February 17-21, 2027

Seattle Convention Center

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Plan your Festival experience around your favorite speakers, special events, and activities!

Check back closer to your visit for the latest schedule updates and new additions.

Wednesday, February 17, 2027

Book Signing Add to Calendar

Adams Room

Seminar Level (3rd floor, Tahoma Level)

10:30am

Meet the Judges: What Makes a Winning Garden? (PANEL)

Jennifer Jewell (Moderator) - NPR and Public Television Host
Matt Mattus - Author, AHS Horticulture Director

What makes a garden great today? Beauty matters, but so do ecology, resilience, habitat, and changing ideas about plants. The answers aren’t always simple, and even the experts don’t necessarily agree.

NPR’s Cultivating Place host Jennifer Jewell brings together 2027 Show Garden judges Frances Tophill, Jeff Epping, and [TBD] for a lively conversation about the trends shaping gardens now, what’s exciting them, where design is heading, and some of horticulture’s liveliest debates.

Then take those ideas onto the show floor. Built by local landscape professionals in just 72 hours and experienced for only five days, the Festival’s Show Gardens are horticultural theater grounded in real-world design. At the second-largest garden show in the United States and one of the top ten in the world, which of today’s biggest garden trends can you spot taking root in this year’s Show Gardens?

Meet the Judges: What Makes a Winning Garden? (PANEL)

Wednesday, February 17, 2027 10:30am

1:30pm

Swipe Right for Hydrangea Happiness

C.L. Fornari - Author, Garden Communicator, Radio Host

From blue mopheads and lacecaps to white “pee gees,” there’s a hydrangea for nearly every garden. But how do you find the right match for yours?

Meet six hydrangea species and get to know what they have in common, what makes each one different, and which might deserve a place in your garden. Through humor, beautiful photographs, and clear explanations, discover which hydrangeas to plant, where to place them, and how pruning and care influence flowering.

No awkward first date required.

Swipe Right for Hydrangea Happiness

From blue mopheads and lacecaps to white “pee gees,” there’s a hydrangea for nearly every garden. But how do you find the right match for yours?

No awkward first date required.

Wednesday, February 17, 2027 1:30pm

3:00pm

Less Weeding, Fewer Pests, Healthier Plants

Natalie Bogwalker - Author, Founder Wild Abundance

Chloe Lieberman - Author, Educator

What if you could spend less time battling weeds, pests, and plant problems and more time actually enjoying your garden? A healthier, more resilient garden starts by approaching these challenges holistically, preventing problems where possible and knowing what to do when they inevitably appear.

Get practical strategies for choosing plants that are better suited to your conditions, building healthier soil, preventing weeds with mulch, and using Integrated Pest Management to tackle problems thoughtfully. You’ll also get help navigating organic and non-toxic sprays, diagnosing common issues, and choosing tools that make weeding less of a chore.

Less Weeding, Fewer Pests, Healthier Plants

Wednesday, February 17, 2027 3:00pm

Hood Room

Seminar Level (3rd floor, Tahoma Level)

9:30am	The Garden You Planned, The Garden You Have Claire Lidell Hanna - Podcast Host, Owner of Relish Garden Design View More Learn to shift your mindset from simply tending the garden in front of you to actively directing what it becomes. Start by defining what you want your garden to be, then use that vision to guide your choices as plants get bigger, beds become crowded, and carefully balanced combinations shift over time. Step back from day-to-day tending to evaluate the bigger picture and make thoughtful keep, move, or remove decisions. You’ll learn how to guide an ever-changing garden while staying true to the design and experience you originally envisioned.	The Garden You Planned, The Garden You Have Learn to shift your mindset from simply tending the garden in front of you to actively directing what it becomes. Start by defining what you want your garden to be, then use that vision to guide your choices as plants get bigger, beds become crowded, and carefully balanced combinations shift over time. Step back from day-to-day tending to evaluate the bigger picture and make thoughtful keep, move, or remove decisions. You’ll learn how to guide an ever-changing garden while staying true to the design and experience you originally envisioned. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 9:30am
10:45am	Rethinking the Invasive Conundrum Mark Weathington - Author, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum, Horticulture Professor View More Invasive plants are a hot topic, but how do we reconcile a changing plant palette with a changing world? It’s time for some real talk about the state of our landscapes, where they’re headed, and how gardeners can respond thoughtfully. Explore the complexities surrounding invasive plants and changing landscapes, consider some of the questions shaping the conversation, and examine different approaches that might lead to the best outcomes.	Rethinking the Invasive Conundrum Invasive plants are a hot topic, but how do we reconcile a changing plant palette with a changing world? It’s time for some real talk about the state of our landscapes, where they’re headed, and how gardeners can respond thoughtfully. Explore the complexities surrounding invasive plants and changing landscapes, consider some of the questions shaping the conversation, and examine different approaches that might lead to the best outcomes. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 10:45am
12:00pm	The Resilient Pacific Northwest Garden John Albers - Author, Garden Designer, Founder Albers Vista Gardens View More What makes a garden resilient in a changing Pacific Northwest climate? Look beyond individual plant choices to the landscape as a functioning ecosystem, where regenerative soil practices, intentional water design, and climate-smart planting work together. See how to read site microclimates, build living soils that store carbon and moisture, and create layered plant communities, from conifers and broadleaf trees to shrubs, perennials, grasses, and succulents, that can thrive under heat and drought while supporting pollinators and wildlife. From replacing resource-intensive lawns to integrating rain gardens and bioswales, you’ll come away with practical strategies for creating a beautiful, biodiverse, climate-adapted landscape.	The Resilient Pacific Northwest Garden What makes a garden resilient in a changing Pacific Northwest climate? Look beyond individual plant choices to the landscape as a functioning ecosystem, where regenerative soil practices, intentional water design, and climate-smart planting work together. See how to read site microclimates, build living soils that store carbon and moisture, and create layered plant communities, from conifers and broadleaf trees to shrubs, perennials, grasses, and succulents, that can thrive under heat and drought while supporting pollinators and wildlife. From replacing resource-intensive lawns to integrating rain gardens and bioswales, you’ll come away with practical strategies for creating a beautiful, biodiverse, climate-adapted landscape. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 12:00pm
1:15pm	Meet the Bees in Your Garden Amy Campion - Author, Blogger, Horticulture Professional View More Who are the bees living in your garden? In this lively, photo-filled presentation, go beyond honey bees and meet 13 types of bees that call the Pacific Northwest home, from gleaming green metallic sweat bees to lovable leafcutters to conniving cuckoos. Drawing on firsthand observations from a wildlife-friendly garden where more than 50 bee species have been documented, discover the secret lives of these remarkable creatures and simple ways to help them thrive. Whether you’re new to native bees or already a practicing pollinator gardener, you’ll leave with a new appreciation for the incredible diversity buzzing right outside your door.	Meet the Bees in Your Garden Who are the bees living in your garden? In this lively, photo-filled presentation, go beyond honey bees and meet 13 types of bees that call the Pacific Northwest home, from gleaming green metallic sweat bees to lovable leafcutters to conniving cuckoos. Drawing on firsthand observations from a wildlife-friendly garden where more than 50 bee species have been documented, discover the secret lives of these remarkable creatures and simple ways to help them thrive. Whether you’re new to native bees or already a practicing pollinator gardener, you’ll leave with a new appreciation for the incredible diversity buzzing right outside your door. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 1:15pm
2:30pm	Go for the Bold: Tropical Drama for the NW Garden Erica Grivas - Author, Garden Writer View More Tropical gardens evoke drama, mystery, and a lushness that feels worlds away. But you don’t need a tropical climate, or even exclusively tropical plants, to create that feeling in a Pacific Northwest garden. Drawing inspiration from public and private gardens across the region, discover how dramatic foliage, vibrant color, rich texture, and strong forms create the look. See how hardy bananas and Colocasia can mingle with natives, edible plants, annuals, shrubs, and even houseplants to create bold combinations. You’ll leave with practical design strategies and inspiration for creating a lush, immersive garden using plants that thrive in your own conditions.	Go for the Bold: Tropical Drama for the NW Garden Tropical gardens evoke drama, mystery, and a lushness that feels worlds away. But you don’t need a tropical climate, or even exclusively tropical plants, to create that feeling in a Pacific Northwest garden. Drawing inspiration from public and private gardens across the region, discover how dramatic foliage, vibrant color, rich texture, and strong forms create the look. See how hardy bananas and Colocasia can mingle with natives, edible plants, annuals, shrubs, and even houseplants to create bold combinations. You’ll leave with practical design strategies and inspiration for creating a lush, immersive garden using plants that thrive in your own conditions. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 2:30pm
3:45pm	37 Native Gems for Northwest Gardens Mark Turner - Author, Garden Photographer View More More than 5,000 plant species are native to the Pacific Northwest, from delicate annuals to towering conifers. Meet 37 showy, garden-worthy selections for both spotlight and problem areas in your garden. Got wet shade? There’s a plant for that. Dry shade? Covered. A sun-baked west-facing slope? There are natives that thrive there, too. Need a front entry that looks good year-round, a prickly barrier, or plants that attract birds and butterflies? Check, check, and check. Stunning photography brings each selection to life, with plenty of ideas for finding the right native for the right place in your own landscape.	37 Native Gems for Northwest Gardens More than 5,000 plant species are native to the Pacific Northwest, from delicate annuals to towering conifers. Meet 37 showy, garden-worthy selections for both spotlight and problem areas in your garden. Got wet shade? There’s a plant for that. Dry shade? Covered. A sun-baked west-facing slope? There are natives that thrive there, too. Need a front entry that looks good year-round, a prickly barrier, or plants that attract birds and butterflies? Check, check, and check. Stunning photography brings each selection to life, with plenty of ideas for finding the right native for the right place in your own landscape. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 3:45pm
5:00pm	Potting Up Plants: The Surprising Story of the Flowerpot Linda Larson - Writer, Photographer, World Garden Traveler View More Flowerpots are such a familiar part of gardening that we rarely stop to consider how much history they hold. From changing materials and advances in plant science to shifting tastes and fashions, the humble pot has played an important role in how plants have traveled, been grown, and found their way into gardens around the world. Take an illustrated journey through the history and remarkable variety of flowerpots, with images gathered from more than 1,000 gardens in 60 countries and all 50 states. Along the way, discover how these everyday garden objects reflect centuries of horticulture, design, ingenuity, and our enduring desire to find room for just one more plant.	Potting Up Plants: The Surprising Story of the Flowerpot Flowerpots are such a familiar part of gardening that we rarely stop to consider how much history they hold. From changing materials and advances in plant science to shifting tastes and fashions, the humble pot has played an important role in how plants have traveled, been grown, and found their way into gardens around the world. Take an illustrated journey through the history and remarkable variety of flowerpots, with images gathered from more than 1,000 gardens in 60 countries and all 50 states. Along the way, discover how these everyday garden objects reflect centuries of horticulture, design, ingenuity, and our enduring desire to find room for just one more plant. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 5:00pm

Rainier Room

Seminar Level (3rd floor, Tahoma Level)

10:00am	From Lawns to Living Neighborhoods Tess Schiavone - GGN Principal, Landscape Designer, Native Plant Advocate Jen Szabo - Landscape Architect, Public Artist View More What are you going to do with your one wild and precious front yard? Rethink the traditional suburban lawn as a welcoming, beautiful landscape that reflects where you live while creating more opportunities for plants, wildlife, and people. Discover practical ways to replace underused turf with native plantings, shade trees, pollinator pathways, and spaces that encourage connection with neighbors. See how changes to a single front yard can conserve resources, support biodiversity, celebrate regional character, and contribute to a stronger sense of place across an entire neighborhood.	From Lawns to Living Neighborhoods What are you going to do with your one wild and precious front yard? Rethink the traditional suburban lawn as a welcoming, beautiful landscape that reflects where you live while creating more opportunities for plants, wildlife, and people. Discover practical ways to replace underused turf with native plantings, shade trees, pollinator pathways, and spaces that encourage connection with neighbors. See how changes to a single front yard can conserve resources, support biodiversity, celebrate regional character, and contribute to a stronger sense of place across an entire neighborhood. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 10:00am
11:15am	Heronswood at 40: 40 plants for 40 years Ross Bayton - Author, Botanist, Heronswood Garden Director View More Heronswood Garden began in 1987 and has long been at the cutting edge of plant introduction. Its plants can now be found in gardens and landscapes throughout the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Explore a selection of Heronswood’s very best plants from across the decades, from beloved old favorites to exciting recent discoveries.	Heronswood at 40: 40 plants for 40 years Heronswood Garden began in 1987 and has long been at the cutting edge of plant introduction. Its plants can now be found in gardens and landscapes throughout the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Explore a selection of Heronswood’s very best plants from across the decades, from beloved old favorites to exciting recent discoveries. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 11:15am
12:30pm	There Is No Right or Wrong in Gardening Francis Tophill - Judge, BBC Gardeners’ World Presenter, Chelsea Flower Show Winner View More Frances Tophill invites gardeners to rethink everything they’ve been told about “the right way” to garden. With her signature blend of clarity, creativity, and quiet rebellion, she explores how breaking outdated rules can open the door to more joyful, personal, and meaningful spaces. Drawing on fresh perspectives from UK gardeners who are redefining tradition, she encourages attendees to trust their instincts, embrace experimentation, and design for delight rather than perfection, reminding us that the most inspiring gardens grow from confidence, curiosity, and the freedom to follow their own path.	There Is No Right or Wrong in Gardening Frances Tophill invites gardeners to rethink everything they’ve been told about “the right way” to garden. With her signature blend of clarity, creativity, and quiet rebellion, she explores how breaking outdated rules can open the door to more joyful, personal, and meaningful spaces. Drawing on fresh perspectives from UK gardeners who are redefining tradition, she encourages attendees to trust their instincts, embrace experimentation, and design for delight rather than perfection, reminding us that the most inspiring gardens grow from confidence, curiosity, and the freedom to follow their own path. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 12:30pm
1:45pm	It Takes All Sorts... Sean Hogan - Author, Cistus Design Nursery Co-Founder, Horticulturist View More Great garden plants can come from remarkably different corners of the world. From the mountains of Mexico and East Asia to the Southern Hemisphere and our own Southwestern mountains, take a wide-ranging look at plants from diverse habitats that can find a happy home in our Pacific Northwest gardens. See how plants adapted to very different landscapes and conditions can offer exciting possibilities closer to home. Along the way, meet unusual and unexpected selections worth considering for your own backyard paradise.	It Takes All Sorts... Great garden plants can come from remarkably different corners of the world. From the mountains of Mexico and East Asia to the Southern Hemisphere and our own Southwestern mountains, take a wide-ranging look at plants from diverse habitats that can find a happy home in our Pacific Northwest gardens. See how plants adapted to very different landscapes and conditions can offer exciting possibilities closer to home. Along the way, meet unusual and unexpected selections worth considering for your own backyard paradise. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 1:45pm
3:00pm	Plants You Didn't Know You Couldn't Live Without Nita-Jo Rountree - Author, Educator, NHS Vice-President View More There’s always room for one more irresistible plant. Take a photographic journey through the seasons and meet beautiful, intriguing plants that just might earn a place on your must-have list. Along the way, get practical advice on growing and caring for each selection, along with ideas for combining plants to create memorable pairings in your own garden. Come for the inspiration, leave with a longer plant wish list.3:00pm	Plants You Didn't Know You Couldn't Live Without There’s always room for one more irresistible plant. Take a photographic journey through the seasons and meet beautiful, intriguing plants that just might earn a place on your must-have list. Along the way, get practical advice on growing and caring for each selection, along with ideas for combining plants to create memorable pairings in your own garden. Come for the inspiration, leave with a longer plant wish list.3:00pm Wednesday, February 17, 2027 3:00pm
4:15pm	The Easiest Edibles Willi Galloway - Author, Radio Commentator, Writer View More Short on time, convinced you have a black thumb, or just want edible gardening to be easier? There are more vegetables, herbs, and small fruits that thrive with very little fuss than you might think, whether you’re growing in pots or in the ground. Meet herb all-stars that tolerate sparse soil, no-fail tomato varieties, a bean that keeps producing all season, and other easy edibles worth making room for. You’ll also pick up a few tricks for tackling fussier favorites like carrots and eggplant, so growing food can feel less complicated and a lot more fun.	The Easiest Edibles Short on time, convinced you have a black thumb, or just want edible gardening to be easier? There are more vegetables, herbs, and small fruits that thrive with very little fuss than you might think, whether you’re growing in pots or in the ground. Meet herb all-stars that tolerate sparse soil, no-fail tomato varieties, a bean that keeps producing all season, and other easy edibles worth making room for. You’ll also pick up a few tricks for tackling fussier favorites like carrots and eggplant, so growing food can feel less complicated and a lot more fun. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 4:15pm

DIY Demo Stage

Seminar Level (3rd floor, Tahoma Level)

DIY Demo Stage sponsored by:

10:15am	Crafting with Roses Janice Cox - Sheet-Mulching Queen, Content Creator View More Roses can be enjoyed long after their blooms fade. See how fresh and dried flowers, petals, leaves, and even rose canes can be transformed into beautiful and useful creations for the home. Watch roses take on a surprising second life as modern potpourri, delicate rose petal beads, natural dyes, wreath forms, and more. Pick up simple techniques and plenty of inspiration for turning roses from your garden or the market into something worth keeping.	Crafting with Roses Roses can be enjoyed long after their blooms fade. See how fresh and dried flowers, petals, leaves, and even rose canes can be transformed into beautiful and useful creations for the home. Watch roses take on a surprising second life as modern potpourri, delicate rose petal beads, natural dyes, wreath forms, and more. Pick up simple techniques and plenty of inspiration for turning roses from your garden or the market into something worth keeping. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 10:15am
11:45am	Orchid Therapy Joe Grienauer - Founder of Emerald City Orchids View More Is your relationship with your orchid in trouble? Learn how to “read” the signals an orchid is sending and understand why it may no longer be happy with its growing conditions. Using real-life examples of common orchid maladies, explore how environmental and cultural changes can relieve plant stress and restore a healthier relationship between orchid and grower. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, beginning and intermediate growers will learn practical cultivation techniques and how to choose among them based on what their plants are telling them. The goal: healthier orchids, happier growers, and more beautiful blooms.	Orchid Therapy Is your relationship with your orchid in trouble? Learn how to “read” the signals an orchid is sending and understand why it may no longer be happy with its growing conditions. Using real-life examples of common orchid maladies, explore how environmental and cultural changes can relieve plant stress and restore a healthier relationship between orchid and grower. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, beginning and intermediate growers will learn practical cultivation techniques and how to choose among them based on what their plants are telling them. The goal: healthier orchids, happier growers, and more beautiful blooms. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 11:45am
1:15pm	Botanical Wall Art Gina Thresher - AIFD Floral Designer, International Master Florist View More Inspired by botanical wall art seen in Europe, discover a fresh way to bring plants and nature into your home. Learn how texture, line, color, and depth can transform botanicals into living works of art that go far beyond a painting or hanging plant. Through a creative demonstration, see how frames and plant materials can become decorative compositions or functional pieces that hold fresh flowers or double as propagation stations. Whether small or large, you’ll leave with inspiration for creating your own botanical art with a frame, a little creativity, and nature.	Botanical Wall Art Inspired by botanical wall art seen in Europe, discover a fresh way to bring plants and nature into your home. Learn how texture, line, color, and depth can transform botanicals into living works of art that go far beyond a painting or hanging plant. Through a creative demonstration, see how frames and plant materials can become decorative compositions or functional pieces that hold fresh flowers or double as propagation stations. Whether small or large, you’ll leave with inspiration for creating your own botanical art with a frame, a little creativity, and nature. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 1:15pm
2:45pm	Prune Smarter, Prune Less Christina Pfeiffer - Author, Educator, ISA Certified Arborist View More Good pruning isn’t about constantly cutting things back. The right cut, in the right place, at the right time can mean healthier, better-shaped plants and far less pruning in the future. See smart pruning techniques in action for a variety of shrubs, with a focus on when and where to make cuts that reduce the need for repeated maintenance. Find out how thoughtful pruning while trees are young can encourage strong structure as they mature, saving work down the road. Because less pruning is easier on the plants and the gardener.	Prune Smarter, Prune Less Good pruning isn’t about constantly cutting things back. The right cut, in the right place, at the right time can mean healthier, better-shaped plants and far less pruning in the future. See smart pruning techniques in action for a variety of shrubs, with a focus on when and where to make cuts that reduce the need for repeated maintenance. Find out how thoughtful pruning while trees are young can encourage strong structure as they mature, saving work down the road. Because less pruning is easier on the plants and the gardener. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 2:45pm
4:15pm	Unexpected Vases: Upcycled Floral Design Anne Reeves - Author, Photographer View More You may never look at a colorful juice or craft beverage can the same way again... Everyday packaging can become a surprisingly elegant vessel for fresh flowers, inspiring arrangements that echo its colors, patterns, and personality. Watch bouquets come together live while learning how to safely prepare cans for arranging, select flowers that complement each container, and create inexpensive designs for gifts, celebrations, or simply brightening your home. With examples from a gallery of original designs, you’ll find plenty of inspiration for turning something headed for the recycling bin into something worth displaying.	Unexpected Vases: Upcycled Floral Design You may never look at a colorful juice or craft beverage can the same way again... Everyday packaging can become a surprisingly elegant vessel for fresh flowers, inspiring arrangements that echo its colors, patterns, and personality. Watch bouquets come together live while learning how to safely prepare cans for arranging, select flowers that complement each container, and create inexpensive designs for gifts, celebrations, or simply brightening your home. With examples from a gallery of original designs, you’ll find plenty of inspiration for turning something headed for the recycling bin into something worth displaying. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 4:15pm

Creative Studio: Hands-on Workshops

Seminar Level (3rd floor, Tahoma Level)

Main Stage

Back of North Hall

Main Stage sponsored by:

11:00am

Container Showdown

Claire Lidell Hanna - Podcast Host, Owner of Relish Garden Design

Dee Montpetit - Garden Designer, Founder of Ma Petite Gardens

Container Showdown

Wednesday, February 17, 2027 11:00am

1:00pm

Great Plant Picks: Beauty, Bounty & Biodiversity

Richie Steffen - Author, Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden Executive Director

Small gardens can deliver far more than their size suggests. With the right plants, even a small backyard, urban garden, patio, or deck can offer year-round beauty and structure while providing food and habitat for birds and pollinators.

Discover some of the best-performing plants for the maritime Pacific Northwest selected through Great Plant Picks, the educational program of the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden. Explore compact and columnar plants, along with creative ideas for containers and other small spaces, that bring beauty, bounty, and biodiversity to gardens of any size.

Great Plant Picks: Beauty, Bounty & Biodiversity

Wednesday, February 17, 2027 1:00pm

2:30pm

Blooms & Bubbles - Spring Awakening: Floral Centerpieces

Alicia Houston - Farmer-Florist, Founder Healer’s Harvest

Additional Ticket Required

“There is an innocent charm about the spring flowers.” (Gertrude Jekyll) Farmer-florist Alicia Houston of Healer’s Harvest brings her grower’s eye and romantic design style to an afternoon devoted to creating beautiful seasonal centerpieces bursting with the promise of spring.

Working with a generous selection of spring flowers and foliage, you’ll design alongside Alicia as she shares how she chooses and combines stems, balances scale and proportion, and uses sustainable floral mechanics to create arrangements that feel abundant and naturally beautiful. With Alicia’s guidance, you’ll create a fresh centerpiece that reflects both the season and your own point of view.

You’ll leave with a gorgeous arrangement to grace your table or give as a gift, plus fresh inspiration for bringing a little farmer-florist magic to flowers at home.

Blooms & Bubbles - Spring Awakening: Floral Centerpieces

You’ll leave with a gorgeous arrangement to grace your table or give as a gift, plus fresh inspiration for bringing a little farmer-florist magic to flowers at home.

Wednesday, February 17, 2027 2:30pm