In brief
Volunteers needed: Washington Park Arboretum becomes nature’s classroom through Saplings School Programs, introducing students in kindergarten through eighth grades to plant science and arboretum plant collections. Last school year, more than 4,200 children from throughout the Puget Sound area attended Saplings School Programs. The arboretum is now seeking volunteer guides for the programs for the fall.
Volunteer guides lead educational tours, which are offered 10 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays through Fridays. Guides are asked to commit to lead one program per week for 10 weeks in the fall.
New guides are required to attend one training session from 9 a.m. to noon during the week of Sept. 13 through 17 at the arboretum’s Graham Visitors Center. All levels of experience are welcome.
Registration deadline is Aug. 31.
For information and application forms, call 206-543-8801.
Art and Architecture Tour: Those interested in building, remodeling, landscaping and craftsmanship will enjoy the Art and Architecture Tour in La Conner on Sept. 11 and 12.
Homes featured on this year’s tour range from a La Conner Victorian to a contemporary residence. View one homeowner’s collection of classic cars.
Tickets to the event are $20 or $100 for patrons and may be purchased at The Museum Store, Compass Wines and Karl’s Paints and Art Supplies.
Houseboat tour: The Floating Homes Association is holding its Floating Homes Tour from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 12.
This year’s tour features 11 homes, six on east Lake Union and five on west Lake Union.
Tickets are $25 and include shuttle transportation between the shores of Lake Union.
To purchase, send a check to the Floating Homes Association, 2329 Fairview Ave. E., Seattle, WA 98102, or purchase them at Terry Pettus Park the day of the tour.
Free trees: Ten free white flowering dogwood trees will be give to each person who joins the National Arbor Day Foundation during August.
To receive the free trees, send a $10 membership contribution to Ten Dogwoods, National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410, by Aug. 31, or join online at www.arborday.org.
Historic house tours: The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and Historic Seattle expand monthly public tours of two Seattle historic homes, the Stimson-Green Mansion and the H.H. Dearborn House.
Tours are 1 to 2:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month and 5:30 to 7 p.m. the fourth Mondays of June through August.
Tickets are $10. Registration required.
For information, call 206-622-6952 or visit www.historicseattle.org and www.wa-trust.org.
Northwest Design Awards competition: The Seattle Design Center is seeking entries from Northwest interior designers and architects for the Northwest Design Awards competition.
The Northwest Design Awards recognize professionals whose work has made a significant contribution to the design industry. The competition is open to individual design professionals and firms in the Pacific Northwest. Interior design projects completed since 2001 are eligible.
Projects are judged on the basis of problem solving, creativity, quality of design and beauty of the space.
Designers can enter projects in one or multiple categories.
There is a $35 fee per entry.
Deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Seattle Design Center management office.
For information, visit www.seattledesigncenter.com.
Horticulture classes: The Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st St., Seattle, at the University of Washington presents courses, lectures and tours throughout the summer. Fees vary. To register, call 206-685-8033.
* Explore the Arboretum by canoe, 9:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 21, $40.
* Mosaic garden art workshop, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 28, $70.
* Plant propagation and cuttings, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sept. 8, $35.
* Finding those elusive plants, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 9, $10.
* Summer birding in Union Bay Natural Area, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sept. 18, $25.
* Fall garden care, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 22, $10.
* Raising chickens in the city, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 23, $10.
* Salmon-friendly gardening, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 28, $10.
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