Here’s What’s Happening in July

There’s a lot going on in July, so now’s the time to get your head out from under those shrubs, clean up your dirty fingernails, throw on your good clogs, and enjoy some inspirational gardens all around the Sound. There are tours galore, art walks, some great lectures and there’s even a tour of chicken coops and urban farms. It doesn’t get much better than a mellow July in the garden, so have an enjoyable time!

Sunday, July 3
1:00 pm
“Classic Hydrangeas”
Maurice Horn
Hydrangeas go mysteriously in and out of fashion on a regular basis. Yet they remain almost unparalleled in the world of shrubs for the length of their season of bloom. If you garden on a small or large plot, in the sun, part shade or in a woodland setting, there is a hydrangea that is perfect for your site. Explore the different species of hydrangea, learn easy care techniques and examine some ideal companion plants. You will never be without a hydrangea again no matter what the fashion. Free and open to the public. No registration required.
Joy Creek Nursery
20300 NW Watson Road, Scappose, Oregon 97056
Visit their website for more information or call 503-543-7474.

Friday, July 8
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
“Galloping into Edible Gardening”
Graham Kerr, formerly known as the ‘Galloping Gourmet’
Join Graham as he enthusiastically shares the joys of how his kitchen has taken on a whole new feeling, as his home vegetable garden now provides unrivaled freshness, seasonal variety, and the adventure of observing the miracle of growth at the speed of life. Learn how growing his own fruits and vegetables has lead to cooking with greater understanding and simplicity. He’ll offer suggestions on the best cooking methods to create healthy, memorable dishes, drawing from the more than 100 recipes in his new book, “Growing at the Speed of Life.” Book signing to follow.
Tickets: $10, which includes a glass of wine.
Molbak’s
13625 NE 175th Street, Woodinville, WA 98072
Visit their website for more information or to register, or call 425-483-5000.

Friday, July 8 – Sunday, July 10
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
23rd Annual Bainbridge in Bloom
Visit six incredible gardens at this popular event. Tours are by bus only, available at the Festival Site at Woodward Middle School. Benefactor tickets are available which allow for a luncheon, chauffeured garden tour, a special tour of the Bloedel Reserve by designer Stacie Crooks, and admission to the Evening in Bloom Party.
Tickets: General Admission $25; children $10.
Benefactor Tickets: $225 – 350
Bainbridge in Bloom Festival Site
9125 Sportsman Club Road NE, Bainbridge Island, WA
Visit their website for tickets or more information or call 206-842-7901.

Saturday, July 9
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Duvall’s Garden Celebration
The Duvall Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the City of Duvall and Kirsten Lints, of Gardens Alive Design, to organize Duvall’s Garden Celebration, celebrating all aspects of gardening within the Snoqualmie Valley. Whether your passion for gardening include vegetable gardening, home gardens or containers; this event has something for everyone. The day starts at Duvall True Value with a demonstration from Karen Chapman of Le Jardinet on creating drama and impact in your containers. The ticket brochure will provide a description and location for our eight unforgettable gardens along with their activities as well as the schedule of events for the day’s Celebration. Children’s activities will include a burrito treasure hunt in which kids are welcome to harvest, build & eat a yummy farm burrito. In the afternoon come to town and stroll the streets of Duvall to view the professionally designed containers being hosted by our local businesses. Vote for your favorite container design and participate in the silent auction of the containers. Bid on a planted container that would be perfect for your yard and have one for your own.
Tickets: $5 available at Tru Value from July 7 – 9
Visit their Facebook page at for more information.

Saturday, July 9
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Chicken Coop & Urban Farm Tour
Did you know that Seattle has become known as a national hot spot for chickens and urban farms? This is your chance to visit folks who are keeping chickens and creating “urban farms” right in Seattle. Take a look at how people are incorporating animals and food production into their home landscape. In this self-guided tour in neighborhoods throughout Seattle, you will see simple chicken coops built in an afternoon and elaborate set-ups that took weeks of planning and building. See how exactly how chickens, goats, ducks and honey bees live together with people in an urban environment. Discover other creative trappings of modern Seattle urban farms, including productive organic gardens, fruit orchards, water catchment devices like rain barrels, cisterns and swales, solar and cob construction, and crazy garden art. Self-guided tour.
Tickets available at Brown Paper Tickets. They will send the physical tickets you will need for the tour. Seattle Tilth will also send a map via email or snail mail with descriptions of each site and addresses.
Seattle Tilth
Groups (3-7 people) = $35
Groups, Seattle Tilth members = $30
Individuals = $12
Individuals, Seattle Tilth members = $10
Visit their website for more information or call Chris at 206-633-0451, ext. 119.

Saturday, July 9
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sunday, July 10
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Miniature Fairy Garden Class
Watch and learn for free, or for $50 you can take home your very own miniature fairy garden. Price includes everything you need to get started (box, plants, soil, décor such as a mushroom and, of course, a fairy!)
My Garden Nursery
17414 Bothell Everett Highway, Mill Creek, WA 98012
Visit their website for more information or call 425-402-1842.

Saturday, July 16
10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday, July 17
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Soos Creek Grand Opening Celebration
Come celebrate the region’s newest botanical treasure, the Soos Creek Botanical Garden, located in Auburn, WA. There will be self-guided walking tours, a butterfly release, a plant Sale, demonstrations, and more. On Saturday, popular author and columnist Marianne Binetti will be speaking, and on Sunday, Richie Steffen, Curator of the Elizabeth Miller Botanical Garden, will also be giving a talk.
Soos Creek Botanical Garden
29308 132nd Ave SE, Auburn, WA 98092
Visit their website for more information or call 253-639-0949.

Saturday, July 16
Sunday, July 17
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tea Room opens early, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Art & Photography in the Garden
Milner Gardens, British Columbia
Meet, mingle, and be inspired by dozens of local artists as they display their works and actively create new pieces over the weekend. There is a silent auction on site with pieces donated by each participating artist. Refreshments are available and live music will be performed throughout the afternoons.
Tickets: Adults $10; children under 10 free if accompanied by adult.
Milner Gardens and Woodland
2179 West Island Highway, Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
Visit their website for more information or email milnergardens@shaw.ca.

Saturday, July 16
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
12th Annual Woodinville Garden Club Tour
The 12th Annual Woodinville Garden Club Tour of Gardens features six private gardens that offer serenity to grandeur and everything in between. You’ll find meandering paths and streams, secret gardens and tranquil ponds with Koi. Lush ornamentals, robust veggies and stunning specimen trees showcase our region’s diverse planting palette. Self-drive tour; ticket brochure has garden descriptions and directions. Also features an after-tour reception from 3:30 – 5:00 pm at Molbak’s.
Tickets: $20 per person
Woodinville Garden Club
Visit their website for more information or to purchase tickets. Tickets also available at Molbak’s, Classic Nursery and Ravenna Gardens.

Sunday, July 17
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
17th Annual West Seattle Garden Tour
“Perennial Creativity” luncheon lecture with Sue Goetz
12:00 pm
The West Seattle Garden Tour, now in its 17th year, celebrates the “Art of Gardening”. This year’s self-guided tour showcases ten spectacular residential gardens, including a 2.5-acre estate garden, and includes a noontime lecture. Tickets are available starting in June throughout the Seattle area. Ticket vouchers may be purchased online. All net proceeds from the tour benefit local educational and horticultural projects and community gardens. A luncheon and lecture by designer Sue Goetz is included in the cost of the ticket.
Tickets: $15 per person (children 12 and under are free) and are available throughout the Seattle area or on Brown Paper Tickets.
Visit their website for more information.

Sunday, July 24
1:00 pm
“Not All Shade is Created Equal”
Judith Jones & Diana Reeck
Shade is a tricky subject because it involves not only degrees of darkness, but, depending on the source of the shade, it can involve degrees of dryness as well. By understanding the type of shady environment you have, it is possible to make an educated guess as to what plants will work in an area. The fantastic team of Judith Jones, owner of Fancy Fronds Temperate Fern Nursery, and Diana Reeck, owner of Collectors Nursery, show you the possibilities of making lovely gardens no matter how dark and dry! Free and open to the public. No registration required.
Joy Creek Nursery
20300 NW Watson Road, Scappose, Oregon 97056
Visit their website for more information or call 503-543-7474.

Sunday, July 31
12:00 noon – 5:00 pm
27th Annual Snohomish City Garden Tour
The Snohomish Garden Club is proud to announce the 27th annual garden tour featuring eight beautiful gardens in and around Snohomish, WA. Advance tickets are available at local Snohomish businesses and local nurseries. Day of Tour tickets are available at the Sno-Isle Library 4th St. and Maple in Snohomish starting at 11:30 and there will be plants, raffle tickets and poster sales.
Tickets: $12 at local Snohomish businesses (see website for locations)
Snohomish Garden Club
Visit their website for more information or call 425-374-8622.

Sunday, July 31
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
ArtWalk 2011 Fundraiser
Gala Garden Luncheon Party
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Delight in the work of 26 Northwest Artists set in the splendor of the famed Dunn Gardens. Meet the artists and enjoy this festive occasion for the eye, the ear, and the palate. A Gala Garden Luncheon Party will be held at 12:30 to 2:30 pm (separate admission) with celebrity guests and an ArtWalk Preview.
Tickets: $30 per person for the ArtWalk and $125 per person for the Gala Luncheon.
E.B. Dunn Historic Gardens
13533 Northshire Road NW, Seattle, WA 98177
Visit their website for more information or call 206-362-0933.

Garden Show Announces 2012 Show Judges

The Northwest Flower & Garden Show is proud to announce the three Show Judges for the 2012 show. They are Stephen Orr, Editorial Director for Gardening at Martha Stewart Living and author of the new book, Tomorrow’s Garden: Design and Inspiration for a New Age of Sustainable Gardening; edible landscaping authority Rosalind Creasy, author of the newly revised groundbreaking 1982 book, Edible Landscaping; and Steve Aitken, editor of Fine Gardening magazine.

The show has a tradition of bringing in a world-class panel of gardening luminaries to review and judge over 20 show gardens and also present seminars at the show. The Garden Creators and their teams are already dreaming up show garden ideas for the 2012 show theme, “A Floral Symphony: Gardens Take Note.” All the designing and planning culminates in an intense 90 hours of building these fantastical gardens on site at the Washington State Convention Center, converting a cavernous empty space into an enchanting garden extravaganza. And then, at exactly noon on February 7, 2012, the noise, dust, chaos, blood, sweat and tears will all come to a stop to allow the show judges to view the gardens and begin their deliberations. Who will win the coveted Founder’s Cup Best in Show Award for 2012? We’ll have to wait and see.

Stephen Orr – Editorial Director for Gardening: Martha Stewart Living
As the Editorial Director for Gardening for Martha Stewart Living, Stephen Orr writes about extraordinary gardens and the people who make them. Prior to that he was the garden editor at House & Garden and Domino magazines. He has written extensively for The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal and been a regularly featured gardening expert on “The CBS Early Show” and “The Today Show.” He is the author of Tomorrow’s Garden: Design and Inspiration for a New Age of Sustainable Gardening (Rodale Press, 2011) or follow his blog. With a keen eye for aesthetics matched by a strong concern for the environment, Stephen has developed a sense of what a modern garden should be: small, visually pleasing, and responsible.

Rosalind Creasy – Author, Edible Landscaping
Ros Creasy has been considered the leading authority on edible landscaping since her groundbreaking book, The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping, was published in 1982 (Sierra Books).  It has become a contemporary classic, and was named one of the 75 Great American Garden Books by the American Horticultural Society. An all-new edition, Edible Landscaping, was published in November 2010 by Sierra Club Books, and is now in its third printing. In addition to writing 18 books on gardening and cooking, Ros is a designer of landscapes that include edible, native and drought tolerant plants. She was made a Fellow of the Garden Writers of America in 1999, and in 2009 was inducted into the GWA Hall of Fame.

Steve Aitken – Editor, Fine Gardening magazine
Steve Aitken is editor of Fine Gardening, a magazine devoted to making its readers better gardeners. He spends much of his time talking with and visiting horticulturists and avid gardeners around the country. The knowledge he gains from these activities not only helps the magazine, but also provides solutions to the everyday challenges he faces in his own garden. He has written articles for Fine Gardening on topics ranging from drip irrigation to building twig structures. A Master Gardener, Steve is currently carving out beds and borders around his Connecticut home, where he lives with his wife and children.

The 2012 show will be held February 8 – 12, 2012 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. Keep checking The Garden Show Blog and the show’s website for all the latest developments as the team gears up for next year’s show. The seminar schedule should be posted by early November so you can find out when our Show Judges, along with about 85 other gardening experts, will be speaking. We’ve got lots of exciting plans in store that will help make your show experience more exciting and better than ever! – Janet