Getting Started with Gardening 101
With over 100 incredible seminars offered at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, where does someone new to gardening start? There’s loads of inspiration from the leading designers and authors who grace our stages, but if you’re looking for solid, practical advice and you’re in a hurry, look no further than our new Gardening 101 series.
Gardening 101 will give you the best ideas to help solve some pesky gardening problems. Whether you’re looking for the best plants to grow in our region, or you’ve got some design challenges, or maybe you just aren’t sure how to prune your beloved roses, then these seminars are for you. Each of the seminars in the 3-part series are only 30 minutes, so it packs a punch in only 90 minutes.
Val Easton
On Thursday we start with ‘Gardening 101: Indispensible Plants’ – must-have plants for your own garden. Val Easton starts things off talking about those tiny treasures we tuck into the ground – bulbs. Next Nita-Jo Rountree will amaze you with her favorite annuals, and finally Kelly Dodson and Sue Milliken, of Far Reaches Farm fame, will reveal their most lusted-after perennials that you need to try.
Lucy Hardiman
Friday brings you ‘Gardening 101: Design Solutions’, to help you tackle some annoying problems – privacy, space, and seating. Marty Wingate will address unsightly views and noise control techniques. Then Vanessa Gardner Nagel discusses creative ways to incorporate seating and other furniture in your garden. Lucy Hardiman will end the show with inventive ways to make the use of minimal space. You’ll leave inspired with new ideas on creating a cozy, peaceful retreat in even the smallest garden space.
Cass Turnbull
Pruning is one of those gardening tasks that requires both skill and finesse. Ignorance is not bliss for your plants if they are pruned badly! So Saturday’s ‘Gardening 101: Perfect Your Pruning’ is just what gardeners’ need, taught by three leading experts. No one teaches pruning better than Cass Turnbull who shows you how to tackle those unsightly Rhododendrons. Raintree Nursery owner Sam Benowitz shows the best cuts for your fruit trees to improve productivity, and rose expert Paul Zimmerman will demystify the art of pruning roses.
Robin Haglund
“Sustainability” is huge these days, but what does it mean for gardeners? On Sunday, ‘Gardening 101: Simple Sustainability’ will covers simple things that every homeowner can do to tackle gardening problems, such as weeds and pests, and still be kind to the Earth. This is not rocket science! Christina Pfeiffer will save you time and money and show you how to make the most of your mulch. Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, whose opinions are rooted in sound science, will share natural pesticides, helping you avoid chemical pollution. And Robin Haglund will talk about some beautiful plants that enrich the garden for our vital pollinators.
To view the entire seminar schedule, just click on the button below. All our seminars are FREE with your ticket, so you can sit through hours of great education and entertainment for the low cost of only $16 for an Early Bird ticket. ~ Janet
Our 2013 Garden Show Grand Prize!
UPDATE: Our 2013 Grand Prize was won by Colin Leung, of Honolulu, Hawaii. Colin loves to come to the garden show, and he’s bringing his Mom with him. Congratulations to Colin and thanks to all who entered.
The Northwest Flower & Garden Show announces its 2013 Grand Prize. You could be the lucky winner of a chance to receive our garden-lover’s dream prize:
- Two night’s lodging at the beautiful Seattle Sheraton Hotel
- Four tickets to the 25th anniversary garden show
- Free parking at the Washington State Convention Center
- $50 gift card to Cheesecake Factory
- $10 Tully’s gift card
- $250 CASH to spend at the show!
Here’s how to enter: Simply follow the show on our Facebook and Pinterest pages page, and watch for the ticket giveaways days. All you have to do is comment on the Ticket Giveaway posts on our Facebook page, or enter our ‘Pin It to Win It’ contest on Pinterest. Each week’s contest winners are automatically entered in the Grand Prize drawing. That’s it!
At the close of the giveaway day one winner will be chosen and they will receive two tickets to the garden show. They will also become a finalist for our Grand Prize.
We will choose the Grand Prize Winner from all of the ticket giveaway finalists on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 and will notify the winner by Facebook post and email.
We start giving away tickets today, and there will be about 2 or more giveaway days each week. There will only be about 30 winners, and if you’re one of them, the odds of winning our Grand Prize are very good!
Follow us on Pinterest too, and our “Pin It to Win It” contest. And we’ll let you know when we’re giving away tickets on our Twitter page too. Just follow our #nwfgs hashtag.
And if you’re looking to give garden show tickets to that favorite gardener on your holiday shopping list, just go to our Facebook page for a quick link to our tickets. ~ Janet
THE FINE PRINT
- Only one winner will be named. Winner is responsible for responding to O’Loughlin Trade Shows notification and providing date for lodging.
- If winner is unable to accept prize and attend the show, the prize in not transferrable. Another winner will be chosen by from the Finalists in our ticket giveaways.
- No cash value will be substituted for any part of the prize.
- Transportation to the show by any method is not included.
- Prize drawing will be held on January 30, 2013. Winner will be notified by Facebook message.
- Garden Show Tickets will be mailed to winner in advance of the show. Gift cards, parking passes and cash prize of $250 for garden show shopping spree must be picked up at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show Office (Room 401) during show hours: Wednesday, February 20 through Saturday, February 23, 9:00 am – 8:00 pm; or on Sunday, February 24, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
- Lodging includes two nights at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel, including hotel taxes and fees, between Tuesday, February 19 and Sunday, February 24, 2013. Any additional charges for hotel parking, meals, room service, mini-bar, telephone, spa and WiFi or other services and amenities not included.
- Winner is responsible for final bill at checkout, exclusive of room charge and applicable taxes for two (2) nights’ lodging. Hotel will require Winner’s credit card on check-in.
- The garden show reserves the right to use Winner’s name in promotional efforts on social media.
- For more information contact info@gardenshow.com.
- Employees of O’Loughlin Trade Shows are not eligible to enter.
Authors take the Stage at 2013 Garden Show
In this day and age when virtually anything can be read online, gardeners still love to curl up with a good gardening book, dreaming about the potential and possibilities of their garden. Fortunately the worry about the demise of the gardening book publishing industry is premature, judging by the many outstanding new releases coming in the next few months.
And garden writers think the Northwest Flower & Garden Show is a great stop for a book tour!
Amy Stewart
The hugely popular and wonderfully opinionated New York Times best-selling author Amy Stewart, who was last here in 2005, is back at the show, bringing with her tales of her latest book, The Drunken Botanist, as she talks about the plants around the world used to make alcoholic beverages – plus she’s doing two DIY Stage demonstrations and mixing up her favorite concoctions.
Sharon Lovejoy
Illustrator and prolific writer Sharon Lovejoy, author of ten books, including Trowel & Error and Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots, has a new children’s book coming out, My First Bird Book, which will make the perfect gift for children and grandchildren – the book turns into a birdfeeder! She will be showing you how to use your garden as a canvas to create a collage of flora and fauna, and also how to live in harmony with all of nature’s wonderful inhabitants
Tovah Martin
Tovah Martin will also be speaking at the show for the first time. Her latest book, The Unexpected Houseplant, was just published by Timber Press in August. She is also the author of over a dozen books, including The New Terrarium and Tasha Tudor’s Garden. If you’d like some inspiration for your ho-hum indoor plants, or perhaps a jazzy new terrarium garden, look for Tovah’s seminars on the weekend.
Amanda Thomsen
If you’re a fan of the gardening blog with attitude, ‘Kiss my Aster’, you won’t want to miss Amanda Thomsen’s two seminars. Her cleverly illustrated book is perfect for beginning gardeners and even experienced gardeners will love the fresh take on gardening do’s and don’ts. Amanda believes in throwing out the “rules” and she just nails the gardening persona.
Andrew Keys
Likewise designer Andrew Keys is out to save you from yourself and help you make the most of your garden — without the heartache of planting the wrong plants. His two seminars are based on his new book, Why Grow That When You Can Grow This? – a question so many of us don’t ask before we plant, much to our lasting regret.
These are just a few of the speakers you will want to see. Join us and experience everything gardening, February 20 – 24, 2013 in Seattle.
To check out the complete 2013 Seminar Schedule just click on the button below. Seminars are listed by day, but you can also peruse the entire list of 90 speakers on the Speakers at a Glance page. ~ Janet
Garden Show Tickets Now on Sale
Tickets are now available ONLINE at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show’s website for their 25th annual gardening extravaganza, to be held February 20 – 24, 2013 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle.
Enthusiastic show attendees have long flocked to take advantage of the discounted Early Bird Tickets – only $16, a savings of $4 over the door price during the show’s 5-day run. The Early Bird tickets must be purchased before February 19th. You can even purchase tickets from your smartphone!
Crowds marvel at the gorgeous gardens, packed with ideas and inspiration.
Ticket prices for the garden show have not changed since O’Loughlin Trade Shows began producing the show. As the 2nd largest garden show in the U.S., with 22 breathtaking show gardens, 90 speakers, 350 garden-related Marketplace exhibitors, musical entertainment and a Wine Garden, it’s the must-see gardening event of the year. Hear what Living Homegrown’s Theresa Loe says about the show.
The garden show is a wonderful family event and children 12 and under are still FREE when accompanied by an adult. Ages 13 – 17 Youth tickets are only $5. With the lively entertainment on our Sprout Stage in the PlayGarden and a Treasure Hunt, the garden show is a great way to help children discover the wonders of nature.
Bring the entire family to the show – children 12 and under are FREE!
For those who want to spend hours and hours sitting through over 100 free seminars, you can’t beat the 5-Day Pass for only $65. That’s 53 hours of entertainment, the best value in gardening education around. Or try the 2-Day Pass for only $29, and add a luxurious night in a downtown Seattle hotel. If you book through the garden show’s website you’re guaranteed a good rate.
Find plants, tools, garden books, garden ornaments, botanical art, valuable services and more in our extensive Marketplace.
Tickets will be delivered to our nursery retail outlets right after Thanksgiving. The NWFGS staff personally delivers all the tickets and posters throughout Puget Sound. The list of ticket outlets will be posted online after December 1st. They make a wonderful holiday gift for people who love to garden!
To see all the ticket prices, just go to our user-friendly ticket page. Only 109 days until the show, when spring arrives at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show. ~ Janet
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