Gardeners have known all along that being around plants makes things better. Join special speakers at the 2025 show to learn more about how your garden can feed your soul as well as your body…

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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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
  

Clipping Time: Exploring The Gibson Technique

Mike P. Gibson - World renowned topiary artist

Experience the art of topiary like never before! Join Mike Gibson, a world-renowned topiary artist who will guide you through the entire process of creating a stunning topiary masterpiece. From the initial shaping to the final touches, you'll see firsthand the precision and creativity involved in this remarkable craft. As Gibson works, he'll also deliver an engaging lecture about his unique approach and the innovative Gibson Technique that sets his work apart. This is a rare chance to gain insider knowledge, learn valuable techniques, and be inspired by one of the leading figures in the world on topiary art.
Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 2:30 PM / Rainier Room
  

DIY Flower Seed Paper

Janice Cox - Author Natural Beauty at Home, natural cosmetics expert

Seed paper is a popular trend right now. Companies and garden enthusiasts are using recycled paper with seeds, herbs, and dried botanicals embedded in it as postcards, invitations and business cards. Imagine sending someone a beautiful card that also grows flowers. In this session, learn how to upcycle scrap paper such as junk mail, newspaper, shopping bags and computer documents into beautiful and useable seed paper creations.
Thursday, February 20, 2025 / 3:15 PM / DIY Stage
  

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
  

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
  

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
  

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