Home and garden calendar

EVENTS

Rain gardens: The city of Everett is sponsoring a free rain garden walking tour featuring seven rain gardens in Everett’s Northwest Neighborhood from 10 to 11:30 a.m. March 10. Meet at Whittier Elementary School Library, 916 Oakes Ave., Everett. For more information or to register call the WSU Extension, 425-357-6010, or email MG.Help@wsu.edu.

Whidbey Gardening workshop: Island County Master Gardeners host their annual workshop from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 10 at Oak Harbor High School, 950 NW Second Ave. Choose from 30 classes, meet gardening vendors and see educational displays. Seattle author and gardener Lorene Forkner is the keynote speaker. The cost is $35. Call 360-678-7837 to register.

Alpine flowers: The Komo Kulshan Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society March 15 meeting features a slide show by Dalen Bayes of alpine flowers from Sichuan, China. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Burlington Community Center, 1011 Greenleaf St., Burlington. Contact Carol Torset, 360-856-2410, or go to www.flounder.ca/komokulshan/index.asp for more information.

Spring planting and gardening worskhop: Learn about growing herbs in small places or in containers from 10 a.m. to noon March 17 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 913 Second St., Snohomish. Cathy Reed, WSU master gardener and herbalist at Molbak’s nursery, demonstrates how to choose a good site, what soils and mediums to use, what herbs to grow and what thrives in small spaces. A $2 donation is suggested. Call Kati Anderson to reserves a space at 360-691-9673.

“Snags: Wildlife Trees”: Chris Anderson, biologist with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, discusses how trees can create wildlife habitats, and dealing with hazardous trees at 7 p.m. March 21 at the Camano Multipurpose Center, 141 East Camano Drive. Go to www.camanowildlifehabitat.org, call 360-387-2236, or e-mail camanowildlifehabitat@gmail.com.

Pruning: Plant Amnesty’s Cass Turnbull covers “How to Prune and Renovate the Overgrown Garden” from noon to 2:30 p.m. March 27 at the Camano Center. Tickets for are $5 for center members and $7 for nonmembers. Call 360-387-0222 for more information or to order tickets by phone. Pam Bradley Camano Center, pbradley@camanocenter.org, 606 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island.

SERIES

Home design and organization: Designer Kelly DuByne of Distinctive Interior Designs and Monika Kristofferson from Efficient Organization offer classes in home decor and organization through Everett Parks and Recreation, Marysville Parks and Recreation, Lake Stevens School District, Call 425-238-3678 or go to www.distinctiveinteriordesigns.net for more information. Costs range from $20 to $30. Upcoming classes are:

March 10: Free Ask a Designer color consultations on second Saturdays in March, April and May at Miller Paint,18021 Alderwood Mall Parkway, Ste. 103., Lynnwood. Register at 425-248-4950.

March 13: Office Efficiency for Busy Business People, 6 to 7:30 p.m., VanValey House, Everett.

March 15: If These Walls Could Talk, decor tips for walls and windows, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Marysville Library.

March 22: Declutter, Organize and Park in Your Garage Again, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Marysville Library.

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. 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 with questions.

March 16: “Adding the Spring Layer to Your Garden” with Bob Lilly, a Wells Medina Nursery veteran and co-author of “Perennials: A Gardeners Reference.”

March 30: “Travels of a Young Gardener” with Riz Reyes, Seattle P-I.com blogger and owner of RHR Horticulture and Landwave Gardens.

April 13: “Designing the Landscape with Low Maintenance in Mind” with Polly Hankin, landscape architect.

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.

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

April 21: “Plant Propagation” with master gardener Frankie Dennison.

May 12: “Mother’s Day Baskets” with arboretum volunteer Dee Drake. Cost is $30 per person, cash or check.

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.mcauliffesvalleynursery.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.

PLANT CLINICS

Got a gardening question? Consult a local master gardener at a public plant clinic. If you have a plant with a problem or disease, bring in a fresh plant sample that, if possible, includes the diseased area, a transition area and a healthy area. Photos are also helpful. You can call the master gardener hot line from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. October through March at 425-357-6010 or visit the WSU Snohomish County Extension offices during the same hours at 600 128th St. SE, Everett.

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