In brief
Arlington garden party: The Arlington Garden Club is celebrating its 70th birthday with a garden party Saturday at 28802 Highway 9 NE, Arlington. Garden party tickets are $5.
The club will be judging the entries in the annual container contest at Saturday’s event. In addition to small, large and hanging containers, a prize will also be awarded in the wacky category. The wacky category consists of any planted container that was not originally intended to hold plants.
One prize of $50 will be given in each category. A special prize will be awarded to the “People’s Choice” winner, which covers all categories.
Containers must be brought in for judging from noon to 6 p.m. Friday.
For details about the party or the container contest, call 360-403-7769.
Parade of Ponds: The fifth annual Parade of Ponds, a tour of home gardens with water features around the Puget Sound area, is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The tour boasts more than 100 water features. View ponds, waterfall and streams. Learn about aquatic plants and fish.
Tickets are $15 at Russell Watergardens, 24808 Redmond-Fall City Road, Redmond.
Proceeds benefit uncompensated care at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center.
For tickets or information, call 800-844-9314 or visit www.russellwatergardens.com.
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.
Ugly couch contest: Sure Fit Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of ready-made slipcovers, announces the 10th anniversary of its annual “Ugly Couch Contest.”
Contestants are invited to submit a photo of their ugly couch to potentially win $5,000, plus their choice of 10 Sure Fit products from its complete decorating line.
Entries will be accepted through Aug. 6. Ten semi-finalists will be chosen and their couches posted online for the public to vote on from Aug. 12 through 25.
The three finalists will receive an all expense paid trip to New York City to appear on “Live with Regis &Kelly” in Sept., where the studio audience will vote for the grand-prize winner.
For official rules, visit www.surefit.com.
Meerkerk Medley: The fourth annual Meerkerk Medley fundraising dinner is from 5 to 9 p.m. July 31.
Guests have the opportunity to dine in private homes followed by gourmet desserts, fine wines and live music by Azul in the Meerkerk Rhododendron Garden in Greenbank on Whidbey Island.
Tickets are $40.
For tickets or reservations, call 360-331-5816.
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.
Got water? Learn some water-saving techniques to get through these hot, hot days with these tips from Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association’s “Water for Life” program.
Remove thatch from the lawn because it restricts penetration of water, air and nutrients.
Proper fertilization is important. Consult a nursery or landscape expert. Do not change turf mowing height.
Eliminate weeds that can compete for moisture and nutrients.
Mulch helps planting beds retain moisture too.
Use an oscillating sprinkler for larger lawn areas. Never water using a hand-held hose.
Water early in the day to avoid loss due to evaporation.
Water slowly for longer periods of time to avoid loss due to run-off.
A simple guide for determining your lawn watering needs is to place five or more flat bottom cans, such as a tuna can, or coffee mugs randomly around your lawn.
Turn on the sprinkler for 15 minutes.
Measure the depth of the water in each can with a ruler to determine the average water depth in the cans.
If it measures 1/8 inch, water for one hour; 1/4 inch, 30 minutes; 2/3 inch, 20 minutes; 1/2 inch, 15 minutes; B\, inch, 12 minutes; 3/4 inch, 10 minutes; 1 inch, 8 minutes; 11/8 inches, 62/3 minutes.
Yard smart women: Briggs &Stratton invites yard smart women to enter its “America’s Most Yard Smart Woman” contest.
Women who care for their yards are invited to participate in the contest. The grand prize winner will be selected based on a 200-word or less essay on why she should be crowned “America’s Most Yard Smart Woman.”
One grand prize-winner will receive a trip to Europe to visit landmark parks and gardens in London or Rome, as well as earn an array of yard care equipment from Briggs &Stratton Corp.
Four runners up will win their choice of a lawn mower, power washer or generator.
Contestants should mail their name, address and phone number, as well as an e-mail address if available, along with the essay to: “Yard Smart Woman Contest,” P.O. Box 8, Germantown, WI 53022.
All entries must be postmarked by Oct. 15.
Entry forms and complete rules can be found at www.yardsmarts.com.
Design awards: 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.
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