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

Thursday, February 20, 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	Gardening for Biodiversity Tony Avent - Author, owner Garden Delights Nursery View More 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.	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
11:30 AM	More Wow and Less Work; Grasses and Their Place in Our Gardens Neil Lucas - Recipient of RHS Victoria Medal, Executive Director Knoll Gardens, Author View More Neil Lucas, author of Grasses for Gardens and Landscapes (Timber Press 2023), shares his decades of experience designing with grasses. An advocate for their beauty, utility and variety they have to offer, Neil takes a look at some of the unique qualities that help make them such valuable plants for todays gardens. A frequent contributor, and winner, at the Chelsea Flower Show, Neil's deep understanding and appreciation for grasses and their vast applications will have you rethinking big impact, low maintenance grass options.	More Wow and Less Work; Grasses and Their Place in Our Gardens Neil Lucas, author of Grasses for Gardens and Landscapes (Timber Press 2023), shares his decades of experience designing with grasses. An advocate for their beauty, utility and variety they have to offer, Neil takes a look at some of the unique qualities that help make them such valuable plants for todays gardens. A frequent contributor, and winner, at the Chelsea Flower Show, Neil's deep understanding and appreciation for grasses and their vast applications will have you rethinking big impact, low maintenance grass options. Thursday, February 20, 2025 11:30 AM
1:00 PM	Five Years/Five Projects Jacqueline van der Kloet - Author, landscape designer, "Bulb Queen of the Netherlands" View More The highlights of five different projects in different countries. Each of the projects took Jacqueline almost a year to design, plant and experience the first results. They all feature a base of perennial plants, accompanied by combinations of spring flowering bulbs. Only one of these projects was a temporary one. The remaining four still exist and even get better during their growth. Get the inside scoop on beautiful gardens worldwide: Schloss Ippenburg, a privately owned small castle in Bad Essen, Germany Grote Kerkplein, a public green area around the oldest church of Rotterdam Shinko Central Square, a public park/green walkway near the centre of Yokohama Park of Dutch Dreams, a public park and tribute to Piet Oudolf in Doetinchem, The Netherlands The Lurie Garden in Millennium Park, Chicago, USA	Five Years/Five Projects The highlights of five different projects in different countries. Each of the projects took Jacqueline almost a year to design, plant and experience the first results. They all feature a base of perennial plants, accompanied by combinations of spring flowering bulbs. Only one of these projects was a temporary one. The remaining four still exist and even get better during their growth. Get the inside scoop on beautiful gardens worldwide: Schloss Ippenburg, a privately owned small castle in Bad Essen, Germany Grote Kerkplein, a public green area around the oldest church of Rotterdam Shinko Central Square, a public park/green walkway near the centre of Yokohama Park of Dutch Dreams, a public park and tribute to Piet Oudolf in Doetinchem, The Netherlands The Lurie Garden in Millennium Park, Chicago, USA Thursday, February 20, 2025 1:00 PM
2:30 PM	Clipping Time: Exploring The Gibson Technique Mike P. Gibson - World renowned topiary artist View More 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.	Clipping Time: Exploring The Gibson Technique 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
4:30 PM	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 View More 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.	Container Conundrums: Mastering the Art of Extreme Design 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

Hood Room

(All seminars 60 minutes unless noted)

9:30 AM	Companion Planting - Facts or Folklore? Linda Chalker-Scott - Author, Ph.D. in Horticulture, ISA and ASCA consulting arborist, WSU Professor View More 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).	Companion Planting - Facts or Folklore? 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
10:45 AM	The Fragrant Tea Garden Stefani Bittner - author, owner Homestead Design Collective Rose Loveall - owner of Morningsun Farm View More Join Morningsun Herb Farm owner Rose Loveall and Homestead Design Collective Owner and author Stefani Bittner for an interactive seminar on creating a Fragrant Tea Garden. Stefani and Rose will discuss how to design the garden space, how to choose which plants to grow, and finally how to harvest and brew the most fragrant herbs and flowers the garden has to offer into delicious and healthful teas.	The Fragrant Tea Garden Join Morningsun Herb Farm owner Rose Loveall and Homestead Design Collective Owner and author Stefani Bittner for an interactive seminar on creating a Fragrant Tea Garden. Stefani and Rose will discuss how to design the garden space, how to choose which plants to grow, and finally how to harvest and brew the most fragrant herbs and flowers the garden has to offer into delicious and healthful teas. Thursday, February 20, 2025 10:45 AM
12:00 PM	Gardening with PNW Hardy Native Annuals Paul Bonine - Native plant grower, expert and owner Xera Plants, Portland, Oregon View More 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.	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
1:15 PM	Secrets of a Plant Whisperer Anne Biklé - Gardener, soil health expert, co-author of The Hidden Half of Nature and What Your Food Ate View More 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.	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
2:45 PM	Party Crashers: Self Seeding Annuals C.L. Fornari - Author of eight books, host of GardenLine on WXTK (Cape Cod, Massachusetts) award-winning podcast co-host Plantrama View More You didn’t invite them to your garden party but they came anyway. Maybe they arrived with another plant, or had been invited to the celebration in previous seasons. Now they show up every summer whether summoned or not. Yet these Party Crashers arrive so colorfully dressed, and with such spirit, that you allow some of them to stay. This talk is about self-seeding annuals that can’t resist a good gathering. It’s also about the gardener being a good host; how to recognize which plants will be the life of the party, and which ones we should escort off the premises. This talk will be especially interesting for those who love free plants and flexible gardening.	Party Crashers: Self Seeding Annuals You didn’t invite them to your garden party but they came anyway. Maybe they arrived with another plant, or had been invited to the celebration in previous seasons. Now they show up every summer whether summoned or not. Yet these Party Crashers arrive so colorfully dressed, and with such spirit, that you allow some of them to stay. This talk is about self-seeding annuals that can’t resist a good gathering. It’s also about the gardener being a good host; how to recognize which plants will be the life of the party, and which ones we should escort off the premises. This talk will be especially interesting for those who love free plants and flexible gardening. Thursday, February 20, 2025 2:45 PM
4:00 PM	Garden to the Max Teresa Paige Woodard - Award-winning author, educator and America in Bloom advisor View More For those of you compelled to make room for “just one more plant,” this talk is for you. In Teresa’s newest book Garden to the Max (Timber Press 2024), she dives into the maximalist style as it boldly unfolds in the garden. She will take you on an inspiring journey across the country with gorgeous images by photographer Bob Stefko of 20 maximalist gardeners. She'll share how these talented garden creatives curate plant collections, defy rules, build drama with multiples of plants, or max out all-sized spaces to support nature. While many are drawn to the maximalist style, it’s not as simple as throwing everything and the kitchen sink and seeing what sticks. There’s artistry in curating collections not to look like a hoarder’s mess. There’s finesse in using bold colors without appearing gaudy. There are tricks for daringly growing tropical plants outside their traditional growing zones. And there’s a skill to magically layering plants without creating garden chaos. Teresa will encourage you with these maximalist gardeners' ideas and their bounty of plants, showy colors, foliage patterns, statement containers and thoughtful accessories. Her wish is for gardeners to find great joy in designing highly personalized jam-packed patios, exuberant tropical paradises, wildly diverse habitats for birds and butterflies, and stylized plant collections. Besides, the Earth and all its wildlife will thank you.	Garden to the Max For those of you compelled to make room for “just one more plant,” this talk is for you. In Teresa’s newest book Garden to the Max (Timber Press 2024), she dives into the maximalist style as it boldly unfolds in the garden. She will take you on an inspiring journey across the country with gorgeous images by photographer Bob Stefko of 20 maximalist gardeners. She'll share how these talented garden creatives curate plant collections, defy rules, build drama with multiples of plants, or max out all-sized spaces to support nature. While many are drawn to the maximalist style, it’s not as simple as throwing everything and the kitchen sink and seeing what sticks. There’s artistry in curating collections not to look like a hoarder’s mess. There’s finesse in using bold colors without appearing gaudy. There are tricks for daringly growing tropical plants outside their traditional growing zones. And there’s a skill to magically layering plants without creating garden chaos. Teresa will encourage you with these maximalist gardeners' ideas and their bounty of plants, showy colors, foliage patterns, statement containers and thoughtful accessories. Her wish is for gardeners to find great joy in designing highly personalized jam-packed patios, exuberant tropical paradises, wildly diverse habitats for birds and butterflies, and stylized plant collections. Besides, the Earth and all its wildlife will thank you. Thursday, February 20, 2025 4:00 PM
5:00 PM	Strolling the Garden Camera in Hand Doreen Wynja - Author, Eye of the Lady inc professional garden photographer View More 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...	Strolling the Garden Camera in Hand 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

DIY Stage

(All seminars 60 minutes unless noted)

10:00 AM	Toolbox Essentials - Must Have Tools for Container Gardening Cindy Funes - Container Designer, Owner Garden Revelry LLC, President, Digging In Association View More 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.	Toolbox Essentials - Must Have Tools for Container Gardening 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
11:45 AM	Dream Garden Terrariums Robin Haglund - Educator, Writer & Founder/President Garden Mentors® View More 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!	Dream Garden Terrariums 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
1:30 PM	ROCK ON! Patrick R. Ryan - Master gardener, musician and education specialist at Alaska Botanical Garden View More 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.	ROCK ON! 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
3:15 PM	DIY Flower Seed Paper Janice Cox - Author Natural Beauty at Home, natural cosmetics expert View More 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.	DIY Flower Seed Paper 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
5:00 PM	Moss Gardens: A Winter Super Power! Susan Larder - Sustainable florist, Slow Flowers Society member View More An exciting part of being a seasonal and sustainable designer is working within the constraints of the season. Those constraints are our opportunities. Take the moss garden... For Susan, winter means snow cover and not a bloom until hellebores in April. Yet, she has turned this seeming lack into an opportunity. In this demonstration, I will demonstrate building different sizes of moss gardens using substrate, biochar, sand, moss, bulb kits, and other natural elements.	Moss Gardens: A Winter Super Power! An exciting part of being a seasonal and sustainable designer is working within the constraints of the season. Those constraints are our opportunities. Take the moss garden... For Susan, winter means snow cover and not a bloom until hellebores in April. Yet, she has turned this seeming lack into an opportunity. In this demonstration, I will demonstrate building different sizes of moss gardens using substrate, biochar, sand, moss, bulb kits, and other natural elements. Thursday, February 20, 2025 5:00 PM

Main Stage

11:00 AM

Container Showdown: Thursday

Kim Stoddart - Award-winning UK journalist and authority on resilient gardening. Editor Amateur Gardening magazine.

Allison McManus - Co-owner/co-host Spoken Garden, Co-Author The First Time Gardener.

2:30 PM

Blooms & Bubbles: Make a Seasonal & Sustainable Centerpiece [additional ticket required]

Gina Lett-Shrewsberry - Sustainable floral designer and event stylist, member Slow Flower Society

Misty Vanderweele - Award-winning floriculturist and founder of All Dahlia'd Up Flower Farm

4:00 PM

Small Space Solutions with Epic Gardening: Porch Pots

Erin Schanen - Gardener, writer, video creator and founder of The Impatient Gardener

Traveler’s Tea

3:30 PM

Hidden Gardens of Japan [additional ticket required]

Lois Moss - Owner, Tour 2 Explore More

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.