Yes, it’s winter, but it’s time to think about the garden

Richie Steffen wants you to know why he thinks one plant — ferns — too often end up becoming a gardening afterthought.

“It’s kind of like a lot of people think of them as background plants — like the foil for other flashier plants,” said Steffen, executive director of the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden in Shoreline.

But there’s a lot of variation in this group of plants, he said, including great native plants as well as a lot of other ferns from around the world that are hardy and can thrive here.

Steffen will get a chance to share his love for ferns as the lead speaker in the Snohomish County Master Gardener’s Winter Speaker Series.

The annual series of talks on sustainable gardening kicks off Jan. 10 and continues through April 3. Topics include how to attract wildlife to back yards and tips for good garden design. They presentations are meant for gardeners of all skill levels.

Steffen’s talk, “The Gentle Madness of Ferns” on Jan. 10, will include photos of native ferns and how to identify them, as well as some interesting facts. Did you know that some ferns are sun tolerant?

One of the most widely available and toughest ferns is the autumn fern, which can grow to nearly 2 feet in height. Its new growth comes out in orange-red tones and does well in the sun or shade, he said.

Those looking for even more information on ferns may find it at the Great Plant Picks website, provided by the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden.

“They can find ferns for sun, shade or dry shade,” he said.

Tobey Nelson’s “Pots with Pizazz” talk on Feb. 7 will focus on container gardening.

Nelson, who has a bachelor’s degree in landscape horticulture from Michigan State University, will discuss all facets of container gardening, including selecting the right container, soil and plants.

Keeping plants healthy in containers can take some finessing of technique. Pots don’t have the soil moisture reserve found in traditional gardening, Nelson said. “They’ll dry out faster because the whole pot gets hot,” he said. There’s no surrounding soil from which the plant can draw water.

On Feb. 28, Monica Van der Vieren will discuss what you can do to attract wildlife — such as bees, butterflies and songbirds — with back yard plants in her presentation “Plant It and They Will Come: Wildlife in a (Mostly) Native Landscape.”

“It’s a great way for people to connect with nature and feel like they’re giving something back,” she said.

But you do have to take care in how you go about it. For example, a lot of gardeners plant butterfly bushes with the hope of providing a good environment for the winged creatures.

“Basically, it’s a sink, unless you put out appropriate host plants,” said Van der Vieren, who has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Different species of butterflies use different host plants to lay their eggs on. Some use willow or birch trees, she said.

Proceeds from the series benefit the Snohomish County Master Gardener Foundation, which, among other activities, supports local 4-H groups and tends to gardens to provide fresh produce for local food banks.

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

If you go

All presentations in the Snohomish County Master Gardener’s Sustainable Gardening Winter Speaker Series are held 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays from Jan. 10 through April 3 at the Mukilteo Presbyterian Church, 4515 84th St. SW, Mukilteo. Tickets are $20 per session at the door or $85 for the series. More at www.gardenlectures.com.

Sustainable Gardening Winter Speaker Series

The following is the list of dates, speakers and lectures.

Jan. 10: “The Gentle Madness of Ferns,” by Richie Steffen, executive director of the Elisabeth C. Miller Garden in Shoreline.

Jan. 24: “Stunning Maples for Your Garden,” by Barry Hoffer, expert on Japanese maples.

Feb. 7: “Pots with Pizazz,” by Tobey Nelson, garden designer.

Feb. 14: “Renovation and Renewal of an Aging Garden,” by Bess Bronstein, former horticulture instructor at Edmonds Community College.

Feb. 28: “Plant It and They Will Come: Wildlife in a (Mostly) Native Landscape,” by Monica Van der Vieren, native plant steward.

March 13: “Clematis — Selection and Design with the Queen of Vines,” by Marilyn Glenn, clematis expert.

March 20: “Forgotten Elements of Good Design,” by Dan Hinkley, plant consultant, writer and speaker.

April 3: “Plants and Fungi: A Match Made in Heaven,” by Jairul Rahaman, past president of Snohomish County Mycological Society.