CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
This 2-day workshop explores the critical connections between soil, bugs, plants and sustainable practices, plus the many healthful benefits of gardening.
Friday, March 3 - Practical Sessions at various locations offer interactive, hands-on demonstrations, both indoor and in the garden.
Saturday, March 4 – Keynote plus a full day of sessions with select classes live-streamed. Choose from Focused Classes or attend Themed Sessions featuring presentations on related topics followed by a Q&A.
Click to see Focused Classes or Friday Practical Sessions
Morning Focused Classes A
Jessica Dahl
Edible Garden Design
A01
Sue Goetz
Garden Design Makeover
A02
Dave Thomas
Healthy Gardening at Any Age
A03
Robert Hallbauer
Watering Strategies
A04
Ed and Martha Hollis
Panel: Tips for Beginners
A05
Marcia Dillon
The Basics of Tomatoes
A06
We will cover all aspects of growing great tomatoes in the Pacific Northwest, from seed to harvest. We will also discuss mitigation strategies for climate challenges and reveal our trial garden winners from the Bellevue Demonstration Garden.
Jay Williams
Japanese Maples
A07
Paul Kusche
Small Space Planting
Anybody can enjoy the bounty of a garden with a little planning and creativity. Learn what "Growing in 3 Square Feet" can do for you, how to include your personal food production in with your flowing plants and perennial shrubs, and the value of alternative planting designs.
B01
Tobey Nelson
Eco-Gardening
Everything we humans do has an impact on the planet, for better or for worse. As gardeners, we are keepers of the earth. In this class you will learn ways that any gardener can help make a positive impact to help the fight against climate change by employing eco-friendly gardening approaches. You will learn strategies for how to make your own garden more resilient to the changes facing all of us.
B02
Dr. Robert K. Pelant
Collecting and Preserving Seeds
B03
Dawn Hawkins
Greenhouse Growth All Year Long
B04
Lisa Taylor
The Basics of Pruning
B05
Eva Gordon
Fun with Fungi
B06
Tricia Heimer
Camellias
B07
Afternoon Focused Classes C
Afternoon Focused Classes C
Craig Cogger
C01
Raised Beds for Home Gardens
Afternoon Focused Classes C
Toni Grove
C02
Controlling Weeds
Afternoon Focused Classes C
Eric Conn
C03
Organic Vegetables
Afternoon Focused Classes C
Diana Wisen
C04
25 Tips for Great Gardening
Afternoon Focused Classes C
Dan Vorhis
C05
Fruit Trees: Selection and Care
Afternoon Focused Classes C
Karen Chapman
C06
Deer Resistant Garden Design
Afternoon Focused Classes C
Harvey Brenneise
Orchids are mostly exotic tropical plants that will often grow well and bloom in modern houses as houseplants. The class will focus on practical issues for making this possible and how they are different from terrestrial (dirt-based) plants. By the end of the class, participants will understand issues of temperature, water, light, fertilizers, growing media and other issues of growing them at home. The class will provide the most benefit for participants with basic knowledge of growing houseplants in traditional media.
C07
Orchids
Afternoon Focused Classes C
Paul Kusche
Whether you dig and divide or just leave them in the ground for next spring, it is good to learn about dahlias, how to grow and care for them, and the role they play for pollinators. You will learn about the different classifications of dahlias, how each can support your late summer desire for blooms, and also support the pollinators that frequent them. Bring your questions and your enthusiasm so we can have a conversation, but most of all bring your love for the flower that brightens our gardens from August to October.
C08
Dahlias - More Than Just a Pretty Flower
Afternoon Focused Classes C
Mara Grey
Did you know that you can grow over forty types of drought-tolerant annuals? Plus perennials from over 150 genera, not counting species and varieties? You will receive a list of these plants and learn how to set up your garden, how to push plants to the limit of their drought tolerance, and how to water most effectively.
C09
Drought Resistant Gardening
Afternoon Focused Classes C
Don Krafft
This class will cover a basic technical description of the composting process and materials, along with the challenges and choices that gardeners face. We will look at how to make compost, including composting input feedstock, where to compost, hot vs. cold composting, trouble-shooting, and using the final composted product. This will be an interactive session with questions and comments welcome throughout the discussion.
The objective of the class is to enhance gardeners’ understanding of the composting processes, challenges, and benefits with a focus on practical considerations for the home composter.
C10
Composting
Afternoon Focused Classes D
Dr. Robert K. Pelant
Meadowscaping - Enhancing Lawns and Yards
D01
Learn about locally appropriate native plants and how to incorporate them into your garden or lawn. The discussion will include using bare-root plants, plugs, bulbs/corms, rhizomes, and seed. Examples of varying success and failure will be shared. The style of the class will be free-flowing with questions welcome throughout the presentation.
Toni Grove
Herb Garden Design
D02
Judy Zugish
Kokedama and Hardy Cyclamen (Hands-on Class)
D03
This class will be taught by Judy Zugish and Carol Anne Ebert.
Anza Muenchow
Vegetables: Year-Round Crop Rotations
D04
Don Ham
Tool Selection, Use, and Care
D05
Can you imagine gardening without tools? Good tools are your ticket to the garden of your dreams. Learn more about how to select the best tools for yourself and how to properly clean, sharpen, and store them. Good tools pay off in the growth of your garden, the efficient use of your time, energy, and money and in your pleasure while performing even minor garden tasks.
James Watson
Backyard Habitat Stewardship
D06
Tobey Nelson
Shrubs for Pollinators or Drought Tolerant Plants
D07
How we maintain our gardens has as much influence (or more!) on keeping pollinators around as what we plant in them. As the last class in a series of three, this session will build on the others to help you understand best practices for tending your garden with optimizing pollinator habitat in mind. Tobey will share lots of practical tips for gardens of every level.
Susie Reynolds
Rhododendrons and Azaleas in Your Garden
D08
Jessica Dahl
Pollinator Panel
D09
Pollinators play a crucial role in our ecosystems, yet many are facing population decline from the pressures of pesticides and habitat loss. The good news is that even a small pollinator garden with the correct elements can make a difference! Learn how to build a framework for attracting a range of pollinators to your landscape through key strategies for designing habitats. Pollinators need food, water, and shelter throughout the seasons and throughout their lifecycles. Native plants are often their preferred choice for both food and shelter. Four often-overlooked native plants that play a key role in supporting native pollinator species in all seasons will be highlighted.
Deb Mitchell
Seed Starting (Make and Take)
D10
If you can buy a packet of seeds, you'll get the information to ensure sprouts, but what do you do then? This class will cover all the details that the seed packets don't tell you. You can extend the growing season by starting some plants indoors, though timing is essential. Other seeds are better sowed directly in the garden. Light requirements differ, in that some need light while others prefer to sprout in the dark. Size impacts planting depth. Transplanting must be done carefully to avoid ruining those tender sprouts. Moisture, heat and disease control are also essential to maximize your results. This class will provide practical, logic-based instructions for starting your plants from seed to help you achieve better results.
