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.

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