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NW Gardens

Last updated August 17, 2007 9:46 a.m. PT

Garden Calendar

Send calendar items four weeks before the event to Northwest Gardens, P.O. Box 1909, Seattle, WA 98111-1909; fax: 206-448-8216, Attn: Northwest Gardens; e-mail: nwgardens@seattlepi.com.

CLASSES

SAT/AUG 25 & 26 Swansons Nursery: 9701 15th Ave. N.W. 206-782-2543; www.swansonsnursery.com.

Saturday, 11 a.m. -- Container Design: From pot and plant selection, to soil, fertilizer and planting tips, this is everything you need to know.

Aug. 25 and 26, 1 p.m. -- Design Consultations: Free, one-on-one, 20-minute consultations with members of Swansons staff.

SAT/ AUG 25 Windmill Gardens: 5823 160th Ave. E. Sumner. Register: 253-863-5843; windmillgarden.com.

Saturday, 10 a.m. -- Concrete Leaf Class: with leaf motif artists Jenny Peterson and Annette Devens. These leaves will make lovely garden gifts as birdbaths, sculptures or water features in your pond. $45.

Aug. 25, 10 a.m. -- Kids Thyme: Let's Decorate a Tee Shirt. Bring a T-shirt from home and they'll supply fabric paint and garden items, such as sticks, leaves, flowers, veggies and anything else they can think of to make a fun shirt. $10.

MON Seattle Japanese Garden: 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E. 206-684-4725.

9:30 a.m. -- Maple Pruning in the Japanese Garden: Enjoy a combination lecture and demonstration with professional pruner and landscaper Barb Engram. The pruned tree will be available for purchase. $50, includes admission to the garden.

TUES Green River Community College Continuing Education: 12401 S.E. 320th St., Auburn,. 253-833-9111, Ext. 2535; greenriver.edu/ce.

7-9 p.m. -- Preparing Your Lawn and Garden for Colder Seasons: Flowers and bulbs, lawn maintenance, pruning and weed control are some of the topics that will be covered. $45.

WED/AUG 25 Seattle Tilth: Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N. Must register for all classes: 206-633-0451 Ext. 1 or seattletilth.org.

Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. -- Smell it, Feel it? How To Know When Fruit is Ripe: Learn simple clues to look for and also help you decide how to store produce for best results. Free, pre-registration is required. Victor Steinbrueck Park , 2001 Western Ave.

August 25, 11 a.m. -- Fall Salad Gardening: $15 for Tilth members, $20 for non-members. Pre-registration is required.

SAT Squak Mt. Greenhouses and Nursery: 7600 Renton-Issaquah Road S.E., Issaquah. Register: 425-392-1025 or squakmtnursery.com.

Saturday, 10:30 a.m. -- Easy, Easy Garden Design: Give Ann one hour as she focuses on the "right plant, right place" garden design concept.

AUG 25 City People's Garden Store: 2939 E. Madison St. 206-324-0737; citypeoples.com.

11 a.m. -- Gardening With Native Plants Workshop: Discover how you can use native plants in your yard to attract birds, butterflies, and other wildlife with native plant steward Marcia Rivers Smith.

TUES Sweetgrass Home and Garden: 332 Burnett Ave. S., Renton. Registration required. 425-226-7280; sweetgrasshome.com.

6 p.m. -- Garden Plaques: Create your own mosaic garden plaque. $50.

AUG 25 Dig: 19028 Vashon Highway S.W., Vashon Island. Dress for the weather. Registration required: 206-463-5096; dignursery.com.

1 p.m. -- Muchas Grasses with Sylvia Matlock: Sylvia will discuss her favorites, many of which can be viewed in their mature state in DIG's borders.

ONGOING Sogetsu Ikebana: Nobuko Relnick offers flower-arrangement classes Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m., at 19112 152nd Ave. N.E., Woodinville, and Thursdays at 5 p.m. at Pottery Northwest, 226 First Ave. N. $20 plus a $7 materials fee. 425-489-1992; nrelnick@comcast.net.

ETC.

TUES Plant Amnesty: Building 406, Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way N.E. Information: 206-783-9093; plantamnesty.org.

7-9 p.m. -- PlantAmnesty general meeting: Story Time With the Naked Gardener. Gather to eat picnic food, sit on blankets, and listen to stories. Meet at University of Washington Botanical Gardens, Douglas classroom (formerly the Center for Urban Horticulture) 3501 N.E. 41st St.

AUG 25/26 Puget Sound Dahlia Association: 425-836-4487; pugetsounddahlias.org.

9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. -- PSDA Annual Dahlia Show: See thousands of perfectly grown dahlias displayed indoors in natural lighting, meet raisers and dahlia enthusiasts, and have your questions answered by expert growers. Factoria Mall, 4055 Factoria Blvd. S.E.

AUG 25 Seattle Japanese Garden: 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E. 206-684-4725.

7-10 p.m. -- Japanese Garden Moon Viewing: A unique opportunity to experience the Japanese Garden at night lit with luminaries, lanterns, boats and light from a full moon. $15-$25.

ONGOING Natural Lawn and Garden Hot Line: Educators help with gardening and composting questions. Sponsored by Seattle Public Utilities. 206-633-0224; info@lawnandgardenhotline.org.

ONGOING Food and Yard Waste: Eggshells, potato peels and other fruits and vegetables, along with bread, pasta, grains, napkins, pizza boxes and other food-soiled paper can be made into compost instead of sent to the landfill. The city of Seattle's North Recycling and Disposal Station, 1350 N. 34th St., and the South Recycling and Disposal Station, 8105 Fifth Ave. S., are open daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and Year's Day.

MASTER GARDENERS

ONGOING Answer lines: Your questions answered. Information: king.wsu.edu.

King County -- 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, except holidays. 206-296-3440.

SAT/AUG 25 King County Master Gardener Foundation Talk: Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, 15500 S.E. 16th St. Bellevue. Information: Mary Osborne, 425-485-5942.

Saturday, 10:30 a.m. -- Propagating Plants: Elaine Keehn speaks on how propagating plants is a good way to get new plants without paying. Free.

Aug. 25, 10:30 a.m. -- Dividing Perennials: Barbara Flynn teaches on how all perennials need to be divided every few years. Free.

PLANT SALE

SAT King County Iris Society: KCIS bearded iris sale. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Crossroads Bellevue, Northeast Eighth and 156th Avenue Northeast. kcis.org.

ONGOING

Pat Calvert Greenhouse: Plants propagated from the Washington Park Arboretum are for sale Wednesdays and the second Saturday of each month, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Graham Visitors Center East entrance, 2300 Arboretum Drive E. arboretumfoundation.org.

ONGOING Lake Wilderness Arboretum: A great selection of perennials, natives, shade plants and more, including plants that are unusual and suited for the Pacific Northwest climate. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 22520 S.E. 248th St., Maple Valley. 425-413-2572; lakewildernessarboretum.org.

TOURS

AUG 25 Museum of History and Industry: 2700 24th Ave. E., Seattle. 253-584-4106; seattlehistory.org.

10 a.m. to noon -- Groves, Gardens, and Landscape Design: A Garden History Tour of the University of Washington Campus. $20 for members, $25 for non-members. Meet at North Campus Entrance at Memorial Way, 17th Ave. N.E. and N.E. 45th Street.

ONGOING Lakewold Gardens: The 10-acre garden estate offers a haven of gardening delights, historical features, statuary, landscape architecture by Thomas Church and a Georgian-style mansion. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $5 general, $3 seniors, students, military, and groups (10+), members of the Friends of Lakewold and children under 12 are free. 12317 Gravelly Lake Drive S.W. Lakewood . 253-584-4106; lakewoldgardens.org.

ONGOING Washington Park Arboretum: Weekend Walks. The 60- to 90-minute walks are on the first and third Sundays of each month at 1 p.m. and are led by trained guides focusing on seasonal interest in the Arboretum, native plants or Foster Island ecology. Departs from the Graham Visitors Center. Dress for the weather. Free. 2300 Arboretum Drive E. 206-685-8033; www.uwbotanicgardens.org.

ONGOING Seattle Japanese Garden: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday. $3-$5. 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E. 206-684-4725.

SAT/AUG 26 Weyerhaeuser's Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection: 33663 Weyerhaeuser Way S., Federal Way. Free. 253-924-5206; weyerhaeuser.com/bonsai.

Saturday though Aug. 29 -- Yama Taki: This two-week exhibit will feature selected bonsai from the private collections of Seattle's Yama Taki bonsai study group.

Saturday, noon -- Ingenious Cloud Style Bonsai: A guided tour of an abstract style in which branches are formed into thin "floating" disks.

Aug. 26, noon -- Sunday Guided Tour: Learn the history of the collection and the horticultural and artist elements for creating and maintaining these pieces of living art.

ONGOING Bellevue Botanical Garden: Perennials, Japanese-style garden, alpine rock garden, woodland trees and native Northwest plants in a 36-acre destination garden. Open dawn to dusk daily, docent-led tours available 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through October and by appointment. 12001 Main St., Bellevue. Free. 425-452-2750; bellevuebotanical.org.

ONGOING PowellsWood: This 40-acre private garden is open to the public Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Also open for special events and by appointment. 430 S. Dash Point Road, Federal Way. $5. 253-529-1620; powellswood.org.

ONGOING Volunteer Park Conservatory: Open daily, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., on holidays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Docents lead 30- to 60-minute group tours that cover conservatory plant collections, architectural history, plant acquisition, production and more, Tuesdays-Thursdays and Saturdays, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; 1400 E. Galer St. $25 per group; free for K-12 students; Reservations required. 206-322-4112; volunteerparkconservatory.org.

ONGOING Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden: Four acres of gardens includes cottage, Japanese and rose gardens, and displays of iris and day lilies. Open daily during daylight hours. Free. Private guided group tours available; North SeaTac Community Center, 13735 24th Ave. S. 206-824-7222; highlinegarden.org.

ONGOING Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden: This 22-acre garden features trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs, plus a gift shop and plant sales. Friday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $3.50, $2.50 for seniors and students 12 and older, free under 12; guided tours and group rates are available. Weyerhaeuser corporate campus, 2525 S. 336th St., Federal Way. 253-838-4646 (from Seattle), 253-927-6960 (from Tacoma), 253-661-9377 (gift shop); rhodygarden.org.

ONGOING Bloedel Reserve: Reservations are required to tour the 150-acre reserve, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday year-round, except federal holidays. 7571 N.E. Dolphin Drive, Bainbridge Island. 206-842-7631; bloedelreserve.org.

ONGOING Lake Wilderness Arboretum: A 40-acre arboretum with formal gardens and trails for walking, jogging and bicycling. Docent tours on every third Saturday of the month, starting at the gazebo at 10 a.m. Open daily during daylight hours. 22520 S.E. 248th St., Maple Valley. 425-413-2572; lakewildernessarboretum.org.

ONGOING Bastyr University: Medicinal Herb Garden and Reflexology Path. Features botanicals used in both Western and Asian natural medicine. Free self-guided tours anytime, always open. Guided tours also available. 14500 Juanita Drive N.E., behind Bastyr University campus. 425-602-3272; bastyr.edu.

ONGOING Chase Garden: Gardens are open to the public for self-guided tours. Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $5. 16015 264th St. E., Orting. 206-242-4040; www.chasegarden.org.

VOLUNTEERING

ONGOING NPA Borders at the Bellevue Botanical Garden: People with all gardening skill levels are welcome to learn hands-on perennial care. Bring your small hand tools. The first Thursday of every month, 10 a.m. to 1 pm and every second and fourth Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 12001 Main St. Information: 425-647-6004; info@northwestperennialalliance.org.

ONGOING Highline Botanical Rose Garden: Work with consulting rosarians from local societies and learn how to grow roses organically. Lori White, 206-248-5372.

ONGOING Waterwise Demonstration Garden: Adults are needed to care for the garden at the Bellevue Botanical Garden. Learn natural gardening techniques you can apply at home. Get hands-on experience soil building, composting and caring for a wide variety of plants. Volunteer days are held spring through fall on the first and third Wednesday of each month 1-3 p.m. Training provided. Bellevue Utilities, 425-452-4127; or pburgess@bellevuewa.gov.

ONGOING Dunn Gardens docent program: Trains docents to lead small public tours through the historic gardens. 206-362-0933; info@dunngardens.org or dunngardens.org.

ONGOING Washington Park Arboretum: Guides are needed to lead educational tours. Guides are asked to commit to one three-hour shift a week for 10 weeks in the fall or spring. Information: 206-543-8801; www.uwbotanicgardens.org, or uwbgeduc@u.Washington.edu. Also, volunteers are needed for weeding, mulching, planting, pruning and other horticulture activities, Tuesdays, 12:30-3:30 p.m., year-round. Hand tools and work gloves provided. Contact David Zuckerman, grounds supervisor, 206-616-4050.

ONGOING Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden: Training provided and work shifts flexible to accommodate personal schedules. Opportunities include gift shop sales, tour guides, gardening, grant writing, clerical, building maintenance and more. 253-838-4646 (from Seattle), 253-927-6960 (from Tacoma); rhodygarden.org.

ONGOING Bellevue Botanical Garden Society: Volunteers needed for special events, cashiering in the gift shop, data entry, docents (guiding tours), and to work with kids and assist staff teachers for the Living Lab Youth Education Program. Training provided. 425-451-3755; bellevuebotanical.org.

ONGOING Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens: Volunteers needed for scheduled work parties, garden maintenance at the Arboretum, Legion Park, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett. 425-257-8597; evergreenarboretum.com.

ONGOING Kruckeberg Botanic Garden: Volunteers needed to help in various ways, including hospitality, garden maintenance and docents. 20312 15th Ave. N.W., Shoreline. kruckeberg.org; 206-542-4777.

ONGOING Seattle Tilth: Volunteers needed for many different positions, including to lead the Earth Steward Garden Tours in the Children's Garden, a fun, hands-on garden field trip for preschool through sixth grade at the Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N. Training is free. 206-633-0451, Ext. 2; or seattletilth.org.

ONGOING Columbia Lutheran Home: Now recruiting volunteers to help with gardening at Columbia Lutheran Home, 4700 Phinney Ave. N. Ellen Murray, 206-632-7400; columbialutheranhome.com.

ONGOING Lake Wilderness Arboretum: Learn new gardening skills and meet like-minded people. Volunteer days are held every Wednesday, Thursday and the first Saturday of the month, 9 a.m.-noon, at 22520 S.E. 248th St., Maple Valley. Advance contact not required. 425-413-2572; lakewildernessarboretum.org.

ONGOING Volunteer Park Conservatory: Opportunities to help in the Gift Shop and Resource Center; horticultural knowledge helpful but not necessary. Volunteers commit to a three-hour shift once or twice a month, after two to three training sessions. 206-322-4112; foc@volunteerparkconservatory.org.

ONGOING King County Greenhouse and Nursery: Pot native trees and shrubs, and move soil and plants into the nursery for future restoration projects. All ages, no experience necessary. Every Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in Renton/Maple Valley area. Tina Miller, tina.miller@metrokc.gov or 206-296-2990.

ONGOING Volunteers for Outdoor Washington: Help restore Iron Goat Trail. Times and dates vary. Bring lunch, rain gear, long-sleeved shirts, and water. trailvolunteers.org/calendar.asp.

ONGOING Chase Garden: Help work in the garden. Volunteers meet the second and fourth Saturdays of the month in the morning. 16015 264th St. E., Orting. 253-847-5629; chasegarden.org.

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