Here’s What’s Happening in April

Saturday, April 2
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
6th ANNUAL GARDEN LOVERS’ BOOK SALE
Wine & Cheese Preview Party
Friday, April 1
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Thousands of used gardening, horticulture, botany and landscape design books will be for sale at the Miller Library the first weekend of April. Original artwork from the American Association of Botanical Artists – Pacific Northwest Chapter will also be on exhibit and for sale. Be among the first to browse the books at the Wine and Cheese Preview Party on Friday, April 1, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Book Sale admittance is free on Saturday.
Elizabeth C. Miller Library
Center for Urban Horticulture
3501 NE 41st Street, Seattle
For more information: http://nwf.gs/fMyBwF
Preview Party Tickets: $20 – Call the Library at 206-543-0415

Sunday, April 3
1:00 pm
“EATING ORNAMENTALLY”
Willi Evans Galloway
As an award winning writer and radio commentator, Willi Galloway spends her days teaching people how to eat from their gardens. Willi is the creator of DigginFood, a popular gardening and cooking blog that serves up organic vegetable gardening advice, DIY projects, and seasonal recipes several times each week. Willi served for six years on the Board of Directors of Seattle Tilth and is a volunteer for the King County Master Gardeners. Willi is working on her first book—a food lover’s guide to vegetable gardening that will be published by Sasquatch Books in January 2012. She and her husband also host an online garden to table cooking show, “Grow. Cook. Eat.” In this lecture Willi gives her recommendations for the best ornamental edible plants and varieties for the Pacific Northwest, share practical ideas for adding edibles into existing and new ornamental gardens, and discuss strategies for getting the most out of the vegetables, herbs, and fruit you choose to grow. Free.
Joy Creek Nursery
20300 NW Watson Road, Scappose, Oregon 97056
For more information: http://nwf.gs/gbjbwi
Phone: 503-543-7474

Saturday, April 9
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
EARLY BLOOMERS PLANT SALE
Arboretum Foundation
Don’t miss our first plant sale of the year! Hosted by the dedicated volunteers in our Pat Calvert Greenhouse and Plant Donations Nursery, the sale takes place within the beautiful environs of Washington Park Arboretum, so you can come shop for your plants near the Graham Visitors Center and then enjoying a relaxing stroll through Seattle’s premier public garden. You’ll find a great selection of young trees and shrubs for sale in the Greenhouse, and wonderful early blooming perennials such as hellebores, trilliums, primroses, pulmonaria, and hepatica in the Nursery. At the Plant Donations Nursery and the Pat Calvert Greenhouse. Free parking and admission.
Arboretum Foundation
Graham Visitors Center
2300 Arboretum Drive East, Seattle, WA
For more information: http://nwf.gs/eimAxU
Phone: 206-325-4510

Saturday, April 9
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
“CLEMATIS & COMPLIMENTARY COMPANION PLANTS”
Raymond Evison, The Guernsey Clematis Nursery Ltd.
Join award-winning nurseryman Raymond Evison as he puts together a winning combination of gorgeous clematis and companion plants to create an eye-catching container design. He’ll also share tips on pruning, feeding and general care, while showcasing his newest varieties. SPECIAL OFFER: Clematis will be 20% off at Molbak’s April 9-17.
Molbak’s
13625 NE 175th St., Woodinville, WA 98072
For more information: http://nwf.gs/9PVamG
Phone: 425-483-5000

Saturday, April 9
Sunday, April 10
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
HPSO SPRING PLANT SALE
One of the largest plant sales in the Northwest, people trek to Portland from all over Western Washington and Oregon to get their spring plant fix. Over 70 nurseries and specialty growers, along with 30 Artists with cool garden art. For a complete vendor list go to http://nwf.gs/9PVamG. No wagons, strollers or carts, please. Assistance will gladly be provided for people with disabilities. Please ask one of our Greeters at the entrance if you need assistance. Free admission.
Hardy Plant Society of Oregon
Portland EXPO Center, Hall E-2
Directions: http://nwf.gs/fXrphw
2060 North Marine Drive, Portland, Oregon 97217
For more information: http://nwf.gs/hcsyJY
Phone: 503-224-5718

Saturday, April 9
Sunday, April 10
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
CHASE GARDEN SPRING PLANT SALE
Free admission to the garden. Featuring early blooming groundcovers, perennials, woodland wildflowers and special selections from several invited vendors.
The Chase Garden
16015 – 264th Street E, Orting, WA
For more information: http://nwf.gs/eemlN3
Phone: 206-242-4040

Sunday, April 10
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
“TREE PRUNING II”
Cass Turnbull
This is the HOW-TO slideshow for pruning trees (not fruit or nut trees). How to prune a tree limb, how to find the branch collar, pruning for young and mature trees, pruning standards, crown restoration, and basics of Tree Risk Assessment will be covered. Time allowing–we will go over some specific tree pruning: magnolia, purple-leaf plum trees, and dogwoods.
Plant Amnesty
Sand Point Magnuson Park, Bldg 406 (The Brig)
7400 Sand Point Way, Seattle, WA
Driving Directions: http://nwf.gs/fOeFVj
For more information: http://nwf.gs/fnnMTN
Phone: 206-783-9813

Wednesday, April 13
Reception 6:45 pm; Lecture 7:15 pm
“LANDSCAPE AS SPIRIT: CREATING A CONTEMPLATIVE GARDEN”
Martin Mosko
Martin Mosko is the founder and principal of the award-winning Marpa Design Studio of Boulder, abbot of Hakubai Temple, and the co-author of Landscape as Spirit: Creating a Contemplative Garden. He will present an integrated theory of contemplative gardening, and illustrate how this framework for design applies in every situation, whether commercial or residential. Martin will demonstrate how a contemplative garden is not limited by style or budget; it is a product of the meditative mind, and can be built in any space. He will discuss the elements available to us as designers, the idea of balance in composition, and the metaphors used to help judge when that balance has been achieved.
Northwest Horticultural Society
Center for Urban Horticulture
3501 NE 41st Street, Seattle
Fee: Members $5; Non-members $10
No reservations required
For more information: http://nwf.gs/gSXz1V
Phone: 206-780-8172

Friday, April 15
Saturday April 16
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
SPRING PLANT SALE
Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
22 outstanding specialty nurseries plus choice selections from the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden highlight their Spring Plant Sale. Doors open at 2:00 pm on Friday for members. The garden is home to one of the largest collections of species rhododendrons in the world, the garden displays over 600 of the more than 1,000 species found in the wilds of North America, Europe, and Asia, as well as the tropical regions of southeast Asia and northern Australia. Free admission to the garden on plant sale days.
Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
Weyerhauser Corporate Headquarters
Weyerhaeuser’s West Entry parking lot, Upper Level, Federal Way, WA
2525 South 336th Street, Federal Way, WA 98003
For more information: http://nwf.gs/f6392p
Phone: 253-838-4646

Saturday, April 16
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
ARBOR DAY – EARTH DAY FAMILY FESTIVAL
Grab your “passport” from a Ranger and journey through the many eco-stations at the Garden. Activities include a Living Lab native plant workshop, docent-led Garden tours, live bug sampling on “Bug TV” and many others. Get a stamp at each station and return your completed passport for a raffle ticket. Ceremonial Tree Planting will be at 11:30am. Raffle to follow. Winners do not need to be present at time of drawing. Of Special Note: This year the City of Bellevue will receive its 20th consecutive Tree City USA award and its 18th Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters. Free.
Bellevue Botanical Garden
12001 Main Street, Bellevue, WA 98005
For more information: http://nwf.gs/gAkA0z
Phone: 425-452-6826

Saturday, April 16
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday, April 17
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
PREMIER PLANT SALE & OPEN HOUSE
The Bloedel Reserve
Preview Sale for Bloedel Reserve Members!
Friday, April 15
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Free lectures each day at noon!
Saturday - Kelly Dodson, “Our Favorite Plants at Far Reaches Farm”
Sunday - Dan Hinkley, “From Shadows to Sun: The Gardens at Windcliff”
Visitors get free admission to the renowned Bloedel Reserve to attend this amazing plant sale, featuring choice plants propagated and grown at Bloedel Reserve, and by premier Northwest growers, including: Dan Hinkley, Sundquist Nursery, Far Reaches Farms, Naylor Creek Nursery, Desert Northwest, Steamboat Island Nursery, Keeping It Green, Mesogeo Garden, Chimacum Woods, Bambu-u, and Dragonfly Farms. Plus free lectures by Dan Hinkley and Kelly Dodson. It doesn’t get any better than that!
The Bloedel Reserve
7571 Northeast Dolphin Drive, Bainbridge Isle, WA 98110
Directions: http://nwf.gs/gCqAUw
For more information: http://nwf.gs/h4zyHb
Phone: 206-842-7631

Wednesday, April 20
6:30 pm
COLLECTORS’ PLANT AUCTION & GALA
University of British Columbia Botanical Garden
The Collectors’ Plant Auction and Gala is a major fundraiser for the UBC Botanical Garden. The evening is an event not to be missed by local gardeners, plant collectors and industry insiders. Exciting, unique, rare and specimen plants are available in both live and silent auctions in a gala atmosphere of a buffet dinner and refreshments. This is a plant lover’s event of the year!
UBC Garden Reception Center
6804 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Tickets: $150 each
For more information: http://nwf.gs/gdE3un
Phone: 604-822-3928

Saturday, April 23
Sunday, April 24
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
HUA YUAN CHINESE FLORAL EXHIBITION
The exquisite floral arrangements created by members of the school will be on display in the Visitor Center. Admission is free.
Bellevue Botanical Garden
12001 Main Street, Bellevue, WA 98005
For more information: http://nwf.gs/gAkA0z
Phone: 425-452-2750

Saturday, April 30
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, May 1
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
FLORABUNDANCE PLANT SALE
Member Pre-Sale & Party
Friday, April 29
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
This magnificent sale, the largest in the Puget Sound region, features dozens of top specialty nurseries and vendors selling a wide selection of choice, locally-grown plants. You’ll find trees, shrubs, beautiful conifers, native plants, vegetable starts, species and hybrid rhododendrons, favorite and rare perennials, unusual annuals, glorious groundcovers, grasses, vines, and more. Benefit from the advice of gardening experts, who’ll be roving the aisles (in yellow aprons) to help with plant selections. And look for the colored surveyor flags, which will mark the favorite plants of Ciscoe Morris and Bob Lilly at the sale this year! Free parking and admission. The sale raises important funds for Washington Park Arboretum.  Member Pre-Sale & Party tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the week of the sale. Tickets go on sale April 1.
The Arboretum Foundation
Warren G. Magnuson Park, Seattle, Bldg 30, 7400 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA
For more information: http://nwf.gs/efyfLA
Member Pre-Sale Party tickets: 210-325-4510 or online

Saturday, April 30
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
SPRING PLANT SALE
I have been a member of this club for nearly 14 years, and over 300 plants at this sale are from my own garden as I create a more low maintenance garden. (The irony is that because I am spending so much time blogging for the Northwest Flower & Garden Show I don’t have as much time to tend my own garden!) Choose from named varieties of Hemerocallis, choice Hostas, Peonies (pictured – Peony “Better Times” a to-die-for pink), Astilbe, Rodgersia, Hellebores and much more – all from members’ gardens and all at incredibly low prices! Shop early for best selection. Alderwood Garden Club is a nonprofit garden club founded in 1925. Funds raised goes toward local horticulture scholarships. I’ll be there to tell you about plants I am – reluctantly – saying gooby to. – Janet
Alderwood Garden Club
Heritage Park – Just off I-5 at 19921 Popular Way, Lynnwood, WA

I hope you take the time to shop and support these many outstanding organizations working hard to organize these lectures and plant sales! They are the backbone of our horticulture community, bringing you the best plants from knowledgeable specialty growers in our region. You won’t find these plants in the ‘big box’ stores. See you at the sales! – Janet

Garden Show Records Strong Attendance

An ancient maple tree wowed attendees in the show garden by Kinssies Landscaping, titled "Stepping Through a Timeless Tranquil Forest."

Despite the freakish snow storm during its opening days, determined garden show devotees braved snow and ice to for their traditional celebration of spring at the 2011 Northwest Flower & Garden Show. The show posted strong attendance, record exhibitor participation and a major increase in “room night” stays by out-of-town visitors during its five-day run at the Washington State Convention Center, February 23-27.

Although there were winter road conditions throughout the region, the show drew 50,018 attendees—a small drop from 53,000 in 2010. “There’s no doubt weather impacted our opening days, but huge weekend crowds, especially on Sunday, enabled us to make-up ground,” said show producer Terry O’Loughlin. Attendance in 2010 was comparable to the previous three years under the ownership of show founder Duane Kelly, according to O’Loughlin.

The 2011 show had dozens of great new exhibitors, including Carol & Kerrie of The Seed Keeper Company.

A sold-out line-up of 350 exhibitors reported strong sales, and the show generated over 2,000 “room nights” in downtown Seattle hotels, up from approximately 700 last year. “Attendees and exhibitors from throughout the region took advantage of excellent rates offered by our downtown Seattle hotel partners and packages offered by tour companies,” said O’Loughlin. “We intend to build on that base in 2012.”

With 24 expansive display gardens, more blooming flowers and exotic plants, over 120 quality seminars presented in a new, larger venue, and a new family-friendly attraction—the PlayGarden sponsored by U.S. Bank—the show generated critical acclaim from attendees, participants and members of the media. Show Judges Lucy Hardiman and Cole Burrell, both very familiar with many prior shows, proclaimed the show gardens the “best ever.” (Lucy and Cole both substituted on a moment’s notice for two show judges that had to cancel at the last minute due to illness.) Judge Panayoti Kelaidis declared the show to be as good as – or even better – than the largest US show and even those in London.

Seminar audiences gave a resounding two thumbs up to the new Conference Center, delighted that they no longer had to wait in line for seminar passes. Attendees could breeze in and breeze out of the spacious seminar rooms at their leisure and all three rooms are now located on the same floor. Although the Rainier Room, which now seats 800, up from 360 seats, was almost full during the most popular speakers, such as Ciscoe Morris and celebrity chef Graham Kerr, everyone who wanted a seat was able to get one.

Lilly bulbs, perennials, seeds, maple trees, dahlias and many more plants were offered by our 46 Plant Market vendors.

“In our second year as producers of the show, we’re gratified by the response to this year’s event. It’s a tremendous team effort by all involved –and planning is already under way for 2012,” said O’Loughlin. The show announced its theme for 2012, “A Floral Symphony…Gardens Take Note,” providing an artistic foundation for garden creators participating in next year’s show, which will be held earlier in the month, on February 8 – 12, 2012.

The Northwest Flower & Garden Show was founded in 1989, and is now produced by Northwest-based, family-owned O’Loughlin Trade Shows (http://www.otshows/), one of the largest consumer show producers in the United States. You can watch for upcoming garden show announcements on www.gardenshow.com and also follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/gardenshow and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/NWFGS. After all, there’s only 314 days until the next show! - Janet

Speaker Handouts on Garden Show Website

Enthusiastic attendees to the 2011 Northwest Flower & Garden Show flocked to the show’s renowned seminars by the region’s leading gardening experts as well as many out-of-state professionals appearing at the show. And many speakers embellished their excellent seminars with valuable advice in a take-home handout for their audiences.

As a new service this year, garden show fans can download those handouts on the show’s website. We have posted all of them on the website, so you only need to click on “Seminars” at the top of the page, and then click on “Speaker Handouts.”  All those seminars listed in BLUE have a handout.  Click on the seminar title, and you get the handout. It’s the next best thing to seeing the speaker at the show! So just click on this link to get started: http://www.gardenshow.com/seminars/speaker-handouts/

Now even if you missed a great seminar, you can still access some of the valuable information provided by our talented speakers. There’s loads of good advice, resources, techniques and tips in these handouts, so browse the list and I’m sure you’ll find many topics of value as you start your gardening season. – Janet

Colleen’s Chimichurri

Colleen Miko, CPH, shares this spicy recipe that was given to her by her cousin, Traci Prendergast, who is co-owner of Vesta Flatbread in Emeryville, California, and who has lived and traveled extensively in South America.

Here’s Colleen’s take on this unusual sauce: “Unlike most chimichurri sauces I have sampled which are green, like a pesto, this one is a warm red color due to the sweet paprika. In Argentina, chimichurri is a condiment available on the table at all meals, but is used mostly in the states as an accompaniment for grilled meats. It’s also good with fish, vegetables, pasta and potatoes. I love this sauce because I can go outside and snip all the herbs for it out of the garden and the rest of the ingredients are always in my pantry. This recipe yields about 1 1/2 cups and serves about 12 as a condiment. I most recently served this with grilled steaks for a group of friends and family and it was a hit.  Thanks, Traci!”

Colleen was one of the Guest Bloggers on The Garden Show Blog during the show, so be sure and read her observations and musings about the show. She’s also did a seminar at 2:15 pm on Sunday, “Create a Buzz – Easy Steps to Attract Pollinators,” on the Smith & Hawken DIY Stage, and on Saturday and Sunday she put on an adorable program for the littlest gardeners on the Sprout Stage, titled “Shelly the Snail’s Birthday Party!” 

INSTRUCTIONS
–Remove stem and seeds of jalapeno and throw away. 
–In a food processor, mince the jalapeno and garlic. 
–Add the herbs and pulse until fine. 
–Add all remaining ingredients and pulse until thoroughly blended.
–Let flavors infuse for one hour at room temperature before serving or using as baste or marinade.
–Always serve at room temperature. 

To see more ‘Fresh from the Garden’ recipes from our 2011 garden show speakers, just go to the menu on the right-hand column and look for them. You’ll find many interesting recipes, all using garden-fresh herbs and vegetables. We had many seminars at last month’s show on how to best select, grow and maintain herbs and vegetables so we hope you were able to attend some of them, and we wish you your best, bountiful garden ever!  – Janet

Spring Preview Blossomed for Show Attendees

COLLEEN MIKO, GUEST BLOGGER

Inside the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, we experienced the emotional rush of spring.  The positive energy and excitement were measurable as people drank in the garden possibilities presented by so many talented “plant people.” Over and over, attendees of the show expressed this hopeful optimism as they enjoyed the elaborate, larger than life display gardens, fragrant floral arrangements and charming container garden vignettes.  Spring will arrive for us, and this was our preview.

Much asked about pincushion Protea is botanical bounty in "Cooks Endeavor Returns with Treasure" at the 2011 garden show

I spent several hours alongside the garden creators of WSNLA’s Gold Medal winning garden “Cook’s Endeavor Returns with Treasure,” answering questions about the colorful, verdant “treasure” of more than 100 species and cultivars of plants, many exotic to our clime.  Lovely Tasmania tree fern, pincushion Protea, ‘Winter Fire’ Heath and the Japanese Plume Cedar, or Cryptomeria grab the attention of the botanically curious.

Garden Creator Megan Pulkkinen with Randy Hesse, 'Stowaway' author Karen Hesse and garden creator Kirsten Lints.

True to the theme of the show this year: “Once Upon A Time…Spectacular Stories to Tell,” this garden was based upon the historical novel Stowaway, by award winning author Karen Hesse.  In fact, Hesse herself came all the way from Brattleboro, Vermont to be at the show this week.  Yesterday and again on Saturday, Hesse signed copies of her book at the University Bookstore booth and answered questions about the adventures of explorers Captain Cook and Joseph Banks. This display was more than eye candy—it was an adventure in learning.

What's "Alice in Wonderland" without the white rabbit?

Another of the garden creators who took the “Once Upon a Time…” theme and ran with it: the team of Zsofia Pasztor of Innovative Landscape Technologies, TwinFlower Garden Design and Rain Dog Designs, whose “Alice in Wonderland” garden was chock full of whimsy and charming detail.  The ‘Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’ tucked into one section of the garden featured a teapot water feature and I loved the massive (we’re talking 3 foot high) glass carafe labeled “drink me.” Naturally, the 8-ft. long blue caterpillar propped on his toadstool drew everyone in from across the room.  Looking closer at this fab example of “garden theatre”–sustainable gardening technologies were the practical take home, as they were in “There’s No Place like Home,” the Wizard of Oz garden Zsofia pulled off with aplomb in the 2010 Northwest Flower & Garden Show with the Washington State Nursery & L:andscape Association (WSNLA).

Eye candy, botanical education, practical take home—it was all there at the show. If you missed it, there’s always next year to tuck in out of the cold and get your slice of spring. The producers are already talking about the 2012 theme – “A Floral Symphony…Gardens Take Note” and the dates are February 8 – 12, 2012. Mark your calendar!

Colleen Miko is owner of Colleen’s, A Landscape Design Company, specializing in landscape design, horticultural consultation, garden seminars and freelance garden writing. Visit her website at http://www.colleenmiko.com/ or follow her blog at VERDURE http://www.colleenmiko.wordpress.com/. All photos by Colleen Miko. - Janet