Sorticulture: Get inspired at Everett’s garden arts festival

With its music, fun and (most likely) sun, Sorticulture, Everett’s three-day garden arts festival, is set for June 8-10.

Start making your plans for the event, which last year drew a record-breaking 18,000 people to Legion Memorial Park in north Everett — a jump of 20 percent over the previous year.

Now in its 21st year, the event’s name came from the mix of activities it offers — “sorta art and sorta horticulture,” said Lisa Newland, the city of Everett’s cultural arts coordinator.

The hope is that people come and make it a weekend-long event and “to show people how beautiful Everett is,” she said.

About half of those who attended Sorticulture last year were from outside Snohomish County.

“We had people from West Seattle and the east side who had never been to Everett,” Newland said.

This year’s show will feature 140 vendors, including specialty nurseries and artisans who may create granite benches, trellises or custom fire pit tables for customers.

The display garden will be created by Pam Roy of Planscapes in Everett. She has designed a display garden at the event every year since 2006.

“I like to just feature something new and interesting that people could learn from every year,” Roy said.

She tries to feature some of the creations by the show’s garden artisans so that people can see how they might use art in their own landscapes.

Roy said she always tries to incorporate “some fun water feature” into her designs.

Those coming to Sorticulture should expect just to have fun, she said. It’s an opportunity for people to get inspired about what they could create in their own yard.

Some 20 speciality nurseries from throughout the Puget Sound region are expected to participate, providing lots of new plants to try out.

There will be three days of live music with local and regional musicians playing bluegrass, alternative folk and country.

On June 9, there will be strolling musicians, The Tarantellas, whose repertoire of 100 songs include “That’s Amore” and “Mona Lisa.”

Also June 9, Ciscoe Morris, KIRO-FM’s gardening expert, is scheduled to speak on the main stage at 2 p.m. on “Show and Tell — Great Plants,” followed by a question and answer session.

The event isn’t just for adults. Kids’ activities will include face painting, flower pot painting and a scavenger hunt.

The Everett Animal Shelter will have dogs and cats on site for adoption.

Housing Hope volunteers will operate a package hold and pick up service. When people buy big plants, artwork or glass creations, they can leave it with Housing Hope volunteers, take a shuttle back to their car, then drive back to the park to pick it up.

Buyers are given a green flier allowing them quick access to pick up their purchases.

Donations for the service go to the Everett nonprofit, which provides emergency, transitional and affordable housing, among other services, in Snohomish County.

If you go, do know one thing: The most experienced Sorticulture shoppers take the day off, often are armed with a wagon to help transport their finds, and, well, let’s say bend the rules a bit on when the event opens.

“It doesn’t open until 10 a.m.” Newland said. “But there’s no way to keep people out. It’s a park.”

She said she often tells vendors: “If you want to make a sale, be there by 8:30.”

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or ssalyer@heraldnet.com.

If you go

This year’s Sorticulture Garden Arts Festival is June 8-10 at Legion Memorial Park, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett.

Hours are: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 9, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 9. Admission is free.

Catch the free Everett Transit shuttle near Everett Community College’s fitness center at 2206 Tower St. ADA parking in the park.

Things to do

For kids: Flower pot painting, face painting, sandbox play and a kid’s scavenger hunt — all free activities provided by Everett Parks and Community Services.

For adults: Informational resources from local groups including Master Gardeners, Northwest Perennial Alliance, Snohomish County Noxious Weed Control Board and QuilCeda Carvers. Presentation by gardening expert Ciscoe Morris at 2 p.m. June 9. Wine garden; live music with local and regional musicians, including a performance by local blues artist Mark DuFresne at 5:45 p.m. June 8.

Washington North Coast Magazine

This article is featured in the summer issue of Washington North Coast Magazine, a supplement of The Daily Herald. Explore Snohomish and Island counties with each quarterly magazine. Each issue is $3.99. Subscribe to receive all four editions for $14 per year. Call 425-339-3200 or go to www.washingtonnorthcoast.com for more information.