Home & Garden calendar

Events

Fruit club: The new Snohomish County fruit club offers a talk on backyard blueberries at the meeting from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 21 at the Blue Ridge Fire Station,18800 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood. The Snohomish club is formally establishing itself as a chapter of Western Cascade Fruit Society. For information, send an email to WesternCascadeFruitResearch@gmail.com or call 360-379-1108. For more about the fruit society see www.wcfs.org.

“Snags: Wildlife Trees”: Chris Anderson, a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Fish &Wildlife will talk about the importance of dead trees for the natural landscape and wildlife at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Camano Mulitpurpose Center. He will also talk about handling hazardous trees on your property. The center is at 141 E. Camano Drive. See www.camano wildlifehabitat.org, call 360-387-2236 or email camanowildlife habitat@gmail.com for information.

2012 Country Living Expo &Cattlemen’s Winterschool: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 28, Stanwood High School, 7400 272nd St. NW. Choose five classes from more than 150 sessions on various topics including backyard chickens, organic gardening and preserving food. Lunch and the all-day trade show with 60 vendors is $60 per person. See skagit.wsu.edu/Country LivingExpo for a full schedule or call 360-428-4270, ext. 240.

The Northwest Flower &Garden Show: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 8 to 11 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 12, Washington State Convention &Trade Center, 800 Convention Place, downtown Seattle; $16 through Feb. 6, $20 at the door. See large display gardens by local designers and landscapers, plus celebrity speakers, educational seminars, floral displays, retail booths and activities for kids. This year’s theme is “A Floral Symphony: Gardens Take Note.” See www.gardenshow.com or call 253-756-2121 or 800-343-6973.

Series

Sustainable gardening lecture series: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. every other Friday through April 13, Mukilteo Presbyterian Church, 4515 84th St. SW, Mukilteo. Tickets to the full eight-lecture series are $85 in advance. A limited number of single-lecture tickets may be available for $20 at the door. See www.gardenlectures.com to buy tickets and see the speaker schedule and biographies. Call 425-357-6010. To buy tickets by mail, send a check made out to SCMGF for $85 per ticket to SCMGF, P.O. Box 3126, Arlington, WA, 98223. Include an email address for a confirmation receipt. For a paper confirmation, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The next lecture is:

• Jan. 20: “Edible Plants, Eat More, Grow More, Gather More, Share More” with Graham Kerr, author and TV personality.

Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens 2012 lectures: Noon to 1 p.m. select Saturdays, at the arboretum, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett, either in the indoor classroom or, when appropriate, outside on the arboretum grounds. All the classes are free except for the $30 Mother’s Day basket class on May 12. Seating is limited. Call 425-257-8597 for reservations. See www.evergreenarboretum.com. for more about the arboretum. Upcoming lectures:

• Jan. 21: “Clematis Pruning and Care” with master gardener Laura Watson.

• Feb. 18: “Sustainable Gardening” with master gardener Martha Clatterbaugh.

• March 17: “Soil Amendments” with master gardener Mary Machala.

COMMUNITY CLASSES

Beekeeping courses: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays Jan. 9 to Feb. 13 or Feb. 27 to March 26, WSU Snohomish County Extension, 600 128th St. SE, Everett; snohomish.wsu.edu; $70. Register with a credit card at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/179866 or www.brown papertickets.com/event/179873. To register by mail, fill out the form at snohomish.wsu.edu/calendar.htm and send with a check, or contact Karie Christensen 425-357-6039 or christensen4@wsu.edu.

The Honorable Farmer: A six-week course covering farming basics, including building healthy soil, permaculture principles, irrigation, pruning, grafting and seed saving. Two-hour sessions on Tuesdays beginning at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at The Open Gate Farm. Classes taught by local farmer, author and speaker Jon Stevens. Fee is $180 and includes all materials. Register now by calling the farm at 360-387-4449. The Open Gate Farm is at 269 Russell Road, Camano Island; theopengatefarm.com.

Nursery classes

These local nurseries feature gardening classes, guest speakers and special events throughout the year, often for no charge. Check their websites or call for details.

Christianson’s Nursery and Greenhouse: 15806 Best Road, Mount Vernon; 360-466-3821; www.christiansonsnursery.com.

McAuliffe’s Valley Nursery: 11910 Springhetti Road, Snohomish; 360-862-1323; www.mcauliffes valleynursery.com.

Molbak’s Garden &Home: 13625 NE 175th St., Woodinville; 425-483-5000; www.molbaks.com.

My Garden: 17414 Bothell-Everett Highway, Mill Creek; 425-402-1842; www.mygardennursery.com.

Pine Creek Nursery: 23225 Sofie Road, Monroe; 360-863-8866; pinecreeknursery.com.

Sky Nursery: 18528 Aurora Ave. N., Shoreline; 206-546-4851; www.skynursery.com.

Sunnyside Nursery: 3915 Sunnyside Blvd., Marysville; 425-334-2002; www.sunnysidenursery.net.

The Plant Farm at Smokey Point: 15022 Twin Lakes Ave., Marysville; 360-652-3351; www.theplantfarm.com.

Wight’s Home &Garden: 5026 196th St. SW, Lynnwood; 425-775-3636; www.wights.com.

Plant sales

Snohomish Conservation District plant sale: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 2 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 3 at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, 14405 179th Ave. SE, Monroe. Preorders will be accepted through Feb. 8. Payments are due by Feb. 22. Find order forms, plant guides and a sale brochure at www.snohomishcd.org/plant-sale. Call 425-335-5634, ext. 108 for more information.