THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

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

All seminars at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival are FREE with your ticket!

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What’s a ProTip? Some speakers provide a handout for their sessions. We post them each evening of the show for you to download - just click the icon. They are available for three months post show.

Rainier Room

(All seminars 60 minutes unless noted)

10:00 AM	Inside the Design Nick McCullough - Landscape designer, owner of McCullough's Landscape & Nursery, LLC, and author, American Roots View More As a grower, designer and installer, McCullough’s Landscape & Nursery has the benefit of seeing projects through from inception to maintenance. Owner and lead designer Nick McCullough will share how this process leads to exceptional end results. From growing the plants, to design and ongoing maintenance, he’ll share how collaboration with the homeowners is key at each and every step.	Inside the Design As a grower, designer and installer, McCullough’s Landscape & Nursery has the benefit of seeing projects through from inception to maintenance. Owner and lead designer Nick McCullough will share how this process leads to exceptional end results. From growing the plants, to design and ongoing maintenance, he’ll share how collaboration with the homeowners is key at each and every step. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 10:00 AM
11:30 AM	Functional Planting: Creating Adaptive Plant Systems Thomas Rainer - Landscape architect, horticulture futurist, and principal at Phyto Studio View More In an era of climate change and species extinction, designed plantings offer a unique potential to address today’s environmental challenges. Yet traditional horticultural approaches are often carbon intensive, resource-dependent, and high maintenance. This talk presents a powerful alternative to traditional horticulture—designed plantings that function like naturally-occurring plant communities. Join landscape architect Thomas Rainer, a leading voice in ecological landscape design, to learn how to translate wild inspirations into designed systems, and how to layer plants in biodiverse assemblages. Thomas will share recent examples of Phyto Studio’s design projects for public sites and botanical gardens.	Functional Planting: Creating Adaptive Plant Systems In an era of climate change and species extinction, designed plantings offer a unique potential to address today’s environmental challenges. Yet traditional horticultural approaches are often carbon intensive, resource-dependent, and high maintenance. This talk presents a powerful alternative to traditional horticulture—designed plantings that function like naturally-occurring plant communities. Join landscape architect Thomas Rainer, a leading voice in ecological landscape design, to learn how to translate wild inspirations into designed systems, and how to layer plants in biodiverse assemblages. Thomas will share recent examples of Phyto Studio’s design projects for public sites and botanical gardens. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 11:30 AM
1:00 PM	Colour in the Garden Jo Thompson - Landscape and garden designer, speaker, and author, The Gardener's Palette View More People have been wrestling with colour for a long time: how to define it in words, how to capture it in form, how to harness it in thought, how to apply it in our world. My book The Gardener's Palette concerns itself not just with colours in the garden but the meanings and effects created by them and their interaction. What is a specific colour? How to define the colour of a plant that forms a key part of a planting combination: do we ignore it and work despite it, or do we embrace it and use it to inspire the colours around it? And then, how to combine them to create a picture which changes minute by minute depending on the weather, the season, the temperature, the light?	Colour in the Garden People have been wrestling with colour for a long time: how to define it in words, how to capture it in form, how to harness it in thought, how to apply it in our world. My book The Gardener's Palette concerns itself not just with colours in the garden but the meanings and effects created by them and their interaction. What is a specific colour? How to define the colour of a plant that forms a key part of a planting combination: do we ignore it and work despite it, or do we embrace it and use it to inspire the colours around it? And then, how to combine them to create a picture which changes minute by minute depending on the weather, the season, the temperature, the light? THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 1:00 PM
2:30 PM (90 minutes)	Plant People Panel: Next Phase of the Houseplant Craze Moderator Jennifer Jewell - Award-winning author and public radio podcast host of "Cultivating Place" Conversations on Natural History and Human Impulse to Garden" Eliza Blank - Founder & CEO of The Sill Kamili Bell Hill - Planterior designer, author, and founder of PlantBlerd Alexa Patti - Head Grower, Little Prince of Oregon Nursery Other panelists to be announced later. View More The last decade has seen growth of a whole new type of gardener: the House Plant Parent. This movement - fueled by social media, direct-to-consumer options and Covid isolation - has altered many people's perception of gardening forever. Join Eliza Blank from The Sill (arguably the founding voice in the direct-to-consumer house plant world) and houseplant stylist and author Kamili Bell Hill to discuss what's next in this explosive and ever evolving sector. This panel is moderated by Jennifer Jewel host of NPR's award winning podcast Cultivating Place. Each panel is 90 minutes - 60 minutes for the panel, a quick break then 30 minutes to answer attendee questions.	Plant People Panel: Next Phase of the Houseplant Craze The last decade has seen growth of a whole new type of gardener: the House Plant Parent. This movement - fueled by social media, direct-to-consumer options and Covid isolation - has altered many people's perception of gardening forever. Join Eliza Blank from The Sill (arguably the founding voice in the direct-to-consumer house plant world) and houseplant stylist and author Kamili Bell Hill to discuss what's next in this explosive and ever evolving sector. This panel is moderated by Jennifer Jewel host of NPR's award winning podcast Cultivating Place. Each panel is 90 minutes - 60 minutes for the panel, a quick break then 30 minutes to answer attendee questions. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 2:30 PM
4:30 PM	What's Love Got To Do With It? Heather Andrews - Award-winning pollinator garden designer, photographer, and garden writer View More Like an intoxicating perfume, chemicals in certain plants, once consumed, make butterflies more attractive. New clinical data suggest these chemicals act like a "pharmacy", which ensure the health of butterflies during mating season, and enable some butterfly eggs to be unpalatable to predators. Learn which herbs and plants to incorporate into your pollinator habitat so you can help butterflies' health.	What's Love Got To Do With It? Like an intoxicating perfume, chemicals in certain plants, once consumed, make butterflies more attractive. New clinical data suggest these chemicals act like a "pharmacy", which ensure the health of butterflies during mating season, and enable some butterfly eggs to be unpalatable to predators. Learn which herbs and plants to incorporate into your pollinator habitat so you can help butterflies' health. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 4:30 PM
6:00 PM	The Beautiful Edible Garden Stefani Bittner - Owner of Homestead Design Collective and author View More We've all seen the vegetable garden overflowing with corn, tomatoes, and zucchini that looks good for a short time, but then quickly turns straggly and unattractive (usually right before friends show up for a backyard barbecue). If you want to grow food but you don't want your yard to look like a farm, what can you do? Stefani Bittner, the author of The Beautiful Edible Garden, Harvest & The Fragrant Flower Garden shares how to not only grow organic fruits and vegetables, but also make your garden a place of year-round beauty that is appealing, enjoyable, and fits your personal style.	The Beautiful Edible Garden We've all seen the vegetable garden overflowing with corn, tomatoes, and zucchini that looks good for a short time, but then quickly turns straggly and unattractive (usually right before friends show up for a backyard barbecue). If you want to grow food but you don't want your yard to look like a farm, what can you do? Stefani Bittner, the author of The Beautiful Edible Garden, Harvest & The Fragrant Flower Garden shares how to not only grow organic fruits and vegetables, but also make your garden a place of year-round beauty that is appealing, enjoyable, and fits your personal style. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 6:00 PM

Hood Room

(All seminars 60 minutes)

9:30 AM	Inspired Garden Design Lessons from Magnificent Gardens & Gardeners Kerry Ann Mendez - Award-winning speaker, garden designer and author of 4 gardening books, including The Right-Size Flower Garden View More Stunning gardens will be our classroom for emphasizing striking design essentials that elevate gardens from ordinary to sublime, regardless of the hardiness zone or sunlight conditions. We will consider texture, movement, color, repetition, focal points, vertical elements and more.	Inspired Garden Design Lessons from Magnificent Gardens & Gardeners Stunning gardens will be our classroom for emphasizing striking design essentials that elevate gardens from ordinary to sublime, regardless of the hardiness zone or sunlight conditions. We will consider texture, movement, color, repetition, focal points, vertical elements and more. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 9:30 AM
10:45 AM	All Season Grass Garden. Sustainable, Drought Tolerant and beautiful. Susan Calhoun - Author and regional reporter for Fine Gardening magazine, an award-winning garden writer, designer, and speaker View More A grass garden can be a beautiful garden year round. Evergreen grasses mix with small bulbs and daffodils early in the spring. April and May bring next swathe of color and texture with Kniphofia, Allium, and salvias. Agapanthus are pushing up and herbaceous grasses are waking up and searching for the sun through the soil. June and July. This garden can take the heat with echinacea, daisy, agapanthus, salvias, and agastaches blooming like crazy. Grasses are bright green and waving in the wind. Learn how to make your year beautiful with a garden of grasses...	All Season Grass Garden. Sustainable, Drought Tolerant and beautiful. A grass garden can be a beautiful garden year round. Evergreen grasses mix with small bulbs and daffodils early in the spring. April and May bring next swathe of color and texture with Kniphofia, Allium, and salvias. Agapanthus are pushing up and herbaceous grasses are waking up and searching for the sun through the soil. June and July. This garden can take the heat with echinacea, daisy, agapanthus, salvias, and agastaches blooming like crazy. Grasses are bright green and waving in the wind. Learn how to make your year beautiful with a garden of grasses... THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 10:45 AM
12:00 PM	Mind the Gap: Nature's Role in Health and Wellbeing Shannon Marder - Occupational therapist and co-author, Nature-Based Allied Health Practice Amy Wagenfeld - Occupational therapist and award-winning author, "Therapeutic Gardens: Design for Healing Spaces" View More In this seminar, based on the book Nature-Based Allied Health Practice: Creative and Evidence-Based Strategies, we will discuss different parts of our lives where nature-exposure and gardening may have a role in nurturing health and wellbeing. The seminar will open with our personal stories of using gardening as therapy. Doable examples of “how to” incorporate nature into quality time with family, work, health-care, and play will be shared. At the end of the seminar, participants should feel more comfortable using beautiful, livable, family-friendly outdoor spaces in ways that benefit multiple aspects of their lives.	Mind the Gap: Nature's Role in Health and Wellbeing In this seminar, based on the book Nature-Based Allied Health Practice: Creative and Evidence-Based Strategies, we will discuss different parts of our lives where nature-exposure and gardening may have a role in nurturing health and wellbeing. The seminar will open with our personal stories of using gardening as therapy. Doable examples of “how to” incorporate nature into quality time with family, work, health-care, and play will be shared. At the end of the seminar, participants should feel more comfortable using beautiful, livable, family-friendly outdoor spaces in ways that benefit multiple aspects of their lives. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 12:00 PM
1:15 PM	English Border Style with Pollinator Friendly Plants Heather Andrews - Award-winning pollinator garden designer, photographer, and garden writer View More How do you create an English-style look that is low maintenance and also high performing? Native plants offer choices that are good for you and wildlife! In this presentation we will discuss: Host plants for native butterflies and moths What native plants are "keystone", meaning the most beneficial for your geography to host the most butterflies possible What combination of plants and how host plants are placed strategically will maximize butterfly activity in your garden Why you should be a ìlazy gardenerî and delay spring clean up to help overwintering butterflies, bugs, moths and birds"	English Border Style with Pollinator Friendly Plants How do you create an English-style look that is low maintenance and also high performing? Native plants offer choices that are good for you and wildlife! In this presentation we will discuss: Host plants for native butterflies and moths What native plants are "keystone", meaning the most beneficial for your geography to host the most butterflies possible What combination of plants and how host plants are placed strategically will maximize butterfly activity in your garden Why you should be a ìlazy gardenerî and delay spring clean up to help overwintering butterflies, bugs, moths and birds" THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 1:15 PM
2:45 PM	Garden Therapy: Five Minutes a Day to Transform Your Life Stephanie Rose - Award-winning author, Garden Made and Garden Alchemy; founder of GardenTherapy.ca View More Spending just five minutes with plants can make a world of difference to your wellbeing. Stephanie Rose shares her journey of rehabilitation from severe disability starting with just five minutes a week in the garden. In this seminar, you’ll see the unbelievable transformation that can happen by starting small and get a bounty of quick ideas to include plants in your life and home. From making botanical bath and body products and herbal cleaners to natural candles and garden crafts, you will leave this session with inspiration, motivation, and surely a few laughs!	Garden Therapy: Five Minutes a Day to Transform Your Life Spending just five minutes with plants can make a world of difference to your wellbeing. Stephanie Rose shares her journey of rehabilitation from severe disability starting with just five minutes a week in the garden. In this seminar, you’ll see the unbelievable transformation that can happen by starting small and get a bounty of quick ideas to include plants in your life and home. From making botanical bath and body products and herbal cleaners to natural candles and garden crafts, you will leave this session with inspiration, motivation, and surely a few laughs! THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 2:45 PM
4:00 PM	The Instagrammable Indoor Garden Ellen Zachos - Award-winning co-host, Plantrama Podcast, and author, The Forager’s Pantry, Backyard Foraging and The Wildcrafted Cocktail View More We all know that Instagram focuses on the sunny side of life, but how about when it comes to houseplants? Can yours really look that good? Sure! As long as you understand a few horticultural and design basics, you can create an indoor garden that is lush, low-maintenance, and infinitely Instagrammable. We'll bust a few IG myths along the way, and you'll learn how to display healthy, gorgeous houseplants with a minimum amount of work. Handouts will include a check list for analyzing your home growing conditions, as well as a list of plants that will thrive in a range of situations.	The Instagrammable Indoor Garden We all know that Instagram focuses on the sunny side of life, but how about when it comes to houseplants? Can yours really look that good? Sure! As long as you understand a few horticultural and design basics, you can create an indoor garden that is lush, low-maintenance, and infinitely Instagrammable. We'll bust a few IG myths along the way, and you'll learn how to display healthy, gorgeous houseplants with a minimum amount of work. Handouts will include a check list for analyzing your home growing conditions, as well as a list of plants that will thrive in a range of situations. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 4:00 PM
5:15 PM	How to Become a Succ-essful Gardener (Succulents 101) Lisa Steinkopf - The Houseplant Guru, prolific writer, and speaker View More Succulents are the popular stalwarts of house plant parents and other gardeners... This program will cover everything you need to know to keep your succulents looking stellar. Propagation, light, and potting medium will be discussed.	How to Become a Succ-essful Gardener (Succulents 101) Succulents are the popular stalwarts of house plant parents and other gardeners... This program will cover everything you need to know to keep your succulents looking stellar. Propagation, light, and potting medium will be discussed. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 5:15 PM

DIY Stage

Presented by

Gardener's Supply Company

(All seminars 60 minutes)

10:00 AM	Beyond Water: Different Propagating Techniques Kamili Bell Hill - Planterior designer, author, and founder of PlantBlerd View More The title says it all! Learn some new tricks for your propagation arsenal...	Beyond Water: Different Propagating Techniques The title says it all! Learn some new tricks for your propagation arsenal... THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 10:00 AM
11:45 AM	Orchid Cultivation For Modern Growers Joseph Grienauer - Owner of Emerald City Orchids View More An introductory guide to orchid cultivation, covering basic orchid facts, contemporary cultivation practices and a (re)potting demonstration. This program covers a few common orchid types, as well as topics like pest/disease control, fertilization, and sexual/asexual propagation techniques.	Orchid Cultivation For Modern Growers An introductory guide to orchid cultivation, covering basic orchid facts, contemporary cultivation practices and a (re)potting demonstration. This program covers a few common orchid types, as well as topics like pest/disease control, fertilization, and sexual/asexual propagation techniques. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 11:45 AM
1:30 PM	Tinkering with Tillandsias Sean Stout - Creative force behind Organic Mechanics View More Creative ways of displaying these other worldly 'air plants'. We'll demonstrate various techniques to wear, share and care for your collection.	Tinkering with Tillandsias Creative ways of displaying these other worldly 'air plants'. We'll demonstrate various techniques to wear, share and care for your collection. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 1:30 PM
3:15 PM	Soil Mixes and Amendments for Houseplants Ann Amato - Horticulturist, production manager at Secret Garden Growers, blogger, amateurbotannist.com View More As indoor gardening becomes more popular in our urban environments, gardeners continue to grow unusual plants. Sometimes purchased with growing media created for the production environment, it's important for home gardeners to understand what their plants will need to continue growing plants well. Come hear a horticulturist who works at two PNW nurseries talk about traditional options, as well as newer innovations. Think of this demonstration as creating a pantry for plant care! Learn from a professional about the ingredients you might not yet be familiar with to help your indoor garden grow.	Soil Mixes and Amendments for Houseplants As indoor gardening becomes more popular in our urban environments, gardeners continue to grow unusual plants. Sometimes purchased with growing media created for the production environment, it's important for home gardeners to understand what their plants will need to continue growing plants well. Come hear a horticulturist who works at two PNW nurseries talk about traditional options, as well as newer innovations. Think of this demonstration as creating a pantry for plant care! Learn from a professional about the ingredients you might not yet be familiar with to help your indoor garden grow. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 3:15 PM
5:00 PM	Houseplant Container Design Susan Maki - Designer, buyer, and houseplant merchandise manager for Squak Mountain Nursery View More Creating beautiful container designs isn't just for your outdoor spaces! Targeting both the seasoned indoor gardener as well as beginners, I¬íll demonstrate creative house plant containers, explaining: 1) Which plants make great roommates 2) How to care for your creation 3) Using indoor plants in outdoor summer containers, and 4) The #1 mistake made by both indoor and outdoor container gardeners (hint: it's the container)	Houseplant Container Design Creating beautiful container designs isn't just for your outdoor spaces! Targeting both the seasoned indoor gardener as well as beginners, I¬íll demonstrate creative house plant containers, explaining: 1) Which plants make great roommates 2) How to care for your creation 3) Using indoor plants in outdoor summer containers, and 4) The #1 mistake made by both indoor and outdoor container gardeners (hint: it's the container) THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 5:00 PM

Main Stage

11:00 AM	Container War: Thursday Host: Marianne Binetti Allison McCullough - Garden designer and co-author, American Roots Ellen Zachos - Award-winning co-host, Plantrama Podcast, and author, The Forager’s Pantry, Backyard Foraging and The Wildcrafted Cocktail	Container War: Thursday THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 11:00 AM
1:00 PM	Bring It Home! - Kamili & Eliza Go Shopping Host: Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago - Founder of Agrochic, and author, ¡Verdura! Living a Garden Life Kamili Bell Hill - Planterior designer, author, and founder of PlantBlerd Eliza Blank - Founder & CEO of The Sill View More Ever want to get inside the brain of the houseplant "cool kids"? Here's your chance... Kamili Bell Hill, author of Happy Plants, Happy People and the brains behind the wildly popular PlantBlerd IG account, joins Eliza Blank, founder of The Sill and, arguably the mother of today's houseplant movement, to shop the show floor and bring back their favorite treasures (and maybe an exhibitor or two) to share what excites them and what they'd do with it at home. Hosted by garden wellness expert, Perla Sofia Curbelo-Santiago each Bring It Home! ends with a mini-mindfulness moment you can enjoy in your home garden for years to come. There might be a giveaway but you have to show up to find out...	Bring It Home! - Kamili & Eliza Go Shopping Ever want to get inside the brain of the houseplant "cool kids"? Here's your chance... Kamili Bell Hill, author of Happy Plants, Happy People and the brains behind the wildly popular PlantBlerd IG account, joins Eliza Blank, founder of The Sill and, arguably the mother of today's houseplant movement, to shop the show floor and bring back their favorite treasures (and maybe an exhibitor or two) to share what excites them and what they'd do with it at home. Hosted by garden wellness expert, Perla Sofia Curbelo-Santiago each Bring It Home! ends with a mini-mindfulness moment you can enjoy in your home garden for years to come. There might be a giveaway but you have to show up to find out... THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 1:00 PM
2:30 PM	Blooms & Bubbles: Create Your Own (Mini) Conservatory [additional ticket required] Tyra Shenaurlt - Metro Tacoma Parks Horticulture Resource Supervisor, visionary and caretaker of WW Seymour botanical conservatory View More Discover the history of the Wardian case and the ways it has influenced – for better and worse - how we collect and display plants today with Tyra Shenaurlt from the WW Seymore Conservatory in Tacoma. Using locally-grown terrarium plants, charming adornments, and decorative wood and rock elements, you will be guided to design your own Wardian case mini paradise. [additional ticket required]	Blooms & Bubbles: Create Your Own (Mini) Conservatory [additional ticket required] Discover the history of the Wardian case and the ways it has influenced – for better and worse - how we collect and display plants today with Tyra Shenaurlt from the WW Seymore Conservatory in Tacoma. Using locally-grown terrarium plants, charming adornments, and decorative wood and rock elements, you will be guided to design your own Wardian case mini paradise. [additional ticket required] THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 2:30 PM
4:00 PM	Garden to Glass Happy Hour Mixology Demo Robin Haglund - Educator, founder and president of Garden Mentors® and Garden Mentors Academy View More Step up your home-garden entertainment game with Robin's garden-to-glass insights! In this hands-on presentation drafted from her Herbal Happy Hour Garden online program, Robin demonstrates how to craft unique & delicious libations harvested from beautiful garden-grown plants she'll discuss. Get ready to shake things up with step-by-step details for crafting grow-your-own cocktails, mocktails & more - direct from your happy hour garden!	Garden to Glass Happy Hour Mixology Demo Step up your home-garden entertainment game with Robin's garden-to-glass insights! In this hands-on presentation drafted from her Herbal Happy Hour Garden online program, Robin demonstrates how to craft unique & delicious libations harvested from beautiful garden-grown plants she'll discuss. Get ready to shake things up with step-by-step details for crafting grow-your-own cocktails, mocktails & more - direct from your happy hour garden! THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 4:00 PM
4:30 PM	Meet & Greet: Eliza Blank Eliza Blank - Founder & CEO of The Sill View More Join us on the Main Stage for an exclusive Meet & Greet with Eliza Blank, the visionary Founder & CEO of The Sill - the first Direct to Consumer houseplant company. This special event kicks off with a live podcast recording by Maria Failla, the delightful host of Bloom & Grow Radio and author of Growing Joy. Dive into the world of houseplants as Maria interviews Eliza, discussing her inspiring journey as a plant entrepreneur and uncovering the secrets behind Eliza's success. Connect with fellow plant enthusiasts and seize this extraordinary opportunity to cultivate your passion and meet two women shaping the future of plant enthusiasts.	Meet & Greet: Eliza Blank Join us on the Main Stage for an exclusive Meet & Greet with Eliza Blank, the visionary Founder & CEO of The Sill - the first Direct to Consumer houseplant company. This special event kicks off with a live podcast recording by Maria Failla, the delightful host of Bloom & Grow Radio and author of Growing Joy. Dive into the world of houseplants as Maria interviews Eliza, discussing her inspiring journey as a plant entrepreneur and uncovering the secrets behind Eliza's success. Connect with fellow plant enthusiasts and seize this extraordinary opportunity to cultivate your passion and meet two women shaping the future of plant enthusiasts. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024 4:30 PM

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.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Rainier Room

Hood Room

DIY Stage

Main Stage

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