February 14-18, 2024

Seattle Convention Center

705 Pike Street, Seattle, WA

2023 Speakers at a Glance

Name: Official Northwest Flower & Garden Festival
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Location: Seattle Convention Center

Here are all of the gardening luminaries coming from around the U.S., U.K., and Canada who will be appearing at the 2023 Northwest Flower & Garden Festival.

Want to know more about a speaker? Simply click on their name to find their biography, website, seminar description, date(s) and time(s) and either a pop up box will appear or scroll down to the bottom of the Speaker list and the information will be there.

The speakers are listed below alphabetically by last name. All seminars are FREE with your ticket! No ticket refunds for Speaker cancellation.

John J Albers PHD

Creator of Albers Marcovina Vista Gardens, and author, Growing Conifers: The Complete Gardening and Landscaping Guide

Dr. John Albers, PHD, Research Professor of Medicine Emeritus, University of Washington, is an ecoPRO certified sustainable landscape professional and a former Washington State University master gardener. He is the creator of Albers Marcovina Vista Gardens, a four-acre botanical garden open to the public, containing 130 conifer species and over four hundred conifer cultivars, where John regularly gives tours and horticultural presentations. While a professor at UW John attended all available horticultural related classes and attended horticulture classes at South Seattle Community College. He is the author of Gardening for Sustainability, Albers Vista Gardens of Kitsap (Vista Garden Press, 2013), The Northwest Garden Manifesto: Create, Restore, and Maintain a Sustainable Yard (Mountaineers Books, 2018) and Growing Conifers: The Complete Gardening and Landscaping Guide (New Society Publishers, 2021). John has appeared on “Growing a Greener World TV.” www.albersvistagardens.org

Why Every Garden Needs Conifers

To meet the challenges of climate change, today’s gardeners want a sustainable garden that last without excessive use of resources or maintenance, while providing habitat for wildlife. Gardeners can achieve this by incorporating long lived, drought tolerant, and adaptable conifers that support wildlife, yet require little care once established. Dr. Albers, scientist, and garden expert, will show you how to select, design with, and use these aesthetically and functionally versatile plants in your landscape.

Sunday, Feb 19 at 3:00 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Jessica L Allen PhD

Jessica L. Allen, PhD–Co-author, Urban Lichens: A Field Guide for Northeastern North America and Assist. Prof. of Biology at EWU

Jessica Allen is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at Eastern Washington University and the Co-Chair for the IUCN SSC Lichen Specialist Group. Her research focuses on lichen conservation and genomics, and she is primarily interested in untangling the factors that shape species distributions using an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates biodiversity informatics, population genomics, and landscape genetics. She recently co-authored the book, Urban Lichens: A Field Guide for Northeastern North America (Yale University Press, 2021). Jessica earned her Ph.D. from the City University of New York Graduate Center and The New York Botanical Garden and conducted post-doctoral research at The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research before beginning her position at EWU. Jessica has been interviewed on “Science Friday,” “A Way to Garden,” and “In Defense of Plants” podcasts. https://allenlichenlab.wordpress.com/

Discovering Lichens in Your Garden

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the wild, wonderful, and colorful lichens that adorn the fences, benches, and trees in your garden? In this presentation you will learn how the lichen’s symbiosis works, how important lichens are to natural ecosystems, and where lichens may be growing in your garden. Come watch this seminar to take a closer look at these often-unnoticed organisms and discover the fascinating world of lichens.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 12:00 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Ann Amato

Ann Amato–Horticulturist and seed propagator at Cistus Nursery and blogger, amateurbotannist.com

Ann Amato lives in Portland, Oregon and is a horticulturist and seed propagator at Cistus Nursery and a propagator at Secret Garden Growers in Canby. At 18, she published the book Ancient Forests and Western Man: A Pictorial History of the West Coast. Later, she earned a BA from Portland State University with a double major in English literature and art history. She has been a garden blogger (amateurbotannist.com) for over a decade and is the recipient of an Oregon Nurseries Foundation Scholarship. Currently she is the President of the Mount Hood Gesneriad Society, an affiliated chapter of The Gesneriad Society. She has appeared on “Garden Time TV,” was interviewed for The Planthunter in Australia, as well as for the podcast Horticulture Rising. When not working, she tends to her houseplant collection at home, many of which are either gesneriads or begonias. (There are over 500 different plants in her indoor plant collection.) She also tends to her small urban garden named Campiello Maurizio: the Garden of One-of-each-ee. www.amateurbotannist.com

Growing and Propagating a Bevy of Begonias

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

Arit Anderson 2023 SHOW JUDGE

Arit Anderson–2023 Show Judge, BBC ‘Gardeners World’ presenter and co-founder, Sustainable Landscape Foundation

Arit Anderson is a garden and landscaper designer, writer, podcaster and TV presenter. She spent 25 years working in the dynamic industries of retail fashion and creative events, she balanced this fast-paced career with personal interests in well-being, working as a part-time therapist in London and teaching holistic therapies. It was the joy of having her own garden in 2010 that enabled Arit to diversify her creative experiences. She found that the visual nature of fashion and the healing properties of her therapies could beautifully meld in the garden. From the first season of her garden’s development Arit knew she wanted horticulture to become her work as well as her pleasure. She studied garden design at Capel Manor College and whilst there had the taste of success at RHS Chelsea 2013 winning the Fresh Talent category for a student design collaboration with two other students. Arit went on to design and deliver her own show garden and won a Gold Medal at RHS Hampton Court in 2016 in the conceptual category. The garden was televised and its message on climate change and the environment is now at the heart of Arit’s work. In her designs for both private and commercial clients her ethos includes simplicity and environmental sensitivity. This was more recently demonstrated in the 2021 Chelsea Show Garden she was commissioned to do for the Royal Horticultural Society. Arit is a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute, Trustee for the National Garden Scheme, RHS Ambassador for the Environment and Community, and co-founder of the Sustainable Landscape Foundation. Working as presenter for Gardeners World and writing for national publications has enabled Arit to publicize issues about the future of gardening in an ever-changing climate, and promote solutions to the wider public.

www.aritanderson.com

Nature as Nurture: Can Gardens Heal the World?

As we continue to live in a fast-paced world that is driven by technology and commerce, we are increasingly facing nature deficit as we disconnect from the natural rhythms of the world. British garden and landscape designer Arit Anderson is a Trustee of the National Garden Scheme in the UK, a charity that is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for nursing and health charities. This talk will explore why gardens should be an essential part of patient care plans in the health sector, and how community gardens can be the life and soul of towns and cities.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 10:00 am / Rainier Room

Finding Common Ground: Good Communication is Like Mycorrhizal Fungi

Arit Anderson is a British garden and landscaper designer, but she also presents on TV, writes for magazines, has a podcast and is co-founder of the Sustainable Landscape Foundation. A well-known figure in the UK garden media, Arit wants to share why she has a passion for communication and how she is using it to inspire gardeners and landscape professionals to think and be greener. Just like mycorrhizal fungi helps plant communicate, she will share her experience on why talking and collaborating is crucial for the future health of gardens and planet.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 11:30 am / Rainier Room

Arit Anderson’s appearance sponsored by the Northwest Horticultural Society

https://northwesthort.org/

Ross Bayton PHD 2023 SHOW JUDGE

Ross Bayton, PhD–2023 Show Judge, director, Heronswood Gardens, and author, The Gardener’s Botanical: An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names

London-born botanist and gardener Dr. Ross Bayton gained his PhD at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, studying the classification of tropical palms. He’s the author of several books on horticulture including New Trees: Introductions to Cultivation (with John Grimshaw), Plant Families: A Guide for Gardeners and Botanists (with Simon Maugham), and The Gardener’s Botanical: An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names, as featured in the New York Times. His latest book is the RHS Gardening School just released by Mitchell Beazley. Formerly the Gardening Editor of the UK’s best-selling gardening periodical, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, he is now the Director of the world-renowned Heronswood Garden in Kingston, WA, and is developing a 5-acre garden at home in nearby Bremerton.

www.heronswoodgarden.org

Ross Bayton’s appearance sponsored by the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program

Master Gardener

www.mastergardener.wsu.edu

School of Rock: Creating Your First Rock Garden

The Heronswood Garden is famed for its dramatic herbaceous borders and lush woodland garden, but over the last two years, we have begun to build an epic rock garden in our parking lot. Join garden director Ross Bayton on a journey of creation as he guides you through the building process, providing tips on construction, soil selection and best plant picks.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 1:00 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Demystifying Botanical Latin

For every gardener, whether beginner or professional, understanding botanical Latin, the language of plant names, is both difficult and rewarding. Latin unlocks a world of information about your garden plants, in books and online, and ensures you apply the right care to the right plant. In this seminar, plant taxonomist and gardener Ross Bayton will guide you through some basic principles of botanical Latin, including its history, meanings and pronunciation, revealing some of the fascinating and touching tales behind the names.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 4:30 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Anne Biklé and David R Montgomery PhD

Anne Biklé Biologist, science writer and co-author, What Your Food Ate and The Hidden Half of Nature

David R. Montgomery, PhD Award-winning University of Washington professor and co-author, What Your Food Ate and The Hidden Half of Nature

Anne Biklé is a biologist, science writer, and public speaker. She finds the botanical world particularly enthralling and has been known to coax plants into rambunctious growth or nurse them back from the edge of death using mulches and microbes. Her work has appeared in digital and print magazines, newspapers, and radio and her regenerative gardening practices have been featured in independent and documentary films.

David R. Montgomery, PhD is a MacArthur Fellow and professor of geomorphology at the University of Washington. He is an internationally recognized geologist who studies landscape evolution and the effects of geological processes on ecological systems and human societies. His work has been featured in documentary films, network and cable news, TV, and radio including NOVA, PBS NewsHour, Fox and Friends, and All Things Considered. http://www.Dig2Grow.com

Together Anne Biklé and David Montgomery have written widely on soil health, agriculture, and the microbiomes of plants and people. Their latest book is What Your Food Ate: How to Heal Our Land and Reclaim Our Health (W.W. Norton, 2022). They are also co-authors of The Hidden Half of Nature, and David Montgomery is the author of Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations and Growing a Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life, all from W.W. Norton. http://www.Dig2Grow.com

What Your Food Ate: The Roots to Human Health Begin in the Soil

We know that what we eat matters to our health, but one aspect remains underappreciated—what the plants and animals that land on our dinner plates eat. It turns out that the roots of human health begin in the soil, with how we grow crops and raise livestock. Weaving history, science, and visits with innovative farmers reveals the links between soil health and human health become clear, and practices to improve soil health come into focus. Whether you are a conventional, organic, or regenerative gardener, everyone can improve their practices to improve their soil health.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 1:00 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Saturday, Feb 18 at 11:30 am / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Loree Bohl

Loree Bohl–Author of Fearless Gardening and blogger, thedangergarden.com

Loree is the creative force behind the popular blog danger garden, where she shares her love for agaves, cactus, and all things spiky—as well as a fondness for ferns and a good patch of moss. Loree has written for several magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens, Fine Gardening, and Pacific Horticulture. Her first book, Fearless Gardening: Be Bold, Break the Rules, Grow What You Love was published by Timber Press. Born and raised in the Pacific NW, Loree feels fortunate to garden within such a lively horticulture community. That said, she loves learning about other regional gardening styles and how climate influences plant choices, so garden travel is high on her list of leisure pursuits. Sharing her passion for plants and garden design is the driving force behind everything that she does, she is a firm believer there is always room for one more plant.

http://www.thedangergarden.com/

A Memorable Garden Is Built from a Series of Vignettes

When reflecting upon a garden that inspires you, do you recall the big picture, a panoramic shot? Or do you remember evocative details, a creative display within the garden, a vignette? These smaller elements encourage you to stop and engage. By including vignettes throughout your garden, you create focused areas within the whole. As a result, the space expands and feels much larger. Loree will share inspiring vignettes from her garden travels, as well as from her own Portland garden.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 5:15 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

C Colston Burrell

C. Colston Burrell–Garden designer, photographer, lecturer and award-winning author, Hellebores: A Comprehensive Guide

C. Colston Burrell is an acclaimed lecturer, garden designer, award-winning author and photographer. A certified chlorophyll addict, Cole is an avid and lifelong plantsman, gardener and naturalist. He has twice won the American Horticulture Society Book Award for Hellebores: A Comprehensive Guide, Timber Press, in 2007, and for A Gardner’s Encyclopedia of Wildflowers, Rodale Press, in 1998. Cole received the Award of Distinction from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers for his work promoting sustainable gardening practices. Cole is a popular lecturer internationally on topics of design, plants and ecology. He has shared his love of plants and regional landscapes with professional and amateur audiences for 40 years. He is principal of Native Landscape Design and Restoration, which specializes in blending nature and culture through artistic design. Garden and Nature Tours with C. Colston Burrell offers personalized leisure tours to exceptional gardens and natural areas around the globe. His one-of-a-kind tours explore the best private and public gardens and the most ecologically diverse natural areas to create once in a lifetime travel adventures. He has an M.S. in Horticulture from University of Maryland and a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Minnesota. After tending a city lot alive with birds and butterflies in Minneapolis, MN for ten years, he has gardened at Bird Hill, ten wild acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville, Virginia for the past 22 years.

https://www.ccolstonburrell.com

Nature As Gardener: Working with Natural Process for Beauty and Reduced Maintenance

Picture-perfect plant combinations make for beautiful gardens, yet keeping every plant in its place is a lot of work. If you grow native and site adapted plants, and long to lower your maintenance time and budget, this seminar is for you. Learn tips and techniques for working with Mother Nature to create a beautiful, reduced maintenance garden by augmenting and editing. Using layering, under planting, free seeding perennials and annuals, and a little benign neglect, you can reduce the amount of time spent working in your garden.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 4:00 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Circles, Arcs and Tangents: The Role of Form and Line in Garden Design

Ever wonder why some gardens make your heart sing? Certainly, plants are what draw us to gardens. Colors, forms and scents enchant us, but chances are you are responding to lines and forms. Forms and lines define garden spaces and give strength and unity to a design. Hardscape elements on the ground plane, sculptural elements in three dimensions, and the forms of flower and foliage conspire to give a garden its unique character.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 6:00 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Greg Butler

Greg Butler,BLA, ATA–Designer, educator and owner, Design of the Times

Greg has been educating and entertaining gardeners of all levels of interest as a teacher, lecturer, writer, and garden coach for over two decades. As owner of the design and consulting firm Design of the Times, he puts an emphasis on helping his public and private clients create beautiful, functional, and easy-care gardens and landscapes that don’t depend on pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or any other kind of synthetic tomfoolery for success. Greg is a former Edmonds Community College Landscape Renovation instructor, a frequent guest on the “Gardening with Ciscoe” radio show, and a guest blogger on the website for Swansons Nursery. He also spends an enormous amount of time arguing with his wife (also a landscape professional) about what to do in their own garden, which they have dubbed “The Garden of the Shoemaker’s Children.” http://www.hannahdoo.com

Gardeners vs the Apocalypse: 10 Ways Your Garden Can Fend Off the End of the World

Are you tired of waking up in the morning, checking the news, and feeling overwhelmed? Fight back by learning how your garden can stave off the apocalypse blues. Even a small garden can help slow climate change, enhance wildlife habitat, and improve our physical and mental well-being. Every little action we take matters, and time and effort spent in the garden is the best antidote for a world gone crazy.

Sunday, Feb 19 at 1:30 pm / Hood Room

Jenny Rose Carey

Jenny Rose Carey–Garden writer, photographer, and author, The Ultimate Flower Gardener’s Guide and Glorious Shade

Jenny Rose Carey is an avid, hands-on gardener who has directed two public gardens and now is a garden writer and photographer. She grew up in England in a family of teachers and botanists and now lives in Pennsylvania. Jenny Rose has degrees in Biology, Education and Horticulture. She has taught Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Temple University and at The Barnes Foundation. She has lectured nationally and internationally for many years, visiting as many gardens as possible along the way. For the last twenty-six years she has designed and planted her four-and-a half-acre garden, called ‘Northview.’ The garden rooms include a shade garden, cutting garden, herb garden, a dry garden, sunset garden, winter walk, flower gardens and a stumpery. She uses her garden as a trial area to test gardening techniques and new plants. Jenny Rose’s 2017 book Glorious Shade is a celebration of plants and design ideas for shade gardening. Her 2022 book, The Ultimate Flower Gardener’s Guide: How to Combine Shape, Color and Texture to Create the Garden of Your Dreams (Timber Press, 2022) is a guide to choosing, designing, and planting a garden of flowering plants. It contains over 600 photos taken by Jenny Rose and is her pandemic book. In the absence of travel, she had to grow the plants in her garden so that she could photograph them. http://www.jennyrosecarey.com

Grow More Flowers

We love flowers. The question is how can we grow lots and lots of our favorite flowers in a small space? Jenny Rose loves a floriferous garden, and she will share some of her ideas for growing as many flowers as possible for as many months as possible. Whether you garden in flower beds or containers—plant choice and management techniques can provide a succession of flowery blooms from spring through fall.

Friday, Feb 17 at 6:30 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Container Wars

Once again, we’ve lined up leading garden designers and writers to “battle it out” in our highly acclaimed “Container Wars.” Containers can go virtually anywhere—patios, decks and balconies or even in the garden! Drawing from identical plant materials, Jenny Rose Carey and Karen Chapman will each create three gorgeous containers—all in under an hour! Working against the clock, and with fun “challenges” thrown at them by Master of Ceremonies Marianne Binetti, see how they pull together plants and share their tips for designing luscious container gardens. Learning about plants has never been so fun!

Saturday, Feb 18 at 11:30 am / Main Stage in North Hall

Flower Garden Inspiration

Do you want to start or renovate your flower garden but need design and plant choice ideas and inspiration? Join Jenny Rose as she shows a range of beautiful, varied and themed flower gardens—cutting gardens, fragrance gardens, pollinator gardens and more. Get lots of positive ideas, and top ten plant lists for your own flower garden this coming season.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 2:45 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Linda Chalker-Scott PhD

Linda Chalker-Scott, PhD–WSU Horticulture Professor and author, How Plants Work and The Informed Gardener

Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott has a PhD in Horticulture from Oregon State University and is an ISA certified arborist and an ASCA consulting arborist. She is WSU’s Extension Urban Horticulturist and a Professor in the Department of Horticulture and holds two affiliate professor positions at University of Washington. She conducts research in applied plant and soil sciences, publishing the results in scientific articles and university Extension fact sheets. In 2020, she was named the new editor for the Western Arborist magazine. Linda also is the award-winning author of five books: the horticultural myth-busting The Informed Gardener (2008) and The Informed Gardener Blooms Again (2010) from the University of Washington Press and Sustainable Landscapes and Gardens: Good Science–Practical Application (2009) from GFG Publishing, Inc., and How Plants Work: The Science Behind the Amazing Things Plants Do from Timber Press (2015). Her latest book is an update of Art Kruckeberg’s Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest from UW Press (2019), which has won several national awards. In 2018 Linda was featured in a video series, The Science of Gardening, produced by The Great Courses. She also is one of the Garden Professors, a group of academic colleagues who educate and entertain through their blog and Facebook pages. Linda’s educational contributions to science-based information have been recognized by such groups as Garden Communicators International, the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, and the International Association for Arboriculture.

www.facebook.com/TheGardenProfessors

http://www.theinformedgardener.com

Rooting Out Problems Before You Plant

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

Raised Bed Gardens: Keeping Your Veggies—And Your Family—Healthy

Raised bed gardening is increasingly popular, especially for gardeners with limited growing space or contaminated soil. This seminar will present the science-based nuts and bolts of raised bed gardening: how to select the proper materials, what to use as planting media, and how to manage soil fertility, weeds, and pests in environmentally friendly ways. Handouts containing the text of the talk will be available to download.

Sunday, Feb 19 at 4:00 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Karen Chapman

Karen Chapman–Owner, Le Jardinet, award-winning co-author, Fine Foliage, Gardening with Foliage First and author, Deer-Resistant Design

Born in England, Karen grew up with a trowel in her hand. After moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1996 she joined Molbak’s Garden & Home as a garden plant specialist before establishing Le Jardinet in 2006. Whilst initially specializing in custom container gardens, Karen now applies that same attention to detail by designing functional and artistic landscapes. Her designs have been featured in many prestigious publications, including Fine Gardening, Sunset, and Better Homes & Gardens. She is co-author of two popular books on foliage-driven design: Fine Foliage (St. Lynn’s Press, 2013) and Gardening with Foliage First (Timber Press, 2017), and her latest book is Deer-Resistant Design (Timber Press, 2019). When not designing gardens or writing about them, Karen is usually teaching in workshops around the country, as well as through several online courses. She also leads garden tours both in her native England and the United States. Whether on the stage or the page, Karen’s aim is always to inspire, educate and share the fun of gardening with her audience.

www.lejardinetdesigns.com

Ideas for Pacific Northwest Gardens—from England

Once hailed as the style, English gardens then went out of favor, considered to be too labor intensive due to their reliance on an abundance of perennials or endless clipping of topiary structures. Yet there are many lessons to learned including maximizing small spaces, layering, and using sight lines and focal points effectively. Enjoy an immersive and educational presentation featuring gardens from across England while you glean dozens of ideas for your own garden.

Friday, Feb 17 at 11:30 am / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Container Wars

Once again, we’ve lined up leading garden designers and writers to “battle it out” in our highly acclaimed “Container Wars.” Containers can go virtually anywhere—patios, decks and balconies or even in the garden! Drawing from identical plant materials, Karen Chapman and Jenny Rose Carey will each create three gorgeous containers—all in under an hour! Working against the clock, and with fun “challenges” thrown at them by Master of Ceremonies Marianne Binetti, see how they pull together plants and share their tips for designing luscious container gardens. Learning about plants has never been so fun!

Saturday, Feb 18 at 11:30 am / Main Stage in North Hall

Water-Savvy Garden Design

Rather than pining for the “greener grass” on the other side of the proverbial fence, learn to make the most of what you have while conserving both water and your time. This seminar will discuss how to maximize your garden’s potential by assessing the site conditions, determining key design criteria, then combining suitable plants with similar needs for a professional look that balances beauty and efficiency with good stewardship.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 4:00 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Meg McAndrews Cowden

Meg McAndrews Cowden–Author, Plant Grow Harvest Repeat and founder, The Modern Garden Guild

Meg McAndrews Cowden is a wildly popular and enthusiastic home gardener and the creator behind @seedtofork. With a formal background in natural resource management, her current wheelhouse includes stay-at-home mother, writer, photographer, volunteer, and her ‘day job’ as full-time resident gardener. She shares her passion for growing food, educating, and inspiring through her photography and writing in her new book, Plant Grow Harvest Repeat (Timber Press, 2022), on social media @seedtofork, and through her new gardening club, The Modern Garden Guild. She has been featured on PBS’ Growing a Greener World, regularly contributes to Northern Gardener magazine, is a recurring guest on MPR’s ‘Minnesota Now’ radio program with Cathy Wurzer, Niki Jabbour’s ‘The Garden Show,’ and has been a guest on ‘Twin Cities Live,’ a local (live) lifestyle TV show in the Twin Cities metro. She’s a friend to the podcasting world and has been a guest on numerous podcasts including ‘The joe gardener Show,’ ‘A Way to Garden,’ ‘The Grow Guide,’ ‘Epic Gardening,’ and more. With over 25 years of growing experience, Meg has grown right alongside her gardens, exploring the connection between native landscapes and food gardens ever since settling in Minnesota in 2003. Meg relishes the challenge of gardening in such a cold climate and is never short on growing challenges and new ideas. With each passing season, new ideas are field tested and refined. For Meg, the greatest gift is received among her garden beds, for gardening bountifully showers the attentive observer with life lessons—and the lessons are both profound and innumerable. www.seedtofork.com

Sowing Hope: Grow More Food Across Three Seasons

Accelerating your spring garden sparks a cascading effect across the entire growing season. Learn why and how to maximize spring productivity—and followed by a productive summer and fall garden too. With succession planting the right seeds at the right time, we can all grow more food for longer, the very thing our planet needs.

Friday, Feb 17 at 10:45 am / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

GARDEN 101: TAKING YOUR EDIBLE GARDEN TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Layering Succession in the Food Garden

Edible gardening is more popular than ever and continues to evolve. Gardeners are thinking outside the box, experimenting with layering and succession planting, and discovering new strategies to deal with pesky wildlife. Here are three edible gardening authors and experts to help you get the most from your edible gardens. Susan Mulvihill will help you discover methods for determining which critter is causing you problems, how you can take action, and share an array of creative and practical strategies you can implement to make your garden less appealing to them. Kelly Smith Trimble unboxes the edible garden, helping you break out of boxy and boring gardens to discover more creativity, connection, and joy in the practice of growing food. And Meg McAndrews Cowden will inspire you with practical planting schedules and tips to push the envelope of your growing season, bringing diversity within and across your growing seasons to extend your garden’s bounty beyond what you thought possible

Saturday, Feb 18 at 3:30 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

David Deardorff PHD

David Deardorff, PhD–Award-winning co-author, Saving Nature: One Yard at a Time and What’s Wrong With My Houseplant?

David Deardorff is an acclaimed and dynamic public speaker and author. He has appeared on Martha Stewart Living, Joe Lamp’l’s Growing a Greener World TV, Ken Druse’s Real Dirt, and Ciscoe Morris’s Gardening with Ciscoe. He has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, and Sunset Magazine. David was formerly a professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Hawaii and a professor and Master Gardener instructor at Washington State University. He formerly owned and operated a native plant nursery in New Mexico and holds a PhD in Botany from the University of Washington. David has published with his co-author Kathryn Wadsworth a series of books from Timber Press: What’s Wrong With My Plant? And how do I fix it? (2009), winner of a Silver Achievement Award from the Garden Writers of America; What’s Wrong With My Vegetable Garden? (2011), What’s Wrong With My Fruit Garden? (2013), and What’s Wrong With My Houseplant? (2016). They also authored What’s Wrong With My Marijuana Plant? (Ten Speed Press, 2017). Their latest book, Saving Nature: One Yard at a Time was released by Countryman Press in April, 2022. http://kathrynanddavid.com/

Saving Nature One Yard at a Time

What if we could save nature one neighborhood, one project, one yard at a time? We can, even if our yards are under street trees, in a community garden, or in the rough of a golf course. Discover how native wildflowers, trees, and shrubs are perfectly adapted to our local climate, and how they provide the best habitats for wildlife, including native bee species. All of us can help save nature. It’s easy, fun, and educational for the whole family as well as a huge benefit to Mother Nature.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 6:00 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Lorene Edwards Forkner

Lorene Edwards Forkner–Author, Color In and Out of the Garden and gardening contributor for The Seattle Times

Lorene Edwards Forkner is an author and speaker whose work centers on exploring the wonders of the natural world. She writes a weekly gardening column for Pacific NW Magazine in The Seattle Times and is the author of numerous gardening titles, including her latest, Color In and Out of the Garden (Abrams 2022). Lorene tends a small city garden in Seattle where she explores seasonal pleasures, delicious flavors, and creative experimentation. www.ahandmadegarden.com

Color In and Out of the Garden

Color is one of nature’s most sophisticated tools to capture the attention of all living creatures. Learn how cultivating our perception of color and honing our ability to distinguish nuance can be used to create pleasing garden pictures and enhance everyday life. Sharing observations and imagery from her daily practice, Lorene invites you to take a closer look at plants and color in hopes of enlarging the way you see the world and deepening your compassion for beauty in nature.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 2:45 pm / Hood / Book signing to follow

Connect with Color

Connect with nature by capturing the colors of the garden in a simple color study. We’ll explore the nature of color, in and out of the garden. Learn how recording colors in paint, fabric, collage, or photos, can encourage you to slow down, pay attention, and savor the season. Then download the handout with simple directions for creating your own color study and a call to share your colors at #NWFGColorcollective.

Thursday, Feb 16 ay 11:45 am / DIY Stage / Book signing to follow

C L Fornari

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

C.L. Fornari speaks to the public and professionals in the green industry about plants, gardens and horticulture, both in person and virtually. In addition to working for a family-owned Independent Garden Center, she writes a regular column for Garden Center Magazine and is the author of eight books, host of “GardenLine” on WXTK and co-host of Plantrama podcast. C.L. has won numerous awards for her garden communications. Her books, articles, podcast and radio show have received many awards from GardenComm International, the association of garden communicators. She was also named the Garden Communicator of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association in 2012. Her not-so-secret mission is to plant horticulture back into pop culture. In the meantime, she cultivates plants at Poison Ivy Acres on Cape Cod and blogs at www.GardenLady.com

The Plantrama Top 10: What to Know and Grow

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 top prize, a Gold Medal, from GardenComm International, in the overall Podcast category.

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

Hydrangea Happiness, Hydrangea Hysteria

From the blue mopheads and lacecaps to the white panicles and beyond, there’s a hydrangea for every garden. Learn which varieties will live and flower well in your gardens. Find out how to prune those blue-flowering types that bloom on “old wood.” Hear about shorter varieties, and types that do well in pots. Have your Hydrangea questions answered, and discover how to get long-lasting flowers in your yard and garden. From sun to shade, from tall to small, there is a hydrangea for every garden, and attendees will discover the plants that are right for them.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 10:00 am / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Toni Gattone

Toni Gattone–Award-winning speaker and author, The Lifelong Gardener

Toni Gattone is an adaptive gardening expert, an inspirational change-agent, and her enthusiasm is contagious. She is passionate about empowering gardeners with practical, “how-to” ideas to grow their resilience and find ways to adapt to our ever-changing bodies, our lives, and climate. Toni’s seminars are packed with great ideas, useful information, and gorgeous photographs. She offers solutions to increase comfort and safety, and ways to save time, money, and energy. Her programs inspire gardeners to take-action and to embrace making changes to make their gardens more sustainable for the long term. In 2021 she won the Gold Media Award for Speaking from Garden Communicators International. Her book, The Lifelong Gardener, Garden with Ease and Joy at Any Age (Timber Press, 2019), features hundreds of tips, tools, and techniques, that gardeners of all ages and abilities will appreciate, but she has a special place in her heart for seniors and modern elders who want to live active, healthy lives with purpose and passion. Toni Gattone’s articles have been published in Better Homes and Gardens, Gardening for Health, Garden Smart Magazine, The National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture, HomeGardenandHomestead.com, and The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Guide 2022. Her adaptive gardening seminar was featured in The New York Times.

http://www.tonigattone.com/

Four Steps to Create a Fire-Smart Landscape

The western half of the U.S. is at a turning point. How do you adapt your landscape to be fire-smart and climate-resilient? What can you do to design a healthy, aesthetically pleasing landscape, while creating a defensible barrier from fire for your family and home, along with safety for firefighters? Discover the essential things to plan and maintain a fire-safe landscape and “harden” your home for protection, plus plant choices to avoid, tasks to do, and tools to get the job done.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 9:30 am / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Sue Goetz

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

Sue Goetz is an award-winning garden designer, writer, and speaker. Through her business Creative Gardener, she works with clients to personalize outdoor spaces-from garden coaching to complete landscape design. Sue is also staff designer at Watson's Nursery in Puyallup, Washington. Her garden design work has earned gold medals at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show and specialty awards, including The Sunset Magazine award, Fine Gardening magazine award, and The American Horticultural Society Award. Writing and speaking are other ways Sue shares her love of gardening. Her motto "...inspiring gardeners to create" defines her talks, hands-on workshops with how-to's, and ways to inspire creativity in and out of the garden. She has been named Educator of the Year by the Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association. She shares her love of the garden and herb growing with talks featured all over the U.S. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including APLD Designer magazine, Pacific Horticulture Magazine, and Fine Gardening Magazine. She is the author of three books: Complete Container Herb Gardening (Cool Springs Press, 2020), A Taste for Herbs (St. Lynn's Press, 2019), and The Herb Lover's Spa Book (St. Lynn's Press, 2015). www.suegoetz.com

Garden Design Makeovers for a Changing Climate

Wet winters, dry summers, heat domes, and atmospheric rivers, whatever the terminology—how does all this fit the puzzle of garden design? Learn tips, techniques, and stylizing for the real world. Healthy soil, drought-tolerant plants, micro-climates, rain gardens, no lawns, and more! Before and after makeover ideas for sustainability and adaptability.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 6:30 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

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

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

Joe Grienauer

Joe Grienauer–Orchid expert and owner, Emerald City Orchids

Joe Grienauer began working with orchids professionally in 2004 at Baron’s Orchids in Morro Bay, CA. In 2008, he established Emerald City Orchids in the garage of a rented house in Seattle, Washington. Emerald City Orchids has since grown into their greenhouses located in historic South Tacoma, which are open to the public and have the Pacific Northwest’s largest selection of orchid plants available for wholesale and retail trade. Joe is a two-time Northwest Flower and Garden Festival gold medal winning garden designer, working on behalf of the Northwest Orchid Society. He currently serves as the Northwest Orchid Society President and has received special recognition from the American Orchid Society for his continued efforts to promote the Northwest Orchid Society and their mission of public outreach, orchid conservation and education. Joe has presented seminars to other orchid societies nationwide, as well as garden clubs and retail nurseries. He is also working on his first book about orchids. Visit Emerald City Orchids, booth #2228 in the South Hall, at this year’s show. www.emeraldcityorchids.com

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

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

Robin Haglund

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

Robin Haglund is the founder of gardening education firm Garden Mentors®. She thrives by helping you succeed at cultivating great gardening skills and your dream garden. Robin’s online Gardening Academy provides self-paced gardening lessons to help you stop struggling and grow better gardening skills and a great garden with her proven techniques. Robin also hosts an exclusive Group Garden Coaching Club online for like-minded gardeners to work 1:1 with her in a group setting and enjoy special seminars together. Plus, in Herbal Happy Hour Garden-to-Bar Robin, provides garden-to-glass lessons in growing and DIYing tasty homegrown sippables. Robin is an HGTV, NWFGF, WALP, and WSNLA award-winning designer, an avid herbalist, a WSNLA Certified Professional Horticulturist, a popular writer, and a frequent garden media expert guest and contributor. Robin donates time educating others in nature. Her popular articles, videos, and classes are infused with vibrant anecdotes derived from her lifetime gardening on farms and in city gardens across the US, her daily adventures with plants, pollinators, pets and wildlife in the natural world, and her garden teaching experiences imparting successful gardening, herbalist and naturalist practices to all levels. Robin’s gardening and design methods, plant knowledge, pollinator and pet gardening techniques, restoration methods, and homesteading skills are featured in several media sources including The New York Times, PBS’s “Growing a Greener World”, Sunset Magazine, HGTV’s “Landscaper’s Challenge”, The Seattle Times, Organic Gardening Magazine, This Old House Magazine, MSN, several podcasts, and many books. https://gardenmentors.com/more/

Never Ending Garden Chores? Get Organized!

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

Shake it up! Herbal Happy Hour Garden Mixology

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 3:15 pm / DIY Stage

Richard Hawke

Richard Hawke–Director of Ornamental Research, Chicago Botanic Garden

Richard Hawke’s nickname should be Mr. Plant. As the Director of Ornamental Plant Research for the Chicago Botanic Garden he has trialed, monitored, and written about more plants than most. Since 1986 his area of focus at CBG has been ornamental plant evaluation, invasive species testing of wild-collected and ornamental plants, and the evaluation of native and cultivated plants for green roofs. In his “spare” time you’ll find Richard lecturing around the country or organizing educational symposiums in his role as in-coming president of Perennial Plant Association. When he’s not doing all that, you’ll likely find him stuck in Chicago commuter traffic—or tending his own incredible garden.

PLANTS FOR A BETTER PLANET

Newer Plants Showing Promise

New plants are what make every gardener’s heart skip a beat. But a lot of the time, that new plant requires a ridiculous amount of care and resources to look decent, if it doesn’t die within the first year. Richard Hawke of the Chicago Botanic Garden has spent much of his career trialing plants. Each year he puts new offerings into the test gardens at CBG and monitors their overall performance, determining which are worthy of your hard-earned dollar and which can be classified as unsustainable pitfall plants. Over the past few years Richard has developed a list of newer plants that have done well in the trials—plants that he feels confident enough to recommend to gardeners—and even plant in his own landscape. In this lecture you’ll find out about scores of new nativars and ornamentals that require little input to perform brilliantly.

Friday, Feb 17 at 1:00 pm / Rainier Room

Fine Gardening

Eric Hsu

Eric Hsu–Chanticleer plant information coordinator, horticulturist and blogger of Plinth et al

A horticulturist and writer who is interested in the narratives of people and their plants, Eric Hsu has written in The New York Times, The Plant Review (formerly The Plantsman), and on his blog “Plinth et al.” Hsu has appeared on Margaret Roach’s ‘A Way to Garden’ and Jennifer Jewell’s ‘Cultivating Place,’ and he has lectured for horticultural organizations like the Western Horticultural Society and Wave Hill in New York. Eric has studied the taxonomy of heather hybrids as the Royal Horticultural Society Fellow at University of Reading, UK, and the dispersal of plants in Tasmania and New Zealand at University of Tasmania, Australia. He is currently Chanticleer’s plant information coordinator, overseeing plant records and teaching plant identification to interns. At home, Eric maintains a growing collection of tropical orchids and tender bulbs in pots. He has a modest urban garden where epimediums, hellebores, woodland peonies, and winter flowering bulbs vie for attention. www.plinthetal.com

Neither a Tulip nor a Daffodil: Overlooked Bulbs

Daffodils and tulips are the supermodels for spring flowering bulbs that they eclipse other bulbs worthy of growing. Who has grown or are familiar with Grecian windflowers (Anemone blanda), Ithuiel’s spear (Triteleia laxa), spring starflowers (Ipheion)? With such evocative, poetic names, it’s surprising that they are not more popular. Diversifying our bulb plantings not only extends the season, but support pollinators as these under-utilized bulbs have not been overbred.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 5:15 pm / Hood Room

Scaling Up: Climbers to Try

With green spaces valued in urban environments and with the effects of climate change a tangible threat, the beauty and importance of vines has never been more pertinent. They add privacy on fences, and screen outdoor spaces from prying eyes. Through their greenery, vines draw dwellings into the garden. Whether trained well or let untamed, they soften hard edges and give the garden a romantic feeling. Clematis, wisteria, and jasmine are obvious options, but leap forward into sausage vine, wood vamp, and cross vine.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 9:30 am / Hood Room

Ginger Hudson

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

Ginger Hudson is the current Director of the Jensen-Olson Arboretum in Juneau, AK. She previously operated her own landscape design and garden education business in Anchorage, AK. Ginger served as the Special Horticulture Projects Manager at the Alaska Botanical Garden in Anchorage for three years. Before moving to the cool climate of Alaska, Ginger operated a landscape design and education business in Austin, TX. Her experience helping people learn about landscape care led her to write A Guide to Landscape Maintenance for Central Texas Gardens, an ebook available at the Apple Bookstore. While in Austin she taught design classes and led plant walks at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. She has been a repeat guest on KLRU TV’s Central Texas Gardener; served as a guest for environmental writing on KTNA, KAKM, and KTOO in Alaska; has been a presenter on small public gardens for APGA; spoken to regional and statewide organizations on the basics of landscape design and edible plants; and spoken about her current biographical subject Verna Pratt, Alaska’s beloved wildflower expert. As manager of the Jensen-Olson Arboretum, Ginger oversees the care of a fourteen-acre maritime climate arboretum and botanical garden which houses the Nationally Accredited Plant Collection™ for the genus Primula. Ginger is an active master gardener, native plant, and rock garden society member. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alaska Anchorage and an Environmental Design degree from Texas A&M University. https://juneau.org/parks-recreation/jensen-olson-arboretum

and https://ginger.growingtall.llc

Successful Garden Maintenance with the Correct Tools

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

GARDEN 101: NOT YOUR GRANNY’S PLANTS

Quintessential Signs of Spring: Valuable, Versatile Primulas

No matter what the weather, everyone wants to look out the window at their garden and see beauty from flowers and foliage. Here’s a primer on three plants that you might be overlooking for season-spanning elegance. Ginger Hudson shares the springtime colors, shapes and varieties of Primulas from the Nationally Accredited Primula Collection™ at the Jensen-Olson Arboretum. Deborah Trickett will get you craving the versatile Coleus, now enjoying a renaissance with luscious varieties sure to liven up any summer container or garden with colorful foliage. Finally, R. Theo Margelony shares his obsession with the perennial Hardy Fuchsias, stalwart performers that are hummingbird magnets lasting from summer into late fall.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 2:30 pm / Rainier Room

Kathy Jentz

Kathy Jentz–Award-winning author, Groundcover Revolution, co-author, The Urban Garden and editor/publisher, Washington Gardener

Kathy Jentz is editor and publisher of the award-winning Washington Gardener Magazine, based in Washington, DC, which won a Silver media award in 2021 from GardenComm International. Kathy has a journalism degree from the University of Maryland. She is also the editor of three plant society journals: the Water Garden Journal (IWGS), The Azalean (ASA), and Fanfare (Daylily Society Region 3). Kathy also hosts of the popular GardenDC Podcast, which was recently named Best DC Podcast and is co-author of The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City (Cool Springs Press, 2022), as well as Groundcover Revolution, coming in 2023. Kathy’s mission is to turn black thumbs green. A life-long gardener, she believes that growing plants should be stress-free and enjoyable. Her philosophy is “inspiration over perspiration.” https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/

Squeezing It All In: Small Space Garden Design for Your Urban Garden

Do you suffer from too many plants and too little space? Using examples from area gardens, Kathy Jentz, co-author of The Urban Garden, will illustrate basic design principles for maximizing garden space. Kathy will address common small-space challenges such as creating privacy and adding light to shady areas. She'll offer low-or-no-budget solutions as well.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 12:00 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Container Wars

Once again, we’ve lined up leading garden designers and writers to “battle it out” in our highly acclaimed “Container Wars.” Containers can go virtually anywhere—patios, decks and balconies or even in the garden! Drawing from identical plant materials, Kathy Jentz and Mary-Kate Mackey will each create three gorgeous containers—all in under an hour! Working against the clock, and with fun “challenges” thrown at them by Master of Ceremonies Marianne Binetti, see how they pull together plants and share their tips for designing luscious container gardens. Learning about plants has never been so fun!

Friday, Feb 17 at 11:30 am / Main Stage in North Hall

Groundcovers: Great Alternatives to Turf Grass

Groundcovers are low-growing plants that serve many different purposes in the landscape from limiting weed growth to stabilizing slopes to adding texture to your garden. Kathy Jentz, author of the forthcoming book, Groundcover Revolution, will cover several of these beautiful, hard-working plants and the best kinds to use for your region.

Friday, Feb 17 at 4:00 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Dan Lambe

Dan Lambe–Award-winning Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation and co-author, Now is the Time for Trees

Dan Lambe is the Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, an organization founded in 1972. Under Dan's leadership as president, the Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. He was appointed as Chief Executive in January of 2022, ahead of the Foundation's 50th anniversary. Dan is the co-author, with Lorene Edwards Forkner, of Now is the Time for Trees: Make an Impact by Planting the World’s Most Valuable Resource (Timber Press, 2022).Every book sold results in one tree planted.During his 17 years with the Foundation, he has led the development of innovative programs that expand the organization's global reach, including international forest restoration efforts and the most recent ‘Tree Cities of the World’ program. In addition, Dan spearheads the Arbor Day Foundation's Evergreen Alliance—a strategic group of corporate leaders dedicated to helping the organization meet its ‘Time for Trees’ initiative to plant 100 million trees and inspire 5 million tree planters by 2022. Over the course of his tenure, Dan has become a trusted resource for corporate sustainability leaders and the media alike. He has become influential in the sustainability and forestry space, regularly featured as a speaker at conferences hosted by the United Nations, Sustainable Brands, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 3BL and others. He is a member of the World Economic Forum 1t.org Stakeholder Council, serves as a board member for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, sits on the steering committee for the Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition and is a recipient of the Chief's Honor Award—the U.S. Forest Service's highest award. Dan is also a frequent resource for publications such as CNN, NPR, Popular Science, and Fast Company. When not educating and empowering people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees, Dan is often training and struggling to complete triathlons or searching for another unique restaurant to explore. He finds any chance possible to travel for fun and adventure with his wife and two fantastic kids. www.arborday.org

A Case for Trees: A Positive Solution to the Negative Effects of Climate Change

Dan Lambe wants to talk trees—how they oxygenate the planet, purify water and air, lower city temperatures, provide habitat, nurture the soul, and provide essential food sources. He will leave you with simple and straightforward tips about how to become a tree lover and, more importantly, a tree planter. He will deliver a simple, powerful, and POSITIVE message: trees are the number one nature-based solution for reversing the negative effects of a changing climate. Each of us can make an impact by planting the world’s most valuable resource.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 1:15 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Daphne Legg

Daphne Legg–Bird enthusiast and award-winning store manager, Wild Birds Unlimited

Daphne Legg has shared her love of gardening for the birds and other wildlife with countless customers at the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Lake Forest Park. Daphne has been trained as a Certified Bird Feeding Specialist through Wild Birds Unlimited, with 23 years’ experience of the hobby, both professionally and personally. Of the 300 stores nationwide, Daphne was named “Manager of the Year” for 2017 of the Wild Birds Unlimited in Lake Forest Park, WA. She has been a speaker at the Puget Sound Bird Fest for seven years. www.lakeforestpark.wbu.com

GARDEN 101: BIRDS AND BEES AND BATS, OH MY!

The Joy of Attracting Birds to your Garden

As we clearcut our forests into fields of cement and high-rises, we are destroying habitat for wildlife. But we all share the planet with wildlife, so we must do more to make up for the habitat destruction. Here are three experts to show you how you can best attract, cohabitate, and enjoy a myriad of wildlife in your garden. Daphne Legg will help you discover the best ways to attract songbirds to your garden, using plants, food, water, nesting boxes and more. Thyra McKelvie shows you why the gentle solitary bees are critical pollinators for food and ecosystems and are fast becoming the new bee to host in your yard. And don’t miss NWF Naturalist David Mizejewski as he shares a myth-busting talk about bees, wasps, snakes, bats and other so-called “scary” garden wildlife, explaining their natural behaviors, why they’re important, and how to avoid any problems with them.

Sunday, Feb 19 at 2:00 pm / Rainier Room

Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis–Award-winning owner, Phoenix Perennials and author, The Complete Book of Ground Covers

Gary Lewis became the owner of Phoenix Perennials on his 28^th birthday while completing a Master of Science degree in Botany. The business is now a dynamic, award-winning, destination retail and mail order nursery with over 5,000 different plants a year, many of which are grown at Phoenix Perennials from plant material sourced from around the world. Gary is a regular speaker at garden clubs and conferences and has appeared many times on radio and television. He has written articles for Fine Gardening and other magazines. In fall 2022 his encyclopedia, The Complete Book of Ground Covers, was published by Timber Press. It includes 4,000 different ground covers and 650 photos he took on his travels. In 2013 Gary was selected as Communicator of the Year by the BC Landscape and Nursery Association. In 2014 Gary was selected as one of Canada’s “Top 10 Horticultural Professionals Under 40” by Greenhouse Canada magazine. In 2015 Phoenix Perennials was selected for the “Revolutionary 100” honoring the 100 best cutting edge garden centers in North America by Today’s Garden Center Magazine. In 2017 Phoenix Perennials was selected as a ‘Canada 150 Garden Experience’ designating the top 150 garden experiences in the country. In the same year Gary was awarded the Retail Sales Award by the Perennial Plant Association. Gary has lead botanical and garden tours to Holland and Belgium, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and Western Australia with future trips planned to France and the Czech Republic plus returns to New Zealand and South Africa.

www.phoenixperennials.com

GARDEN 101: GREAT STRUCTURAL PLANTS FOR ALL LANDSCAPES

Best Ground Covers and Ground Cover Combos for NW Gardens

“Structure” is the term used to cover those plants that give you a great looking garden all year round, no matter what’s in bloom. Structure can come from both broadleaf and coniferous evergreen plants and deciduous shrubs with colorful branches. These three seminars cover a range of fabulous plants that provide year-round interest and great structure. Roger Ragusa kicks it off with conifers for dramatic textures and form and a variety of colors, each with distinct attraction. Mark Turner shows you the many beneficial NW native plants that you can tuck into your garden for added beauty and structure. And finally, Gary Lewis will give you a roundup of the best ground covers and dynamic ground cover combinations for different gardens in the Pacific NW. He’ll highlight hot new introductions to the world of ground covers to keep your garden on the cutting edge.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 3:30 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Ground Covers: Reduce Maintenance, Control Erosion, Improve the Environment, and Beautify the Landscape

Ground covers offer a diverse range of beautiful options with a variety of colors, textures, and forms. They can unify a landscape, knit together plantings and hardscape, and add layers of beauty. When replacing lawns they reduce our use of water, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, carbon-based fuels, and transform a yard into a diverse landscape of habitat and food for wildlife. Gary will highlight the uses of ground covers, including tips for designing with ground covers to take your outdoor space to the next level.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 1:15 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Anne Long

Anne Long–Owner, The Dahlia House, Skagit Valley

A lifelong urban farmer, Anne Long is the founder and current owner of The Dahlia House located in beautiful Skagit Valley, WA. She is an approachable and fun-loving flower grower, supplier, arranger and teacher who has taught countless online and in person flower growing and arranging classes and workshops. Dubbed “The Dahlia Expert” at Floret’s on-farm workshop and “The Ranunculus Queen” by fellow flower farmers, she can recently be found teaching locally at Christianson’s Nursery, Happy Hollow Farm or at her collaborative u-pick flower field at Bee Merry Farm. Visit The Dahlia House, booth #2219 in the South Hall, at this year’s show. http://www.thedahliahouse.com

Growing Anemones, Ranunculus, Peonies and Dahlias

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

Mary-Kate Mackey

Mary-Kate Mackey–Award-winning garden writer, speaker and co-author, The Healthy Garden: Simple Steps for a Greener World

Mary-Kate Mackey is a lively and engaging speaker, author, and teacher. She has presented talks at major garden shows around the U.S. and is glad to be returning to the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival stage. She’s received numerous writing awards from Garden Communicators International, including a Gold in 2021. The Healthy Garden—Simple Steps for a Greener World, co-authored with Sunset Western Garden Book editor Kathleen Norris Brenzel (Abrams, 2021). Her byline has appeared in many national publications, such as Fine Gardening, Horticulture, and This Old House. She’s a contributor to the Sunset Western Garden Book and Sunset’s Gardening in the Northwest.

https://marykatemackey.com

Container Wars

Once again, we’ve lined up leading garden designers and writers to “battle it out” in our highly acclaimed “Container Wars.” Containers can go virtually anywhere—patios, decks and balconies or even in the garden! Drawing from identical plant materials, Mary-Kate Mackey and Kathy Jentz will each create three gorgeous containers—all in under an hour! Working against the clock, and with fun “challenges” thrown at them by Master of Ceremonies Marianne Binetti, see how they pull together plants and share their tips for designing luscious container gardens. Learning about plants has never been so fun!

Friday, Feb 17 at 11:30 am / Main Stage in North Hall

Five Easy Elements for a Healthy Garden

A healthy garden is one where plants grow well without massive infusions of chemicals or major continual upkeep. Garden author Mary-Kate Mackey focuses on five steps you can take to boost your garden’s resilience and vigor, while supporting a wide diversity of wildlife. The bonus? Less work and more time for enjoyment of your outdoor space—whether you’re caring for a collection of containers or acres of beds and borders.

Friday, Feb 17 at 2:45 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Danilo Maffei FAPLD 2023 SHOW JUDGE

Danilo Maffei, CPLD, PCH, FAPLD–2023 Show Judge, founding principal, Maffei Landscape Design

Danilo Maffei is the founding principal of Maffei Landscape Design, LLC in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, a small firm specializing in creating outdoor living environments in residential, hospitality, commercial and public landscape sectors. His firm aspires to create meaningful, engaging, site-specific gardens, with an emphasis on plant selections that complement the natural and built environment. With a background in design, public horticulture, landscape contracting, business and civic leadership, he brings to each project a positive and practical perspective on the way gardens enrich our experience and engagement with people and places. His philosophy; gather experiences, not things. Objects alone do not make a garden better. Rather, it is the opportunity for people to meaningfully engage with the outdoors in all of its ephemerality and seasonal transformations that truly elevates the garden from merely functional to truly sublime. In addition to his duties as the leader of his firm, Mr. Maffei is a regular instructor and lecturer in landscape design, a community leader in both volunteer and elected positions and past president of the board of directors of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD), where he was honored as a Fellow. www.danilomaffei.com

Danilo Maffei’s appearance sponsored by the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society

www.bellevuebotanical.org

Designing for Theme: Unifying Space, Architecture and Plants

Few other design principles can deliver a more impactful garden experience than creating a compelling theme. Explore the design process and learn from case studies on how to create captivating, thought-provoking and memorable garden spaces that are built around an organizing, storytelling principle.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 11:30 am / Rainier Room

EDGE = ENERGY: Activating Boundaries in the Garden For Excitement, Engagement And Clarity

Gardeners spend massive amounts of time concentrating on what is going to be “in” the garden, but usually not so much time about what goes “around” the garden. Selecting plants, choosing materials and shopping for furniture all contribute to its aesthetics, but which organizing principles are being used to create the gravitational pull that holds them all together? Careful attention to the boundaries of the garden can define the space both conceptually and physically, prevent distraction, underscore meaning and even become a space unto itself, thus assuring the interpretive success of that which lies within.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 10:00 am / Rainier Room

Susan Maki

Susan Maki–Designer, buyer, and houseplant merchandise manager for Squak Mountain Nursery

Susan Maki is a designer, buyer, and houseplant merchandise manager for Squak Mountain Nursery in Issaquah, Washington. She holds a BA from Texas A&M University and a Certificate in Horticulture from Lake Washington Institute of Technology where she also served a teaching assistant for the Horticulture program. A lifelong learner, she has taken floral design and interior gardening classes from professionals around the world, including Guatemala, Scotland, Italy, Britain, Canada, New York, California and Washington. www.squakmtnursery.com

Light, Water, Action! How to Grow Beautiful Houseplants

Are you new to the houseplant obsession? This seminar is for you! Susan will begin with the basics of light, selection, watering and fertilizing. She’ll help you decipher ambiguous light labels, and really understand and measure your light, so you can best decide where your houseplants should go. She’ll also help you match your plants to your personality and lifestyle—nurturer or neglector— to better choose your plant family. Finally, you’ll gain an understanding how to care for your plants, which is critical to your success.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 3:15 pm / DIY Stage

R. Theo Margelony

R. Theo Margelony–Fuchsia expert and blogger The Fuchsietum|A Garden in Portland

Three years ago, R. Theo Margelony and his Fuchsias in the City left their tiny urban garden of 1/94^th acre in Manhattan to grow and blog anew at The Fuchsietum|A Garden in Portland. Theo likes to talk about fuchsias, the pleasures and challenges of starting a new garden in the Pacific NW, and how to grow and enjoy these diverse classics everywhere. The Fuchsia+Blog can be found at The Fuchsietum.com where Theo posts on fuchsias and other garden topics. His essays on fuchsias have appeared in the quarterly Bulletin of the British Fuchsia Society, as well as the Bulletin of the Société Nationale d'Horticulture de France (SNHF), Section Fuchsia. He also contributes a quarterly article from his garden for the Northwest Fuchsia Society’s publication, The Fuchsia Flash. Theo is currently the Vice-President of the Oregon Fuchsia Society. In September 2023, he will be a keynote dinner speaker for the British Fuchsia Society’s 80th Anniversary celebration and display at RHS Malvern, the UK’s second largest garden show after RHS Chelsea. Before moving to the Pacific NW to pursue fuchsias, Theo was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City where he long pursued heraldry, his other passion, in the Department of Medieval Art & The Cloisters. He contributed articles on The Garden in Heraldry for The Cloisters Museum & Garden’s former blog, The Medieval Garden Enclosed.

www.fuchsietum.com

GARDEN 101: NOT YOUR GRANNY’S PLANTS

Perennial Favorites: Hardy Fuchsias in the Garden

Thursday, Feb 16 at 3:30 pm / Rainier Room

Thyra McKelvie

Thyra McKelvie–Pollinator Program manager at Rent Mason Bees

Thyra McKelvie runs the pollination program at Rent Mason Bees to help gardeners host solitary bees. Her passion is to educate and teach more people about solitary bees and the importance of taking care of all our pollinators. Thyra has been featured in the Mother Earth News magazine and podcast, Birds and Blooms, Seattle Refined, The Seattle Times, and on WERU Community Radio. Stop by the Rent Mason Bees booth, #507, at this year’s garden festival.

https://rentmasonbees.com/

GARDEN 101: BIRDS AND BEES AND BATS, OH MY!

Learn How to Successfully Host Mason Bees

Sunday, Feb 19 at 2:30 pm / Rainier Room

Sean and Allison McManus

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

Sean McManus, born and raised in Washington State, starting gardening early in life and learned how to propagate and grow plants at his parents’ rhododendron farm in Olympia, WA, starting at the age of five. This love of plants led to his study of Environmental Horticulture at Washington State University where he earned both a Bachelor's ('00) and Master's ('04). Before creating Spoken Garden with his wife, Allison, in 2018, his previous horticulture experience included assistant greenhouse grower, teacher, research assistant, research associate, grounds maintenance, and project coordinator.

Allison McManus, a National Board-Certified Science educator and former middle school science teacher, is the product of two nature-loving parents who instilled in her a deep love and respect for the natural world. From a very young age, she assisted in garden care tasks around the yard when she wasn’t stopping to identify birds or butterflies flying around. Always staying in tune with her love of the natural world, she pursued a degree in Exercise Science at Western Washington University and a Master’s in Teaching degree in 2007.

Together, Sean and Allison McManus have over 20 years of experience and education in horticulture, garden care, and science education. They garden in zone 8b where they tend to their suburban garden. With their combined Science knowledge, horticulture training, and general love of teaching others, they’re thrilled to help first-time gardeners grow their confidence in garden care through their popular YouTube channel, podcast, and their book The First-time Gardener: Growing Plants and Flowers (Cool Springs Press, 2021).

https://www.spokengarden.com

Container Wars

Once again, we’ve lined up leading garden designers and writers to “battle it out” in our highly acclaimed “Container Wars.” Containers can go virtually anywhere—patios, decks and balconies or even in the garden! Drawing from identical plant materials, Sean McManus and Allison McManus will each create three gorgeous containers—all in under an hour! Working against the clock, and with fun “challenges” thrown at them by Master of Ceremonies Marianne Binetti, see how they pull together plants and share their tips for designing luscious container gardens. Learning about plants has never been so fun!

Sunday, Feb 18 at 11:30 am / Main Stage in North Hall

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

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

Sue Milliken and Kelly Dodson

Sue Milliken and Kelly Dodson–Founders, Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy and Far Reaches Farm

Sue Milliken and Kelly Dodson are likely best known as purveyors of some of the coolest plants on the planet through their nursery, Far Reaches Farms in Port Townsend. The pair met as members of a seed collecting expedition to Yunnan in 1997 and since then they have participated in too many plant exploration adventures to count. After a lifetime spent growing their plant knowledge and a long history of cultivating and conserving rare plants, they founded the nonprofit, Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy in 2017. The conservancy’s mission is to facilitate the acquisition and introduction of threatened and vulnerable plants new to North America. These plants are maintained as a living reference collection for public educational and scientific purposes with the goal of conservation through cultivation via distribution to botanic and public gardens, botanists and researchers plus professional and amateur gardeners and horticulturists.

PLANTS FOR A BETTER PLANET

Praise and Protection: Why You Should Care About Endangered Plants

Chances are, you’re familiar with nursery owners Sue Milliken and Kelly Dodson and perhaps some of the plants they have introduced to the Pacific Northwest and gardeners across the country via their plant explorations abroad. But more recently, the couple has started a nonprofit organization, Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy with goal of preserving botanically important rare and endangered plants. In this lecture you’ll learn why conservation efforts like these are important to the world of horticulture and the planet as a whole. Sue and Kelly will also share some success stories of plants that have been fostered at the conservancy and that you might be able to grow in your gardens to further the cause of preservation.

Friday, Feb 17 at 2:15 pm / Rainier Room

Fine Gardening

David Mizejewski

David Mizejewski–Naturalist at National Wildlife Federation and author, Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife

David Mizejewski has been fascinated by our natural world for as long as he can remember. A lifelong naturalist, he spent his youth exploring the woods, fields, and wetlands, observing and learning about the surprising diversity of wildlife that inhabits them. A television host, author, blogger, and naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation, David holds a degree in Human and Natural Ecology from Emory University and is an expert on wildlife and our environment. David has hosted series on Animal Planet and NatGeo WILD and is a regular guest on Conan, The Wendy Williams Show, and NBC’s Today Show. He specializes in urban ecology, the role that native plants have on wildlife populations, and helping people restore wildlife habitat in their cities, towns, neighborhoods, backyards, and gardens—which is the subject of his bestselling garden how-to book “Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife.” David is dedicated to using his knowledge and unbridled enthusiasm to help others understand and protect wildlife. www.nwf.org

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

GARDEN 101: BIRDS AND BEES AND BATS, OH MY!

(Not So) Scary Garden Wildlife

Sunday, Feb 19 at 3:00 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Sally Morgan

Sally Morgan–U.K. co-author, The Climate Change Garden and author, The Healthy Vegetable Garden

Sally Morgan is an experienced organic, no-dig gardener, who loves to experiment and trial new plants. With a background in plant ecology and habitat restoration, she has always gardened naturally and is passionate about creating a garden that it not just healthy and productive, but attractive to as wide a variety of plants and animals as possible. She has travelled widely, both in the U.K., U.S. and further afield, seeking out ideas and inspiration that can be incorporated into her own walled garden in Somerset, England. She is the co-author, with Kim Stoddart, of The Climate Change Garden (Cool Springs Press, 2023), and the author of The Healthy Vegetable Garden (Chelsea Green, 2021) and Living On One Acre Or Less (Green Books, 2006). Sally also writes regularly for gardening and smallholding magazines and is currently the editor of Organic Farming magazine for the Soil Association. She is a member of the Garden Media Guild and her blog (livingononeacreorless.co.uk) was a finalist in the Garden Media Awards 2019. She gives talks on climate change gardening and organic gardening to groups across the country. She has also appeared on local TV news programs and on local radio. Recent appointments include the Toby Buckland's Spring Festival, River Cottage Summer Festival, The Warwickshire Gardens Trust and the Friends of Aberdeen Botanic Gardens and the RHS Hampton Court Flower Festival. http://www.sallymorgan.co.uk/

Climate Change in Your Garden: Building Resilience Now

Join the U.K.’s Sally Morgan and Kim Stoddart for a look at how climate may bring extreme weather challenges, changing seasons and greater risk of pest and disease in U.S. gardens. How will this affect trees, bulbs, flowers, shrubs and edibles on the ground for everyone? This is a solution focused presentation with accessible, savvy ideas and inspiration to help gardeners make their outside spaces more climate resilient for the future (water conservation, storm water management, soil management, looking at plant selection and much more besides). The importance of soil, encouraging wildlife for biodiversity and natural pest control and many more hands-on easy-to-employ ideas.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 6:00 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Friday, Feb 17 at 12:00 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Edible Growing for Person, Plate and Planet

With the myriad of challenges we now face, growing some of your own food is arguably more important than ever. With an emphasis on building resilience in the gardener as much as the garden, this seminar will look at simple but effective ways to work with the natural world to grow truly planet-friendly food year-round. Designed for gardens of all sizes, this is satisfying and effective grow-your-own edible gardening that boosts confidence, success, saves time and also lowers your carbon footprint overall.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 10:45 am / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Ciscoe Morris

Ciscoe Morris–Radio, TV host, columnist & best-selling author, Ask Ciscoe and Oh, La La!

Ciscoe Morris directed the gardening and landscaping at Seattle University for 24 years. During his tenure, the University won several prestigious awards including the EPA’s highest national environmental award. The program he developed led Seattle University to be the only University campus in Washington designated as a wildlife sanctuary. In 2020 he was the recipient of the B.Y. Morrison Communications award from the American Horticultural Society (AHS). Other awards include Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association Educator of the Year, Alumni of the Year Award from South Seattle Community College, the King County ‘Earth Hero Award’, and ‘Master Gardener of the Year’. Ciscoe has been a longtime WSU Master Gardener, an ISA Certified Arborist and a WSNLA Horticulturist. He has a distinguished media career and still makes frequent appearances on King5 New Day and King5 Evening. Every Saturday morning at 9 a.m., stream his radio show from Sequim at ksqmfm.com. Ciscoe wrote a weekly column in the Seattle Post Intelligencer followed by the Seattle Times for over 17 years, and his book, Ask Ciscoe (Sasquatch, 2006) was a national bestseller. His new book Oh, La La came out in 2021 and was an Amazon best seller. Ciscoe’s home garden has been featured in local and national publications. Despite giving close to 100 garden talks a year, Ciscoe regularly leads garden tours to countries all over the world. www.ciscoe.com

Container Wars

Once again, we’ve lined up leading garden designers and writers to “battle it out” in our highly acclaimed “Container Wars.” Containers can go virtually anywhere—patios, decks and balconies or even in the garden! Drawing from identical plant materials, Ciscoe Morris and Nita-Jo Rountree will each create three gorgeous containers—all in under an hour! Working against the clock, and with fun “challenges” thrown at them by Master of Ceremonies Marianne Binetti, see how they pull together plants and share their tips for designing luscious container gardens. Learning about plants has never been so fun!

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 11:30 am / Main Stage in North Hall

Let’s Show Off Our Cool Plants!

Another competition between Ciscoe Morris and Nita-Jo Rountree, the hortiholics that bring you the Facebook ‘Plant of the Week’ for the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society. They will be featuring the coolest of the cool plants. Watch them battle it out as they explain why their picks are the best for Pacific NW gardens. Besides stunning visuals and entertaining banter, you will learn interesting facts about the plant, how to care for it, and why it is special.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 4:30 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

The Good, The Bad, and Why the @#$%&!?! Did I Plant That?

With so many spectacular plants to choose from, why go with mediocre, the ugly, or the @#$%&!?! troublesome plants? Some of Ciscoe’s past mistakes still haunt him to this day. Discover Ciscoe’s must-have plants as well as those that you should avoid—at all costs!

Saturday, Feb 18 at 4:30 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Susan Mulvihill

Susan Mulvihill—Author, The Vegetable Garden Problem Solver Handbook and Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook, and garden columnist for Spokesman Review

Susan Mulvihill has been the garden columnist for Eastern Washington’s Spokesman Review for over 17 years. Her latest book, to be released by Cool Springs Press in February 2023, is The Vegetable Garden Problem Solver Handbook. She is also the author of The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook (Cool Springs Press, 2021) and the co-author of Northwest Gardener’s Handbook (Cool Springs Press, 2014). She is also the author and owner of Susan’s in the Garden website and blog. Susan has received the 2019 Media Award from the Washington State Master Gardener Foundation, 2019 Silver Medal in the category of Writing: Newspaper Column, and 2017 Silver Medal in the category of Digital Media: Website for the design of SusansintheGarden.com. Susan has been a Spokane County Master Gardener since 2002. Susan’s many media appearances include the Joe Gardener podcast with Joe Gardener podcast with Joe Lamp’l and Growing a Greener World TV on PBS, the Epic Gardener podcast with Kevin Espiritu, The Weekend Gardener with Niki Jabbour, Garden Nerd with Christy Wilhelmi and the Better Lawns & Gardens radio show. www.susansinthegarden.com

Got Pests? Critters in the Edible Garden

Do birds and animals think your vegetable garden was planted for them? They can wreak havoc and take the joy out of growing your own food. Birds, deer, gophers, rabbits and squirrels are some of the most commonly encountered creatures. Discover methods for determining which one is causing the problem before taking action. Author Susan Mulvihill will share an array of creative and practical strategies you can implement to make your garden less appealing to them.

Thursday, Feb 16 at 4:00 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Weird Vegetable Problems: Abiotic Disorders and How to Prevent Them

Vegetable gardeners are all too familiar with insect pests and plant diseases. But what about the frustrating problems that are either caused by the weather or something we did or did not do? Author Susan Mulvihill discusses blossom-end rot, sunburn, fruit cracking, bolting, leaf roll, and bitterness. Most of these disorders are preventable. Learn the simple steps you can take in your garden to eliminate or greatly reduce the chance they will become a problem.

Friday, Feb 17 at 5:00 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

GARDEN 101: TAKING YOUR EDIBLE GARDEN TO THE NEXT LEVEL

What’s for Dinner? Dealing with Unwanted Critters in the Garden

Saturday, Feb 18 at 2:30 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Charlie Nardozzi

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

Charlie Nardozzi is a nationally recognized, Regional Emmy® award winning garden writer, speaker, radio, and television personality. He has worked for more than 30 years bringing expert gardening information to home gardeners through radio, television, talks, on-line, and the printed page. Charlie delights in making gardening information simple, easy, fun and accessible to everyone. He has spoken at national venues such as the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival, Philadelphia Flower Show, San Francisco Flower Show, Master Gardener conferences, and trade shows around the country. He has a master’s degree in Education and Bachelors in Horticulture. Charlie co-hosts “In The Garden” tips on the local CBS affiliate television station (WCAX-Channel 3), a weekly, call-in radio show on WJOY-1230AM and the award-winning “All Things Gardening” on Vermont Public Radio. He is the host of the weekly “Connecticut Garden Journal” radio show on Connecticut Public. Charlie is also known for his writing. He has written for national magazines such as Organic Gardening and contributed to many of the “Gardening for Dummies” titles, authoring Urban Gardening for Dummies in 2013 and Vegetable Gardening For Dummies in 2009 as well as Foodscaping, (2015), Gardening Complete (2018) and The Complete Guide to No-Dig Gardening (2021). Charlie’s skills as a garden communicator extend beyond the printed page. He’s the former host of PBS’s Garden Smart, reaching more than 60 million households. He also is a consultant for companies such as Velcro USA and Gardener's Supply Company. Charlies also runs international garden tours annually to locations such as Italy, France, Cuba, Portugal and Great Britain.

www.gardeningwithcharlie.com

Ecological Gardening and Companion Planting

Ecological gardening is a way of gardening that enhances life under the soil and in our gardens. In this seminar you’ll discover the key elements of an ecological garden, including garden practices that build healthy soil, preserve pollinators, create habitats for birds and wildlife and protect and enhance plant growth through finding the right plant partners. Charlie will focus on new advice about companion planting, including information on flower, herb and vegetable combinations that have been proven to work. Sponsored by Gardeners Supply Company & Velcro USA.

Friday, Feb 16 at 10:00 am / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Get Free Plants When You Propagate like the Pros!

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

Kelly D Norris

Kelly D. Norris–Award-winning plant expert, designer and author, New Naturalism

Kelly D. Norris is a plant expert, designer, and author of multiple books. Considered one of the leading horticulturists of his generation, Kelly designs both private and public gardens with acute ecological awareness. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Fine Gardening, and in numerous television, radio, and digital media appearances. His most recent book is New Naturalism: Designing and Planting a Resilient, Ecologically Vibrant Home Garden (Cool Springs Press, 2021). Kelly is the former director of horticulture and education at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden in Iowa and has received multiple awards from institutions such as the Perennial Plant Association and the American Horticultural Society. He was given a fellowship from the Chanticleer Foundation in 2015 for his curatorial and plant exploration work. www.kellydnorris.com

PLANTS FOR A BETTER PLANET

Everywhere Plants: Natives That Make Great Supporting Players

Ecological generalists—plants with broad tolerances to where they root—power the planet. Many of these species lurk in the shadows of traditional gardens or sulk in obscurity on the garden floor. But prevalence is their virtue; they have adapted to a wide range of growing conditions across a considerable geographic footprint. In this immersive class, renowned plantsman Kelly Norris will introduce the audience to a wide range of ecological generalists from North America and explain what makes them important to the ecology of the garden. Participants will learn about varied plant communities, the ecological properties that define them, and how to translate them into gardening practice, as well.

Friday, Feb 17 at 3:30 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Fine Gardening

Christina Pfeiffer

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

Christina has enjoyed a long career in landscape horticulture that has encompassed landscape management, garden writing, teaching, and consulting. Sustainable and practical techniques that work in sync the cycles of the seasons have been the foundation of her efforts in both her professional endeavors and her own garden. Christina has degrees in horticulture from Michigan State and the University of Washington and is an ISA Certified Arborist®. Horticulture is her vocation, hobby, and passion. She firmly believes that gardening should less of a battle and more about the pleasure of immersion in nature. Her book, Pacific Northwest Gardening Month-by-Month (Cool Springs Press 2017), co-authored with Mary Robson, provides practical information on how to reach that place and is a regular best seller at past garden festivals. www.christinapfeiffer.net

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

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

Training Young Trees for Future Health and Beauty

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

Roger Ragusa

Roger Ragusa–General Manager, Wells Nursery

Roger Ragusa has spent thirty years in the landscaping and nursery trade, providing landscape design consultation, plant selection and engaging with Wells Nursery clientele to bring their visions to fruition. He is now the General Manager of Wells Nursery in Mount Vernon, WA. Wells Nursery is a family owned and operated nursery in Skagit Valley since 1937, celebrating 85 years of field production specializing in ornamental conifers for the national wholesale market. The Wells name has introduced numerous plant introductions over the years, most famously, Thuja ‘Emerald Green’. Roger is an active member of the community as past president of the Mount Vernon Library Foundation, Rotarian for over 25 years and he greatly enjoys participating in community theater either on stage or producing. www.wellsnursery.com

GARDEN 101: GREAT STRUCTURAL PLANTS FOR ALL LANDSCAPES

Beyond Arborvitae: Every Garden Needs More Conifers!

“Structure” is the term used to cover those plants that give you a great looking garden all year round, no matter what’s in bloom. Structure can come from both broadleaf and coniferous evergreen plants and deciduous shrubs with colorful branches. These three seminars cover a range of fabulous plants that provide year-round interest and great structure. Roger Ragusa kicks it off with conifers for dramatic textures and form and a variety of colors, each with distinct attraction. Mark Turner shows you the many beneficial NW native plants that you can tuck into your garden for added beauty and structure. And finally, Gary Lewis will highlight the functional and aesthetic uses of ground covers in the landscape, including tips and tricks for designing with ground covers to take your outdoor space to the next level.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 2:30 pm / Rainier Room

Stephanie Rose

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

Stephanie Rose is an award-winning author, gardening expert, certified permaculture designer, herbalist, and wellness advocate. After Stephanie faced her own debilitating illness, she found solace and healing through gardening and herbs. Now, she draws on experiences from her personal journey and expert garden knowledge in her books and popular website, Garden Therapy®. Stephanie has written twelve books including The Regenerative Garden: 80 Practical Projects for Creating a Self-sustaining Garden Ecosystem (Cool Springs Press, 2022), Garden Alchemy: 80 Recipes and Concoctions for Organic Fertilizers, Plant Elixirs, Potting Mixes, Pest Deterrents, and More (Cool Springs Press, 2020), Home Apothecary (Leisure Arts, 2018), The Natural Beauty Recipe Book (Rose Garden Press, 2016), and Garden Made: A Year of Seasonal Projects to Beautify Your Garden and Your Life (Roost Books, 2015), which was a Gold Medal Winner from the 2016 Independent Publishers Book Awards (the “IPPYs”). Stephanie’s latest book, The Big Book of Botanical Crafts: How to Make Candles, Soaps, Scrubs, Sanitizers & More with Plants, Flowers, Herbs & Essential Oils was released in autumn 2022. Stephanie spends her time as an organic gardener, writer, and artist in Vancouver, BC, Canada. She is passionate about organic gardening, natural healing, and art as part of life. Stephanie lives with her kiddo, dog, cat, and 500 worms. Visit Stephanie at: https://gardentherapy.ca

Garden Alchemy: Soil Building, Compost, and Pest Management Using the Power of Plants!

This importance of having healthy soil to feed our plants—and ourselves—is becoming more and more clear. This seminar guides you through four easy pieces to growing an organic garden, with recipes and projects for building soil, composting, natural fertilizers, and managing insects/pests. Experienced and beginner gardeners who want to have more control over their garden’s care will love the practical DIY recipes using herbs, plants, and common household materials.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 1:00 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

The Regenerative Garden: Small Scale Permaculture for the Home Garden

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

Nita-Jo Rountree

Nita-Jo Rountree–Author, Growing Roses in the Pacific Northwest

Nita-Jo Rountree is a garden writer, speaker and educator. She is the author of Growing Roses in the Pacific Northwest (Sasquatch, 2017). Nita-Jo is a lifetime Georgia Master Gardener and former owner of LeGrand Gardens, a landscape design and installation company in Atlanta, Georgia. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society, is a member of the Heronswood Garden Steering Committee, and serves on the advisory board of the Northwest Horticultural Society, of which she is a former president. Nita-Jo has spoken at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival and the Yard, Garden & Patio Show in Portland, where she has also been a judge. Additionally, she was a frequent guest and substitute host on Gardening with Ciscoe. Her personal garden was featured on the HGTV television show Gardening by the Yard and in the Pacific Northwest Magazine section of the Sunday Seattle Times. https://www.facebook.com/nitajo.rountree

Container Wars

Once again, we’ve lined up leading garden designers and writers to “battle it out” in our highly acclaimed “Container Wars.” Containers can go virtually anywhere—patios, decks and balconies or even in the garden! Drawing from identical plant materials, Ciscoe Morris and Nita-Jo Rountree will each create three gorgeous containers—all in under an hour! Working against the clock, and with fun “challenges” thrown at them by Master of Ceremonies Marianne Binetti, see how they pull together plants and share their tips for designing luscious container gardens. Learning about plants has never been so fun!

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 11:30 am / Main Stage in North Hall

Let’s Show Off Our Cool Plants!

Another competition between Nita-Jo Rountree and Ciscoe Morris, the dynamic duo that bring you the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society’s Facebook live channel in ‘Plant of the Week.’. They will be featuring the coolest of the cool plants. Watch them battle it out as they explain why their picks are the best for Pacific NW gardens. Besides stunning visuals and entertaining banter, you will learn interesting facts about the plant, how to care for it, and why it is special.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 4:30 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Patrick Ryan

Patrick Ryan–Garden writer, radio host and education specialist, Alaska Botanical Garden

Patrick Ryan is a garden writer, a radio talk show host, an Alaska Master Gardener, and the Education Specialist for the Alaska Botanical Garden, where he has worked for 20 years. Patrick trained as a Junior Master Specialist at Texas A&M and started a summer camp in Anchorage in 2004. A retired elementary school teacher, Patrick is a regular contributor to the Alaska Botanical Garden newsletter and his articles have also been featured in the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Home magazine. He has presented his engaging and practical horticultural talks around the country. He has offered his expertise to gardeners, to those who teach gardeners, and most important—to the children who will be gardeners in the future. Patrick has been a consultant for Alaska Agriculture in the Classroom for the past five years and has been a member of the GWA since 2009. In 2018 Patrick was honored with the Alaska Conservation Foundation’s Jerry S. Dixon Award for Excellence in Environmental Education.

www.alaskabg.org

Set in Stone: Making Hypertufa Garden Troughs

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

Teresa Sabankaya

Teresa Sabankaya–Author of The Posy Book

Teresa is author of The Posy Book–Garden Inspired Bouquets that Tell a Story (The Countryman Press, 2019), and her upcoming book will be Gifts from the Garden. Her flower studio, Teresa Sabankaya Design (formerly known as Bonny Doon Garden Company) is based in Santa Cruz, California. Her floral studio has been the heart & soul of locally grown flowers and pioneering in the Slow Flowers® movement since 1999. Teresa is harbored as one of the most innovative florists in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her floral designs have been displayed annually at the ‘Bouquets to Art’ exhibition at the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, and the National Trust Filoli’s Estate in Woodside, where she regularly teaches floral design. Teresa has been featured in Amy Stewart’s Flower Confidential book, as well as her blog, and was the subject in ‘Like a Florist from 100 years ago’ in the PBS Documentary ‘Botany of Desire’ based on Michael Pollen’s best seller Botany of Desire. Teresa’s garden, floral designs, and her Signature Posies have been featured in such media as CBS Sunday Morning, Romantic Homes Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Victoria Magazine, Country Gardens Magazine, and The New York Times. Teresa is a Certified Green Gardener with Advanced Certification, and she is a member of Slowflowers.com, Greatgardenspeakers.com, and the California State Floral Association.

The Language of Flowers: Gifts from the Garden

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

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

John Shewey

John Shewey–Author, The Hummingbird Handbook and co-author, Birds of the Pacific Northwest

John Shewey is a veteran writer, editor, public speaker, and professional outdoor photographer, with credits in dozens of magazines. His latest book, The Hummingbird Handbook (Timber Press, 2021) is a beautifully photographed, entertaining, fun-filled guide for anyone who loves hummingbirds and wants to attract them to their yard. John is also the co-author of Birds of the Pacific Northwest, a Timber Land Press Field Guide. John has photographed wildlife and wildflowers from the mountains of Alaska to the jungles of Central America to the islands of the Caribbean, and his website chronicles many of these travels in rich photographic detail. Visit him at www.birdingoregon.com

For the Love of Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds amaze and intrigue us. Their high-speed enigmatic lifestyles are a blur; their startling colors and exotic behaviors are delights. Hummingbirds also inspire us—they are like tiny ambassadors with the power to usher people into a deeper interest in and appreciation for the natural world. Join John for this fun-filled program and learn how to attract hummingbirds with their favorite flowers and astute gardening techniques; learn how to cater to them, and how to be a great hummingbird host in your garden.

Friday, Feb 17 at 9:30 am / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Richie Steffen

Richie Steffen–Executive Director, Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden and co-author, Plant Lover’s Guide to Ferns

To say Richie Steffen is enthusiastic about or obsessed with plants would definitely be an understatement! He turned a budding passion as a youngster into a career that took him onto the Pacific Northwest horticultural stage. Richie is the Executive Director for the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden where he oversees the Garden, it’s rare plant collections, and the Miller Garden’s primary educational program Great Plant Picks. GPP is committed to building a comprehensive palette of outstanding and sharing information about reliable plants for maritime Pacific Northwest gardens.

A noted author, photographer and lecturer, Richie’s work is regularly featured in Fine Gardening magazine, and he is the co-authored, with Sue Olsen, of The Plant Lover's Guide to Ferns. His photography has been features in numerous publications including several books and national magazines. Active in the horticultural community, he is currently past president of the Northwest Horticultural Society and past president of the Hardy Fern Foundation. His entertaining lectures and beautiful images have been shared with many gardeners and will have you too perusing nurseries in search of plants from around the world. Visit the Great Plant Picks display garden in the Solera Wine Garden and pick up a gorgeous free poster at booth 2164 in the North Hall at this year’s show. http://www.greatplantpicks.org

Richie’s Picks #1: Trees, Shrubs and Surprises for the Long Haul

Many of the plants used in the luscious display gardens at the Festival can be purchased from nurseries in the Plant Market. Richie has visited with nurserymen and women to find the hidden gems that are for sale. He will introduce his top picks from the conifer, tree and shrub categories available at the show. These plants tend to be longer lived in our gardens, so the selection process is all the more important. Richie has done the homework, so you don’t have to!

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 10:00 am / DIY Stage / Book Signing to follow

Richie’s Picks #2: A Mixed Bag of Perennials, Bulbs and Tubers

Gardeners’ passion for seasonal perennials, bulbs, tubers and more shows no sign of letting up. Join horticulturist Richie Steffen as he cultivates his way through some of his dazzling finds from the garden show Plant Market. He will also show you a few other companion plants to go with his selections and provide booth numbers and company names so you can easily find your favorite choices. Richie has done the leg work, so you don’t have to!

Thursday, Feb 16 at 10:00 am / DIY Stage / Book Signing to follow

Richie’s Picks #3: Garden-to-Table Freshness from Fruit, Veggies and Seeds

Eating wholesome fresh fruit is not just “trendy” anymore; it’s a cultural shift. Anyone can grow veggies and fruit in the garden, and even containers are great on the patio or balcony. Join horticulturist Richie Steffen for his top discoveries from the garden show Plant Market. Indulge yourself in this main course of terrific edibles. Richie will also cover partner plants to go with edibles. Finding just what you want is a breeze, as Richie provides booth numbers and company names for you to follow up on your favorite choices.

Friday, Feb 17 at 10:00 am / DIY Stage / Book Signing to follow

Fabulously Fragrant Garden Plants

Flowers and Foliage are nice to have, but fragrance can bring your garden to the next level. The memories and places that fragrance can invoke give your garden emotional depth. Learn about some of the best plants for fragrance in the garden as well as some tried and true fragrant plants that will thrive in your garden.

Sunday, Feb 19 at 4:30 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Kim Stoddart

Kim Stoddart–U.K. garden journalist and co-author, The Climate Change Garden

Kim Stoddart has been writing for publications such as the Guardian on climate change, no-dig, wildlife friendly and therapeutic edible gardening and resilience since 2013. She has gardening columns in magazines including Grow Your Own and edits ‘The Organic Way’ for Garden Organic. She contributes regularly to a range of publications include Gardeners World magazine, The Telegraph, The Daily Express and The Lancet. Kim is the co-author, with Sally Morgan, of The Climate Change Garden (Cool Springs Press, 2023). A member of the Garden Media Guild, Kim was a finalist in the Beth Chatto Environmental journalist category in 2021. She teaches and runs courses on climate change savvy growing from her training gardens in West Wales and for many others including The National Botanic Gardens of Wales, The RHS, Garden Organic, Kate Humble’s farm, The Centre for Alternative Technology and Kirsty Allsopp’s Homemade Festival. Kim is keen to bring alive the love of wildlife friendly, organic grow-your-own for all. Also, to help gardeners (new and seasoned) to prepare for the extreme weather we are already starting to experience via climate change. She has been interviewed widely on a range of radio and TV programs over the years including S4C and Talk Radio and is an engaging, popular speaker. Kim also wrote a gardening for free series for The Guardian in 2013, which meant, as the name suggests, that she attempted (successfully) to grow entirely without spending a penny for a number of years. She also teaches on this subject regularly for people looking to garden on a tight budget (social housing tenants, food bank customers etc.). www.climatechangegarden.uk/kim-stoddart/

Climate Change in Your Garden: Building Resilience Now

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 6:00 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Friday, Feb 17 at 12:00 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Edible Growing for Person, Plate and Planet

Thursday, Feb 16 at 10:45 am / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Allen Taylor

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

Allen Taylor is the lead arborist and founder of Conservation Tree Care. He is an Eagle Scout and graduated from the University of Vermont Rubenstein School of Environmental and Natural Resources with a BS in Forestry. His passion for ski mountaineering led him to the Pacific Northwest shortly after graduating and he has never looked back. Allen is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (PN-7316B), holds the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ), and is a Registered Consulting Arborist (RCA#643) with the American Society of Consulting Arborists. Allen received the ISA’s True Professionals of Arboriculture Award in 2022. He is also a SPRAT Level 1 rope access technician. When he isn't working, Allen spends his time running, biking, climbing, and skiing as much as possible. Visit Conservation Tree Care, booth #2163 in the South Hall, at this year’s show. www.conservatintreecare.com

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

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

Bill Thorness

Bill Thorness–Author, Cool Season Gardener and Edible Heirlooms and Master Gardener

Bill Thorness is a writer, editor and gardener who’s been working and gardening in Seattle since the mid-1980s. He is the author of two gardening books: Cool Season Gardener: Extend the Harvest, Plan Ahead, and Grow Vegetables Year Round and Edible Heirlooms: Heritage Vegetables for the Maritime Garden (both from Skipstone Press), and “Extend the Harvest,” a streaming class for Craftsy.com. Bill writes for many regional publications, including The Seattle Times. He has also written two bicycling guidebooks: Biking Puget Sound, now in its 2nd edition, and Cycling the Pacific Coast (both from Mountaineers Books). Bill is a Master Gardener in King County, and active in many regional garden organizations. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Northwest Editors Guild and Pacific Northwest Writers Association. He is a frequent speaker on edibles at regional nurseries, garden clubs and garden shows. www.billthorness.com

100% Success with Your New Vegetable Garden

New home? Tired old lawn? Bitten by the gardening bug? Want to provide healthy home-grown food for your family? Great! There are tried-and-true ways to start a vegetable garden and have success in the first year and beyond. Author and Master Gardener Bill Thorness provides a guide from the ground up: creating new beds, building soil, acquiring the most essential tools and gear, creating a planting plan, choosing the right crops, joyfully tending your garden, and feeding yourself and others from the bountiful harvest.

Sunday, Feb 19 at 11:00 am / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Deborah Trickett

Deborah Trickett– Award-winning container designer and owner, The Captured Garden

Award-winning container garden designer Deborah Trickett has worked in the gardening industry for over 30 years, starting with her first job in a greenhouse at age 13 until the present as the owner of The Captured Garden. Deborah works with clients throughout New England who want their homes to be beautiful, not typical. By combining unusual plant material and creative design ideas she creates gardens and containers that are truly one of a kind. Deborah Trickett is a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist, and a Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional. Deborah is a frequent lecturer on many garden topics, speaking at the New England Spring Flower Show, The Connecticut Flower Show, the Newport Flower Show, as well as The Philadelphia International Flower Show. She has also shared her passion for perennials at the Perennial Plant Association Annual Symposium. She was a featured speaker at the Grand Garden Show on Mackinac Island. She also teaches classes and workshops at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. Her work has been featured in The Boston Globe, The American Gardener, Garden Gate and New England Home magazines as well as on the TV show New England Dream Home. www.thecapturedgarden.com

Container Wars

Once again, we’ve lined up leading garden designers and writers to “battle it out” in our highly acclaimed “Container Wars.” Containers can go virtually anywhere—patios, decks and balconies or even in the garden! Drawing from identical plant materials, Deborah Trickett and Marianne Willburn will each create three gorgeous containers—all in under an hour! Working against the clock, and with fun “challenges” thrown at them by Master of Ceremonies Marianne Binetti, see how they pull together plants and share their tips for designing luscious container gardens. Learning about plants has never been so fun!

Thursday, Feb 16 at 11:30 am / Main Stage in North Hall

GARDEN 101: NOT YOUR GRANNY’S PLANTS

Crazy for Coleus: Looking at Coleus in a Whole New Light

Thursday, Feb 16 at 3:00 pm / Rainier Room

Beauty and the Bees: A Different Way of Looking at Garden Design

Time was when we wanted to design gardens that were beautiful. Planting trees, shrubs, and perennials together to create a space that was aesthetically pleasing was the goal. Now we know better. Colony Collapse Disorder and the plight of pollinators have made us aware that we do not garden alone. We need to be designing landscapes and gardens with a mindful eye to the environment around us. Join garden designer and beekeeper Deborah Trickett, owner of The Captured Garden, as she shows you how with a few tweaks we can create spaces that are not only beautiful but beneficial to bees and other pollinators.

Friday, Feb 17 at 6:45 pm / Hood Room

Power Couples: Perennial Pairings for Jaw-Dropping Gardens and Containers

Perennials are perfect for adding beauty to gardens and containers. But are there some perennials that work better together than others? Are there some pairings that, like the power couples of Hollywood and industry, just naturally cause heads to turn? Join Deborah Trickett, owner of The Captured Garden, as she shares some of her favorite Power Couples—perennial combinations that will get your gardens and containers noticed. This is a fast-paced, visually inspiring, and sometimes humorous PowerPoint presentation that will show the audience how to be a better “matchmaker” when combining perennials for their gardens and containers.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 9:30 am / Hood Room

Kelly Smith Trimble

Kelly Smith Trimble–Editor, writer and author, The Creative Vegetable Gardener and Vegetable Gardening Wisdom

Kelly Smith Trimble is an editor, writer, and gardener living in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her book Vegetable Gardening Wisdom (Storey, 2019) is a collection of seasonal advice and inspiration for edible gardeners. Her second book, The Creative Vegetable Gardener, will be released by Storey in early 2023. Kelly’s career in lifestyle media spans 20+ years with work for brands including Southern Living, Lowe’s, Bonnie Plants, the National Park Foundation, and HGTV. Her real-life vegetable gardening advice has helped thousands of gardeners learn to grow—in skill, confidence, and joy for the practice. Kelly holds a B.A. in English with a concentration in Environmental Studies from Sewanee: The University of the South, and an M.S. in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in writing and communications from Green Mountain College (now the Green Mountain Center for Sustainability at Prescott College). She is a certified master gardener through Auburn University in Alabama.

www.kellysmithtrimble.com

Creative Vegetable Gardening: How to Get More Joy Out of Growing Food

Between square-foot style and the ubiquitous rectangular wooden raised bed, vegetable gardens are often the last to be considered creative. But creativity fuels the resourceful spirit a vegetable gardener needs to be successful—and to have fun! We’ll explore inspiration from other types of gardening, from perennials to permaculture, to find ideas that help us break outside the box and discover more creativity, connection, and joy in the practice of growing food.

Friday, Feb 17 at 1:15 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

GARDEN 101: TAKING YOUR EDIBLE GARDEN TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Unboxing The Edible Garden: How to Grow Outside the Lines

Saturday, Feb 18 at 3:00 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

Mark Turner

Mark Turner–Professional photographer, author, Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest and owner, Turner Photographics

Mark Turner is the owner of Turner Photographics, LLC and has been a professional photographer since 1993, specializing in gardens and native plants for books, magazines, and commercial clients. He also creates lifestyle portraits for northwest families. He is the photographer and co-author of Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest (Timber Press, 2006), Trees and Shrubs of the Pacific Northwest (with co-author Ellen Kuhlmann, Timber Press, 2014), and Bellingham Impressions (Far Country Press, 2007). His next book, Weeds of the Pacific Northwest (with co-author Sami Gray) is scheduled for publication by Timber in early 2024. His work has been published in Sunset, Garden Design, Birds & Blooms, American Gardener, Horticulture, This Old House, Organic Gardening and other magazines and in books from Timber Press, Sunset Books, Cool Springs Press, Rodale, Meredith, and Lone Pine publishers. He is past president of the Koma Kulshan chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society, a member of Association of Garden Communicators, and Professional Photographers of America. He has an M.A. in Telecommunications from Kent State University and a B.S. in Audio-visual Communications from Rochester Institute of Technology. Mark has taught photography classes at Siskiyou Field Institute, North Cascades Institute, Whatcom Community College, and other northwest locations. www.turnerphotographics.com

GARDEN 101: GREAT STRUCTURAL PLANTS FOR ALL LANDSCAPES

Incorporating Native Plants into Your Garden

“Structure” is the term used to cover those plants that give you a great looking garden all year round, no matter what’s in bloom. Structure can come from both broadleaf and coniferous evergreen plants and deciduous shrubs with colorful branches. These three seminars cover a range of fabulous plants that provide year-round interest and great structure. Roger Ragusa kicks it off with conifers for dramatic textures and form and a variety of colors, each with distinct attraction. Mark Turner shows you the many beneficial NW native plants that you can tuck into your garden for added beauty and structure. And finally, Gary Lewis will highlight the functional and aesthetic uses of ground covers in the landscape, including tips and tricks for designing with ground covers to take your outdoor space to the next level.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 3:00 pm / Rainier Room / Book signing to follow

James Ullrich

James Ullrich–Owner, Knox Cellars Mason Bees

James Ullrich is the owner of Knox Cellars Mason Bees in Bremerton, WA, and is past president of the Kitsap Audubon Society. He has served on the Kitsap Audubon board of directors for the past 10 years, and has been a guest on Ciscoe Morris, Ed Hume and Scott Conner’s shows. He received the “Friend to the Environment” and “Franchisee of the Year” from WBU; the Scouting Lifetime Achievement Award from the Boy Scouts of America; the Kingfisher Award from the Kitsap Audubon Society and the Tahoma Audubon Society Distinguished Service Award. He has written many articles on birds and bees for the West Sound Home & Garden magazine. James is a retired Naval officer and holds an MBA from the University of Puget Sound. Visit Knox Cellars Mason Bees, booth #417 in the South Hall, at this year’s show. www.knoxcellarsmasonbees.com

Developing an Orchard Mason Bee Habitat in our Urban Landscape

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

Laura Watson

Laura Watson–Master Gardener, Master Pruner and ‘Clemaniac’

Laura Watson enjoys sharing her ever-increasing knowledge of plants and garden design. She is a member of several clematis societies and regularly attends International Clematis Society Conferences in Europe and the US. Her articles have been published in the Journal of the International Clematis Society and locally in the PlantAmnesty Newsletter. Laura writes an informative blog entitled Clematis in Seattle. Laura was delighted to appear with Ciscoe Morris on ‘Gardening with Ciscoe’ on Seattle’s KIRO radio. She is also a certified PlantAmnesty Master Pruner, a King County Master Gardener, and a Council Member for the International Clematis Society. www.clematisinseattle.com

Layering for a Dynamic and Beautiful Garden

One of the most important elements of a beautiful and dynamic garden is layering. Learn how to layer a garden by staggering foreground, middle-ground, and background to create an alluring and satisfying landscape. Principals involved include repetition, scale, flow, depth, contrast, and focal points. Laura’s easy speaking style and great photos will help you learn how bring layering principals into your garden.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 12:00 pm / Hood Room

Christy Wilhelmi

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

Christy Wilhelmi is founder of Gardenerd, the ultimate resource for garden nerds, where she publishes newsletters, her award-winning blog (GardenComm Silver Award, 2014), top-ranked podcasts, and YouTube videos. She also specializes in small-space, organic vegetable garden design, consulting, and classes. Between 70-80 percent of her family's produce comes from her garden of less than 300 square feet. She is author of Gardening for Geeks (Fox Chapel Publishing), 400+ Tips for Organic Gardening Success (Amazon Digital), Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden (Cool Springs Press, 2021), and her novel Garden Variety (William Morrow/Harper Collins, 2022). https://gardenerd.com

Composting for a Bountiful Garden and Planet

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

Spring Edible Garden Planning for Small Spaces

Do you struggle with finding room for everything you want to grow in your veggie garden? Learn Christy’s invaluable process that you can repeat season after season to plan your vegetable garden ahead of time. Discover tried and true methods for tracking progress and crop rotation, as well as tricks of the trade for making the most of every square inch. You will reap a bountiful harvest with some spring garden planning!

Sunday, Feb 19 at 12:00 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Marianne Willburn

Marianne Willburn–Award-winning blogger, GardenRant.com and author, Tropical Plants and How to Love Them and Big Dreams, Small Garden

Marianne Willburn is a gardening columnist, speaker, tour guide, and author of Tropical Plants and How to Love Them (Cool Springs Press, 2021), and Big Dreams, Small Garden (Skyhorse Publishing, 2017). A contributing editor at GardenRant and columnist for The American Gardener, she is also a regular contributor to Better Homes and Gardens, and other national gardening magazines. Marianne has also been a newspaper columnist for over a decade and is the recipient of several Gold and Silver Media Awards from Garden Communicators International. She is a graduate of University College London. She gardens in a rural corner of Northern Virginia, working with an ever-evolving mixture of tropical, temperate, and native plants, and shares her gardening life on smalltowngardener.com.

Big Dreams, Small Garden: Creating Something Extraordinary in an Ordinary Space

If you’re struggling with a difficult outside space, you are not alone. In a challenging housing market, many gardeners are realizing they may be in their current home longer than they envisioned. However, by breaking down the process of garden creation into manageable sections, shifting our perspective and cultivating a sense of contentment, we can create the garden that lives inside of us—right where we are. Marianne will share inspiration, design tips, and real-life gardens to get you excited about your outside space—no matter what it is.

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 1:15 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Container Wars

Once again, we’ve lined up leading garden designers and writers to “battle it out” in our highly acclaimed “Container Wars.” Containers can go virtually anywhere—patios, decks and balconies or even in the garden! Drawing from identical plant materials, Marianne Willburn and Deborah Trickett will each create three gorgeous containers—all in under an hour! Working against the clock, and with fun “challenges” thrown at them by Master of Ceremonies Marianne Binetti, see how they pull together plants and share their tips for designing luscious container gardens. Learning about plants has never been so fun!

Thursday, Feb 16 at 11:30 am / Main Stage in North Hall

Go Bold: Tropical Accents for Inspiring Containers

Tropical and subtropical plants can add incredible energy and depth to your container gardens—responding to the heat of summer with increased vigor when more temperate accents are fading. But whether you use them as spectacular ‘thrillers’ or stunning ‘fillers,’ it’s important to follow some guidelines in the selection and planting process to help you avoid common pitfalls of pairing, proportion, and maintenance. You’ll also learn to use some of your favorite houseplants as the stars of some of your favorite new outdoor combinations!

Thursday, Feb 16 at 2:45 pm / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Ellen Zachos

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

Ellen Zachos is a Harvard graduate and the author of eight books including The Forager’s Pantry, The Wildcrafted Cocktail, and Growing Healthy Houseplants. She is also the author of the Backyard Forager Calendar and writes a regular column for Edible New Mexico magazine. A former Broadway performer, Ellen was named a Great American Gardener by the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. She shares recipes and foraging tips on her website, backyardforager.com. Ellen also offers several online foraging courses at backyard-forager.thinkific.com/ and teaches wild cooking classes across the United States. A long-time instructor at the New York Botanical Garden, Ellen now lives in Santa Fe, NM. She is the co-host of the award-winning “Plantrama” podcast and has also received awards from GardenComm International for her magazine writing and calendar. ez@backyardforager.com

The Plantrama Top 10: What to Know and Grow

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

Foraging 101: Discover the Bounty of Nature’s Pantry

Foraging is hot! Blame it on the pandemic, or on the fact that it’s good, clean, delicious fun…either way, it’s a great way to learn your plants and local eco-system. We’ll focus on easy-to-identify edible plants that have NO poisonous look-alikes. I’ll explain relevant habitats, how to harvest sustainably, and what you can do with your wild edibles. Once the fear factor is gone, you’ll revel in the unbuyable flavors foraging has to offer.

Saturday, Feb 18 at 10:45 am / Hood Room / Book signing to follow

Scott Zona PHD

Scott Zona, Ph.D.–Research botanist and author, A Gardener’s Guide to Botany

Scott Zona is a writer, educator, and research botanist. He holds a B.S. in horticulture and an M.S. in botany from the University of Florida. His Ph.D. in botany is from Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (now the California Botanic Garden) and Claremont Graduate University, California. He has explored for plants in Florida, California, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Pacific islands, Malaysia, New Guinea, and Madagascar. His interests are in the diversity and natural history of tropical plants, especially palms, and has published over 185 articles in magazines, book chapters, and scholarly journals. In 2005, for his contributions to the study of palms, he was awarded “Cavaliere delle Palme” [“Knight of the Palms”] by the Comune di Sanremo and Centro Studi e Ricerche per le Palme, Sanremo, Italy. He is the co-author of two books, Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms 2nd ed. (Timber Press, 2012) and The Palm Collection at the Jardín Botánico de Culiacán (Turner, 2020). His newest book is A Gardener’s Guide to Botany, to be released by Cool Springs Press in January, 2023.

A Gardener’s Guide to Botany

It’s a jungle out there! Your beautiful, tranquil garden is a battlefield in which plants wage war against predators and struggle to outcompete one another for light, water, and nutrients. Using familiar examples, this seminar looks at how plants fulfill the five functions necessary for life: growth, feeding, defense, reproduction, and dispersal. This is a fascinating look at how plants grow—not how to grow plants. Get to know your plant family like you never had before!

Wednesday, Feb 15 at 10:45 am / Hood Room / Book signing to follow