See It, Learn It, Do It: Practical Insights to Grow Your Gardening Skills

Orchids 101: Everything You Need to Know to Grow Gorgeous Orchids Like a Pro

Joe Grienauer–Orchid expert and owner, Emerald City Orchids

Joe will help you get orchids that you treasure with this great hands-on demonstration. He’ll cover basic orchid background, cultural requirements, (light/temp/water/etc.), fertilization, and pest/disease control and reblooming. He’ll review greenhouse vs. window vs. artificial light growing techniques, how to initiate flowers on a healthy plant, which orchids are best for newbies, demo orchid repotting and mounting an orchid to a piece of wood. Even brown thumbs can grow orchids if you learn the basic techniques!

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 11:45 am / DIY Stage

 

 

Successful Garden Maintenance with the Correct Tools

Ginger Hudson–Garden designer and Director, Jensen-Olson Arboretum, Juneau, AK

Ginger has been gardening in the roughest of roughs—from the limestone of the Texas Hill Country to the glacier outflows of the Chugach Mountains and now in the moist, thin soil of Alaska’s Inside Passage. Ginger will start at the bottom digging and move up to pruning. She’s dealt with a thing or two over a career of nearly thirty years breaking tools and shredding gloves while operating her own landscape business and managing horticulture projects in public display gardens.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 1:30 pm / DIY Stage

 

 

Set in Stone: Making Hypertufa Garden Troughs

Patrick RyanGarden writer, radio host and education specialist, Alaska Botanical Garden

You’ve no doubt seen these stylish troughs and thought you’d like to have one or two. You probably thought it would be too hard to make one, but Patrick will show you how to make a unique trough to display your garden treasures. Alpines, dwarf hostas, dwarf conifers, mosses and more look great in these rugged, yet classic containers. A “cooking show” format will be utilized to make and plant an actual trough, to be given away!

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 3:15 pm / DIY Stage

 

 

Never Ending Garden Chores? Get Organized!

Robin Haglund–Educator and founder and president of Garden Mentors® and Garden Mentors Academy

Ever wonder how you keep ending up exhausted after long gardening days and still have a garden that looks like you did nothing? When this happens, you’re likely getting ‘randomized’ and just need help getting organized! In this session, Robin draws from her online Garden Mentors Gardening Academy to help you become a more efficient, targeted, and effective gardener. You’ll come away with easy ways to plan, prioritize, and set realistic, achievable individualized gardening goals.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 6:30 pm / Hood Room

 

 

Rooting Out Problems Before You Plant

Linda Chalker-Scott, PhDWSU Horticulture Professor and author, How Plants Work and The Informed Gardener

This seminar will demonstrate the best ways to prepare trees and shrubs for transplanting. Root washing and corrective pruning is different from conventional methods, yet ongoing research demonstrates that this new procedure leads to substantial increases in woody plant establishment and survival. Investing the time to prepare and install trees and shrubs properly will pay future dividends of reduced maintenance and increased plant health for the lifetime of your landscape. Handouts containing the text of the talk will be available to download.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 1:30 pm / DIY Stage / Book signing to follow

 

 

Shake it up! Herbal Happy Hour Garden Mixology

Robin Haglund–Educator and founder and president of Garden Mentors® and Garden Mentors Academy

Take your happy hour to new levels! In this hands-on presentation drafted from her Herbal Happy Hour Garden Course online, Robin demonstrates how to craft tantalizingly tasty libations harvested from beautiful garden-grown plants. She’ll teach ways to craft unique cocktails and mocktails you can grow, blend, pour, and sip in your home garden. Skip pricey bar tabs! Discover how to garden-to-glass your own tangy, tasty, unique, and luscious sippables at home.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 3:30 pm / DIY Stage

 

 

Growing and Propagating a Bevy of Begonias

Ann AmatoHorticulturist and seed propagator at Cistus Nursery and blogger, amateurbotannist.com

Begonias are one of the most beautiful plants in our homes and gardens. From the huge blooms that last all summer in the tuberous group, to the luscious leaves of the indoor and conservatory types. Fibrous-rooted, tuberous, hardy, rhizomatous, and rex begonias, where should a beginner begin? From the easiest begonias to the fussiest, care, propagation, and cultivation tips will be shared for both beginners and advanced growers.

Friday, Feb 17 at 11:45 am / DIY Stage

 

 

A Simple Approach and Best Tools for Pruning Most Shrubs and Small Garden Trees

Christina PfeifferHorticulture consultant and educator, ISA certified arborist and co-author, Pacific Northwest Gardening Month-by-Month

Pruning shrubs and small trees is very much a science as well as an art. If you’ve had the frustration of not getting the results you expected after pruning, this invaluable seminar will help you figure out the right tools, the right cuts, and the best timing to get the most out of your garden shrubs with the least amount of effort. Properly pruned trees enhance their beauty and add value to your landscaping. Your shrubs and trees will thank you!

Friday, Feb 17 at 1:30 pm / DIY Stage / Book signing to follow

 

 

The Language of Flowers: Gifts from the Garden

Teresa Sabankaya–Author of The Posy Book

Join Teresa’s floral demonstration for an entertaining look at how the language of flowers tells a story. Posies are a circular nosegay with flowers and herbs that carry sentiments and messages in a secret language. They are a sweet, elegant, and whimsical treat for the eyes, and extremely fun to make. Teresa will demonstrate the materials and inspiration to create a posy, sharing modern design techniques along with garden blooms and heartfelt messages—yellow roses convey friendship, silver-leaf geraniums articulate admiration, basil signifies best wishes, and a world of other possibilities.

Friday, Feb 17 at 3:15 pm / DIY Stage/ Book signing to follow

 

 

The Plantrama Top 10: What to Know and Grow

C L Fornari–Author, Coffee for Roses and The Cocktail Garden Hour and award-winning co-host, Plantrama Podcast

Ellen Zachos Award-winning co-host, Plantrama Podcast, and author, The Forager’s Pantry, Backyard Foraging and The Wildcrafted Cocktail

The award-winning Plantrama duo returns! Join Plantrama podcast co-hosts C.L. Fornari and Ellen Zachos as they present their Top 10 suggestions for what to know and grow this year. Top 10 new shrubs, favorite herbs for cooking, cocktail hour garden plants, and vegetables. Hear about the Top 10 Tools and the Top 10 Tricks for making your gardening easier. Inspirations you can use with plants you can grow, plus door-prizes! In 2019 the Plantrama podcast won the Gold Medal from GardenComm International.

Friday, Feb 17 at 5:15 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

 

 

 

The Language of Flowers: Gifts from the Garden

Teresa Sabankaya–Author of The Posy Book

Join Teresa’s floral demonstration for an entertaining look at how the language of flowers tells a story. Posies are a circular nosegay with flowers and herbs that carry sentiments and messages in a secret language. They are a sweet, elegant, and whimsical treat for the eyes, and extremely fun to make. Teresa will demonstrate the materials and inspiration to create a posy, sharing modern design techniques along with garden blooms and heartfelt messages—yellow roses convey friendship, silver-leaf geraniums articulate admiration, basil signifies best wishes, and a world of other possibilities.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 10:00 am / DIY Stage / Book signing to follow

 

 

Developing an Orchard Mason Bee Habitat in our Urban Landscape

James UllrichOwner, Knox Cellars Mason Bees

This demonstration covers developing a backyard sanctuary for our invaluable native pollinators—Orchard Mason bees. Jim will cover all the Mason bee's needs, including proper housing, housing location, and plants to assist in the success of bringing Mason bees into one’s yard. He’ll also review the life cycle of the Mason bee, and the maintenance requirements of your colony during the pollination process, and how to harvest, clean the cocoons and store them.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 11:45 am / DIY Stage

 

 

Get Free Plants When You Propagate like the Pros!

Charlie Nardozzi–Regional Emmy award-winning radio, TV host and author, Gardening Complete and No-Dig Gardening

Many gardeners would love more of their favorite plants, but shy away from the expense. You can save money and still have those plants by propagating them yourself. In this hands-on demonstration, Charlie Nardozzi will show the best ways to propagate popular trees, shrubs, houseplants and flowers. Learn plant division, taking and rooting leaf, stem and hardwood cuttings and air layering, along with rooting hormone powders, the best soils, and the watering and light conditions to be successful. It’s fun and easy to get more of your favorite plants when you learn to propagate! Sponsored by Gardeners Supply Company & Velcro USA.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 1:30 pm / DIY Stage / Book signing to follow

 

 

Composting for a Bountiful Garden and Planet

Christy WilhelmiAward-winning blogger, Gardenerd and author, Gardening for Geeks and Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden

Composting is one of the best ways to build better soil, solve pest problems, and grow more vibrant plants year after year. Learn the difference between hot and cold composting, how to do both, and why composting makes a difference for both people and planet. Find out what you can really put in that bin, how to use the finished product, and how to get over the “ick” factor in the process.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 5:15 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

 

 

Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife

David MizejewskiNaturalist at National Wildlife Federation and author, Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife

One of the joys of gardening is creating a beautiful, natural space that you and the local birds, butterflies and other backyard wildlife can enjoy. National Wildlife Federation naturalist and TV host David Mizejewski will show you how to create a thriving wildlife habitat garden that provides the four components of habitat using native plants and sustainable gardening practices. He’ll also tell you how to get your garden recognized as an official “Certified Wildlife Habitat.”

Saturday, Feb 18 at 6:30 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

 

 

Growing Anemones, Ranunculus, Peonies and Dahlias

Anne Long–Owner, The Dahlia House, Skagit Valley

Dahlia House owner Anne Long will share everything you need to know to grow these popular spring and summer cut flowers. The following information will be covered for each variety listed: best time to plant for growing zone 7 – 8; ideal growing conditions (temperature, sun exposure, wind consideration, when to water); soil preparation and amendments; season extension; effective staking and corralling techniques (for peonies and dahlias); harvesting and vase life extension; identifying and controlling pests. This year will be your best ever for growing these fabulous florals!

Sunday, Feb 19 at 10:00 AM / DIY Stage

 

 

The Three Basic Pruning Cuts (and How to Use Them)

Allen Taylor–Award-winning founder and lead arborist, Conservation Tree Care

Pruning is both an art and a science. A well-pruned tree or shrub both enhances its beauty and its value to a landscape. An entire world of tree pruning all comes down to the three basic cuts: Removal cuts, reduction cuts, and heading cuts. People spend their whole careers just learning where and when to use these three basic cuts. We will delve into what these cuts look like, where to use them, and where to not use them.

Sunday, Feb 19 at 10:30 am / Hood Room

 

 

Training Young Trees for Future Health and Beauty

Christina PfeifferHorticulture consultant and educator, ISA certified arborist and co-author, Pacific Northwest Gardening Month-by-Month

The most important pruning for training young trees can be quickly done with hand tools, yet it is often overlooked until much later, when the pruning options and efforts are much more difficult. Learn how to nip those potential problems in the bud with five basic steps for inspecting the structure of a young tree and how to prune early for future structure and long-term beauty.

Sunday, Feb 19 at 11:45 am / DIY Stage / Book signing to follow

 

 

The Regenerative Garden: Small Scale Permaculture for the Home Garden

Stephanie RoseAward-winning author, The Regenerative Garden, Garden Made and Garden Alchemy and founder of GardenTherapy.ca

A regenerative garden is so much more than sustainable. It’s more than resilient. Learn how and why you should transform your garden into a self-sustaining ecosystem that follows the path of nature. Stephanie will share the key components of a regenerative garden, including how to turn your space into a functioning ecosystem and help you become a better, more eco-conscious gardener.

Sunday, Feb 19 at 12:30 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

 

 

Grow–Harvest–Preserve: Getting the Best from Your Herb Garden

Sue Goetz CPH, EcoProOwner, Creative Gardener and author, Complete Container Herb Gardening and A Taste for Herbs

It all starts in the garden, growing fresh herbs—then the journey continues with learning how to use them. Discover harvesting tips for the best ways to fully capture the essence of all your herbs, how to preserve them, freezing and drying techniques, and how to use herbs in infusions. Also learn proper storage and herb blending ideas for use in teas, culinary dishes, and natural beauty, healing, and personal care, and more.

Sunday, Feb 19 at 1:30 pm / DIY Stage / Book signing to follow

 

 

Be the Boss of Your Bareroots and Bulbs: Learn Planting Tips and Techniques

Sean and Allison McManusCo-owners of Spoken Garden, co-authors of The First-time Gardener: Growing Plants and Flowers, and YouTube channel hosts

Don’t let bareroot plants or bulbs intimidate you this spring. Learn from Sean and Allison how to confidently handle and plant bareroot perennials like Itoh peonies, coneflowers, and more. You’ll also learn bulb planting techniques and ideas to level up your bulb game with “Lasagna” layered bulb containers for both spring and summer flowering bulbs. Take away planting skills, like bulb planting depth, handling, and tools, to help your plants thrive this spring and summer. 

Sunday, Feb 19 at 3:15 pm / DIY Stage / Book Signing to follow