravel gardens, including offering an easy stormwater management solution, creating habitat for vital pollinators, and providing hardiness and resiliency, while also adding drama and ornament in the garden. The presentation will showcase examples of the versatility and beauty of gravel gardens ranging from Bunting’s own award-winning home garden Belvidere, alongside corporate campuses and other non- residential locations. You will learn how to establish gravel gardens from conception to final execution and will acquire information for key considerations such as infrastructure, plant choices, planting approaches, material selections, and planting design. Saturday, February 22, 2025 11:30 AM
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	Vermicomposting 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
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	Soil Care Basics 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
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	Dry Gardening in the Pacific Northwest: Tips, Tricks and Plant Selection Ideas 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
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	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
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	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