Home & Garden calendar

Events

Great Backyard Bird Count: Workshop 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 7 at Edmonds Wildlife Habitat Native Plant Demonstration Garden. Pilchuck Audubon member and birdwatcher Dr. Alan Mearns will provide training to help interested bird lovers prepare for and participate in the National Great Backyard Bird Count to be held Feb. 13, 14, 15 and 16. Training is free and all levels of experience are welcome. Bring binoculars to practice identifying local backyard birds. The training will be at the Demo Garden at the Edmonds Willow Creek Hatchery, northwest corner of Pine Street and Edmonds Way. For more information contact garden@pilchuck audubon.org or call 425-771-8165.

Edible plant sale: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 14, Pacific Market Center Parking Garage, 6100 4th Ave., Seattle. Choose from a delectable array of organically, sustainably and locally grown cool season veggie, herb, flower and fruit plants and get your dream garden growing. Early Bird tickets get first pick of the plants or volunteer and get in for free. May Edible Plant Sale is May 2 and 3, with tomato varieties and other warm season crops like peppers, squash and corn. For more: www.seattletilth.org.

Plea for plants: The Carmelite Institute in Stanwood is having its first Plant Sale on May 2 to benefit the Meditation Gardens. To donate garden plants or garden art, contact Pam Barden 360-941-4303 or email swbarden@netzero.com. The club will supply pots and will pick up donations.

Pruning and tool sharpening: Session by Brian Pierce for Monroe Garden Club, 12:30 p.m. Feb. 9, Monroe United Methodist Church, 342 S. Lewis St. Donations for the Sky Valley Food Bank accepted. The public is invited. Call 360-863-6160 for more information.

Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife: Workshop 1 to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 14, Sky Nursery 18528 Aurora Ave. N. Shoreline. David Mizejewski of the National Wildlife Federation will share his love for all wildlife (especially the oddities) and his tips on creating the very best wildlife-friendly garden or landscape. No tickets required, but seating may be limited. For more information, call 206-546-4851 or go to www.skynursery.com.

Northwest Flower &Garden Show: Display gardens, seminars and more than 300 exhibitors, Feb. 11 through 15, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 11 through 14 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 15. Tickets are $22. Early Bird tickets by Feb. 10 are $17. A two-day pass is $31 and a five-day pass is $70. For more: www.gardenshow.com. Need a ride? Christianson’s Nursery in Mount Vernon has “Flower Buses” that leave the nursery at 8:30 a.m. and return about 6 p.m. on Feb. 11, 12 and 13. The cost of a combination show ticket and bus ride is $52. Call the nursery at 360-466-3821 for reservations or go to www.christiansonsnursery.com.

Snohomish Conservation District Plant Sale: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 28, Commercial Building No. 400, Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe. Pre-orders now through Feb. 9. For more: www.theplantsale.org.

Evergreen Arboretum Foundation 2015 speaker series: Monthly lectures noon to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the arboretum, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett. “Start Annual Flowers and Vegetables from Seed,” Feb. 21, with speaker Andy Sudkamp. Learn tips and tricks to ensure successful seed starting. Growing your own will save you money and give you a wider variety of choices than found in stores. Generally limited to 25 participants. RSVP at www.evergreenarboretum.com; call 425-257-8597; or email contact us@evergreenarboretum.com.

Classes

Evergreen Arboretum &Gardens 2015 monthly classes: Noon to 1 p.m., 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett. Generally limited to 25 participants. RSVP at www.evergreenarboretum.com; call 425-257-8597; or email: contactus@evergreenarboretum.com.Prune Almost Everything, March 21: Emile Van den Akker, Owner, Van den Akker Landscaping A hands-on pruning class. Learn how to prune almost anything.

Snohomish County Master Gardener Foundation Annual Winter Lecture Series for 2015: Northwest garden experts and personalities in eight sessions on alternate Friday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. through April 10, Social Hall of the Mukilteo Presbyterian Church, 4515 84th St. SW, Mukilteo. Learn new information and talk shop with like-minded gardeners. Speakers will have books for sale and signing. Some will bring plants. Feb. 6, Polly Hankin: Hardscaping From the Ground Up. Feb. 20, Kelly Dodson and Sue Milliken: Expanding Botanical Horizons, Plants You Won’t Find at The Big Box Stores. March 6, Ciscoe Morris: A Visual Tour of Ciscoe’s Garden. Season tickets for all eight sessions are $85 or individual lectures are $20. For more: www.gardenlectures.com.

Learn to Grow Your Own Groceries:10-class series continuing through March, WSU Snohomish County Extension’s Cougar Auditorium and Evergreen Room, 600 128th St. SE, Everett, inside McCollum Park. Cost: $25 per class; five classes for $100. These classes meet 7 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 18: Small Fruits, Big Harvests. These classes meet 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Feb. 28: Early Start = Early Harvest. Register online at GrowingGroceries.BrownPaperTickets.com. For more: information: snohomish.wsu.edu/growing-groceries.

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.

Falling Water Gardens: Free classes in creating and caring for a pond, 17516 Highway 203, Monroe; 360-863-1400, www.fallingwatergardens.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.

Li’l Sprout Nursery: 17414 Bothell-Everett Highway, Mill Creek; 425-482-5276; www.lilsproutnursery.com.

Pine Creek Nursery: 23225 Sofie Road, Monroe; 360-863-8866; www.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. Classes are free.

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

To submit an item for the Home &Garden calendar, e-mail features@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Haley Reinhart at the Hotel Cafe
Haley Reinhart, Coheed & Cambria, Bert Kreischer and more

Music and arts coming to Snohomish County

A truck passes by the shoe tree along Machias Road on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Murder on Machias Road? Not quite.

The Shoe Tree may look rough, but this oddball icon still has plenty of sole.

The 140 seat Merc Playhouse, once home of the Twisp Mercantile, hosts theater, music, lectures and other productions throughout the year in Twisp. (Sue Misao)
Twisp with a twist: Road-tripping to the Methow Valley

Welcome to Twisp, the mountain town that puts “fun, funky and friendly” on the map.

Sally Mullanix reads "Long Island" by Colm Tobin during Silent Book Club Everett gathering at Brooklyn Bros on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A different happy hour: pizza, books and introverts

A different happy hour: pizza, books and introverts

View of Liberty Bell Mountain from Washington Pass overlook where the North Cascades Highway descends into the Methow Valley. (Sue Misao)
Take the North Cascades Scenic Highway and do the Cascade Loop

This two-day road trip offers mountain, valley and orchard views of Western and Eastern Washington.

Scarlett Underland, 9, puts her chicken Spotty back into its cage during load-in day at the Evergreen State Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Evergreen State Fair ready for 116th year of “magic” in Monroe

The fair will honor Snohomish County’s farming history and promises to provide 11 days of entertainment and fun.

Inside El Sid, where the cocktail bar will also serve as a coffee house during the day on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New upscale bar El Sid opens in APEX complex

Upscale bar is latest venue to open in APEX Everett.

Counting Crows come to Chateau Ste. Michelle on August 17. (Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com)
Counting Crows, Beach Boys, Chicago

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Annzolee Olsen with her chair, from Houseboat, and card table from a Robert Redford movie on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Hollywood’s hottest giveaway is at The Herald on Thursday

From TV hunks to silver screen queens, snag your favorites for free at the pop-up.

The orca Tahlequah and her new calf, designated J57. (Katie Jones / Center for Whale Research) 20200905
Whidbey Island local Florian Graner showcases new orca film

The award-winning wildlife filmmaker will host a Q&A session at Clyde Theater on Saturday.

Snohomish County Dahlia Society members Doug Symonds and Alysia Obina on Monday, March 3, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How to grow for show: 10 tips for prize-winning dahlias

Snohomish County Dahlia Society members share how they tend to their gardens for the best blooms.

Two visitors comb the beach at Kayak Point Regional County Park on Friday, June 14, 2024, in Tulalip, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
WSU Beach Watchers program to host public events

Participate in International Coastal Cleanup Day or learn about the salmon life cycle.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.