From native annuals to native pollinators… find new ways to support the ecosystem in your garden and beyond with this year’s amazing speaker lineup…
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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My Plant is Better Than Your Plant Nita-Jo Rountree - Garden Designer, Educator, Garden Celebrity
Ciscoe Morris - Author, Media Personality, National Treasure When it comes to pollinator plants, even the best of friends can disagree! Beloved local garden personalities Ciscoe Morris and Nita-Jo Rountree share their favorite picks for attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds—each with their own spirited opinion, of course. Attendees will discover how to design pollinator-friendly gardens that burst with color, fragrance, and life while supporting a healthy ecosystem. Expect laughter, lively debate, and plenty of take-home ideas for creating a garden that both you and the pollinators will love.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 / 11:30am / Rainier Room
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Futurescaping: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Technology Erica Grivas - Award-winning Garden Journalist
Your garden can thrive in a changing climate... and be more beautiful, abundant, and healthy than ever. As innovations transform how we garden, we’re also rediscovering time-honored techniques that have sustained communities for centuries. What can ancient growing systems teach us that AI can't... and vice versa? From drones to food forests, gardeners are exploring modern tools and traditional approaches to create diverse, thriving landscapes. From water conservation to wildlife habitat, discover fresh ideas to make your garden resilient and future ready.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 / 12:00pm / Adams Room
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Great Plant Picks - Water Wise Wonders: Drought-tolerant Plants for PNW Gardens Richie Steffen - Executive Director, Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden
Do you hate paying those high water bills to keep your plants alive all summer? Great Plant Picks, a non-profit education program of the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden, has a great selection of drought-tolerant trees, shrubs and perennials that will thrive with minimal water. Learn the best choices for dry shade or blazing sun to create a beautiful garden that will look good in any season.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 / 1:00pm / Main Stage
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Native Plants in Flower Gardens: Beauty for Bouquets, Strength for Ecosystems Briana Bosch - Author, Founder of Blossom and Branch Farm
Native plants offer gardeners the best of both worlds: stunning blooms for arrangements and vital ecological benefits for pollinators, birds, and soil health. In this session, attendees will learn how to weave native species into both cutting and ornamental gardens. The discussion highlights why natives matter, which varieties offer great vase life, and how to design plantings that blend them with traditional cut flowers. With insights from The Regenerative Gardener’s Handbook (Storey Publishing, 2026), attendees will gain practical ideas for creating sustainable, pollinator-friendly gardens that thrive in every season.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 / 1:30pm / Adams Room
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Plant It Where the Sun Don’t Shine Greg Butler - BLA, ATA–Designer, Educator, Owner of Design of the Times
In the land of tall timber, dry shade is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most common gardening challenges. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of plants that can thrive in it beautifully. This seminar explores how to assess and improve site conditions beneath conifers, in deciduous woodlands, or along north-facing walls. Attendees will discover a wide range of trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers that thrive in low light and limited moisture... proving that even the shadiest corners of the garden can be lush, colorful, and full of life.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 / 4:00pm / Hood Room
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Native or Not: Should We Be Growing Non-native plants? A Heronswood Perspective. Ross Bayton - Botanist, Author, Director of Heronswood Garden
Debby Purser - Tribal Liaison at Heronswood Garden The Heronswood Garden in Kingston, Washington, is world-renowned as the creation of international plant collector Dan Hinkley. Home to an extraordinary array of plants from around the globe, it is also the only public botanical garden in the United States owned by a Native American tribe. In recent years, Heronswood has expanded its collections to include many native species, especially those venerated by the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. Join Garden Director Dr. Ross Bayton and Tribal Liaison Debby Purser as they explore the complementary roles of native and non-native plants in Pacific Northwest gardens.
Thursday, February 19, 2026 / 11:30am / Rainier Room
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Bird-Friendly Gardening: How to Make Your Garden Attractive to Birds Jen McGuinness - Award-winning Journalist and Author
Even as many bird populations face decline, every backyard garden has the power to make a difference. In this hopeful and practical seminar, learn what birds need to thrive, how to use organic practices and native plants to meet those needs, and which trees, shrubs, and flowers attract specific species. With inspiring ideas and easy actions, this session shows how helping birds also helps create more balanced, life-filled gardens for us all.
Thursday, February 19, 2026 / 4:30pm / Adams Room
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If A Tree Falls, Leave It! Evan Meyer - President and CEO, Bloedel Reserve
Gardeners often strive for perfection by pulling every weed, pruning every branch, and covering every bare patch. But nature sometimes has other ideas. This thoughtful seminar explores how embracing nature’s unpredictability can bring unexpected rewards, from richer habitats to more dynamic garden features. Learn how working with nature, rather than against it, opens space for creativity, resilience, and connection. By co-designing with natural processes, gardeners can cultivate landscapes that thrive in partnership with the land—planting not only beauty, but also seeds of hope for a healthier future.
Friday, February 20, 2026 / 10:00am / Rainier Room
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Summer & Autumn Bulbs Jennifer Rose Carey - Author, Horticulturist, Garden Educator
Plan ahead now for a spectacular summer and autumn bulb display. Learn how to use The Essential Guide to Bulbs (Timber Press, 2025) as a roadmap for creating gardens that bloom beautifully long after spring. Dahlias and other summer bulbs take center stage as the session covers planning, planting, and pairing techniques for vibrant color and lasting impact. Attendees will leave ready to design gardens that transition seamlessly from one season to the next—alive with texture, energy, and the dazzling drama of bulbs in full bloom.
Friday, February 20, 2026 / 12:00pm / Hood Room
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Pollinators and Food Gardens: A Community Connection David Mizejewski - Naturalist, Author, Television Personality
Community food gardens offer a host of benefits... from combating urban blight to increasing food sovereignty to supporting declining pollinators. While food gardens focus on produce, incorporating native plants can boost productivity by attracting pollinators, improving soil health, and reducing runoff pollution into local watersheds. Native plants also enhance the beauty of community gardens and require no additional water or fertilizer once established, making them low-maintenance additions. Learn more about native plants, the pollinators they support, and how they can enhance your food gardens from National Wildlife Federation naturalist David Mizejewski.
Friday, February 20, 2026 / 1:00pm / Rainier Room
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Natural Color from the Garden Janice Cox - Author, Natural Beauty Expert
Add a splash of color to your life... straight from the garden! This hands-on demo explores how to create beautiful, eco-friendly dyes and watercolor paints using common plants found right outside your door. From the golden glow of Oregon grape to the deep purples of hollyhock and the soft greens of yarrow, nature’s palette is vibrant and abundant. Learn simple techniques for making natural pigments to dye linens, paint garden-inspired art, or start a dye garden of your own. Author and floral craft expert Janice Cox brings color, creativity, and joy to every project.
Friday, February 20, 2026 / 1:30pm / DIY Stage
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Are “Alien” Plants “Bad”? Doug Tallamy - T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture, University of Delaware
Some argue that non-native plants benefiting certain pollinators or birds should be embraced, but what is the full ecological cost? Tallamy presents research comparing the impact of introduced species versus native ones, showing that the latter support far richer and more stable food webs, making a compelling case for prioritizing native plants. Some argue that non-native plants benefiting certain pollinators or birds should be embraced, but what is the full ecological cost? Tallamy presents research comparing the impact of introduced species versus native ones, showing that the latter support far richer and more stable food webs, making a compelling case for prioritizing native plants. Saturday, February 21, 2026 / 10:00am / Rainier Room
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Interview with Doug Tallamy: Saving Nature at Home Doug Tallamy - T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture, University of Delaware
Join Jennifer Jewell for a thought-provoking Cultivating Place LIVE! interview with ecologist and bestselling author Doug Tallamy. Together they explore practical, hopeful ways each of us can make a difference through our own backyards, as captured in Tallamy’s latest book How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard. From native plants to the insects and birds they sustain, this lively conversation reminds us that real change begins right outside our doors.
Saturday, February 21, 2026 / 1:30pm / Adams room
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Spring Bulbs & Their Herbaceous Companions Jennifer Rose Carey - Author, Horticulturist, Garden Educator
Celebrate the joy of spring’s first blooms in this uplifting seminar devoted to early bulbs and their perfect companions. Learn how to layer tulips, snowdrops, daffodils, and other seasonal favorites to create displays that awaken the garden after winter’s rest. The session explores combinations of textures, colors, and forms that bring vibrancy to borders, containers, and naturalized plantings alike. With expert guidance and fresh inspiration, participants will leave ready to design gardens that sparkle with life and color from the very first days of spring.
Saturday, February 21, 2026 / 2:30pm / Rainier Room
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Living Wreaths: Seasonal Design with Plants Dee Hall Goodwin - Flower Farmer, Designer, Founder of Mermaid City Flowers
Go beyond the traditional wreath and discover how to create a living work of art. This demonstration showcases sustainable techniques for using moss, succulents, and seasonal bulbs to design wreaths that continue to grow and evolve over time. Attendees will gain inspiration and practical ideas for bringing the beauty of living plants indoors, creating pieces that reflect the rhythm of the seasons and the joy of nature’s slow transformation.
Saturday, February 21, 2026 / 5:00pm / DIY stage
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Next Steps for Nature: Questions (and Answers) for How to Save Nature in Our Yards Doug Tallamy, T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture, University of Delaware
Even after reading books and attending talks, many still have pressing questions about ecological landscaping. In this talk, Tallamy addresses common concerns on biodiversity, invasive species, native plants, and conservation strategies, providing practical guidance and motivation to restore nature in everyday spaces. Even after reading books and attending talks, many still have pressing questions about ecological landscaping. In this talk, Tallamy addresses common concerns on biodiversity, invasive species, native plants, and conservation strategies, providing practical guidance and motivation to restore nature in everyday spaces. Sunday, February 22, 2026 / 10:00am / Rainier Room
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Reclaiming Kinship with our Plant Relatives LoriAnn Bird - Métis Herbalist, Educator, Author
Rediscover the deep, interconnected relationship between people, plants, and the living world. This reflective session explores how we can regenerate and care for Mother Earth, who offers abundance through her gifts of life. Attendees will consider who to invite into their gardens to rebuild a reciprocal relationship with native plants... their nourishing wild edibles, their healing medicines, and their quiet beauty. Rooted in gratitude and respect, this session reminds us that every act of tending the earth is also an act of receiving, reconnecting, and belonging.
Sunday, February 22, 2026 / 3:00pm / Adams Room
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