Events
Celebrate the Reds 2008: Noon-4 p.m. Oct. 11. Includes gardening seminar by Ciscoe Morris (2 p.m.), cooking demos, chocolate sampling, and wine tasting (fundraiser for Arboretum Foundation). Admission: Free. Wells Medina Nursery, 8300 N.E. 24th St., Medina. 425-454-1853 or www.wellsmedinanursery.com.
Tacoma Fall Home & Garden Show: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 11; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 12. Cost: $6-$8; free for children 12 and younger. Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. D St., Tacoma. www.otshows.com.
45th annual Wild Mushroom Show: Noon-7 p.m. Oct. 11; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 12. Features mushroom displays, cooking and tasting demonstrations, experts on hand to ID mushrooms, lectures and more. Presented by Puget Sound Mycological Society. Cost: $5-$7; free for ages 11 and younger. UW Botanical Gardens Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st, Seattle.
Lake Meridian Garden Club 51st Holiday Luncheon: Noon Oct. 18. Guest speaker: Dianne Green. Cost: $15 donation; advance tickets required. Zion Lutheran Church, 25105 132nd Ave. S.E., Kent. 253-631-3372.
Green Elephant Plant Swap: 10 a.m.-noon Nov. 1. Rain or shine. Come exchange and share plants, seeds, ideas and enthusiasm with others. No sales; just trades or freebies. Abundant plants available for new gardeners. Church of the Holy Cross, 11526 162nd Ave. N.E., Redmond. 425-223-7249.
“Holiday Memories” Garden Show: 6:30-9 p.m. Nov. 7; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 8. Features horticulture exhibits, floral designs, art and craft displays, vendors and more. Presented by Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs. Admission: $7. Holiday Inn, 1 Grady Way, Renton. 425-255-6125.
Gardens
Bellevue Botanical Gardens: Garden includes 36 acres of perennial borders, Japanese, Waterwise, ground cover and alpine rock gardens and trails through native woodland and wetland areas. Free tours, 2 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through October. Hours: Dawn-dusk daily. Visitors’ center hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: Free. 12001 Main St., Bellevue. 425-451-3755 or www.bellevuebotanical.org.
WaterWise Demonstration Garden: Self-guided tours showcase plants and gardening methods that conserve water. Plant list available at garden or from Web site. Guided tours available for groups of 12 or more with advance registration. Hours: Dawn-dusk daily. Covington Water District, 18631 S.E. 300th Place, Covington. 253-631-0565, ext. 170, or www.covingtonwater.com.
Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection: Free guided tours at noon Sundays. Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Wednesday. Admission: $2.50-$3.50. Rhododendron Species Garden, Weyerhaeuser Corporate Headquarters, 33663 Weyerhaeuser Way S., Federal Way. 253-661-9377 or www.rhodygarden.org.
Rhododendron Park: Five-acre park features more than 500 varieties of rhododendron and azalea plants. 6910 N.E. 170 St., Kenmore. 206-296-2973.
Lake Wilderness Arboretum: Events: 10 a.m. the third Saturday of the month, docent tours; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, summer plant sales. Forty-acre arboretum features trails for walking, jogging and bicycling, and the Smith-Mossman Garden’s collection of western azaleas. 22520 S.E. 248th St., Maple Valley. 425-413-2572 or www.lakewildernessarboretum.org.
Classes
King County Master Gardener Foundation Talks: 10:30 a.m. Oct. 11, “Dahlias”; Oct. 18, “Easy Bonsai for the House.” Cost: Free. Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, 15500 S.E. 16th St., Bellevue.
“Flowering Bulb Planting”: 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. Oct. 11. Hands-on workshop for ages 5-10 with a parent. Cost: $5; registration required. Molbak’s, 13625 N.E. 175th St., Woodinville. 425-398-5151 or www.molbaks.com.
Squak Mountain Greenhouses and Nursery: 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, including: Oct. 11, “Winter Designs”; Oct. 18, “To Bed for Winter”; Nov. 1, “Early Holiday Preview”; Nov. 15, “Holiday Herb Wreath”; Nov. 22, “Holiday Decorating.” Free seminars. Squak Mountain Greenhouses and Nursery, 7600 Renton-Issaquah Road S.E., Issaquah. 425-392-1025 or www.squakmtnursery.com.
“Putting the Garden to Bed”: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 14. Learn inexpensive ways to replenish soil. Cost: Free; registration required. Pickering Barn Garden, 1730 10th Ave. N.W., Issaquah. 206-633-5045, ext. 2, or www.seattletilth.org.
Wreath-making workshop: 9 a.m.-noon Oct. 18. Learn how to create a fall or holiday wreath. Cost: Free for members; $15 for non-members. Materials: $30. Advance registration required. Lake Wilderness Arboretum Nursery, 22520 S.E. 248th St., Maple Valley. www.lakewildernessarboretum.org.
Volunteers
Bellevue Botanical Garden: Adult volunteers are needed to care for the Waterwise Garden at the Bellevue Botanical Garden. Volunteer days are 1-3 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month. No experience necessary. For details, call Bellevue Utilities at 425-452-4127. Year-round volunteer opportunities include horticultural assistants, special event staff, boards and committees, plant photography and documentation. 12001 Main St., Bellevue. 425-451-3755 or bbgsoffice@bellevuebotanical.org.
Lake Wilderness Arboretum Volunteer Days: 9 a.m.-noon Wednesdays-Thursdays and the first Saturday of the month. Volunteers welcome to come learn new gardening skills and meet friends while helping to maintain the arboretum’s collections. 22520 S.E. 248th St., Maple Valley. 425-413-2572 or www.LakeWildernessArboretum.org.
Garden Clubs
Auburn Garden Club: 1 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month. Speaker: Oct. 14, Auburn Environmental Protection Manager Kelly McLain-Aardal. Cost: $1 donation. Auburn Senior Activity Center, 808 Ninth St. S.E. 253-874-5841 or 253-839-6023.
Chinook District of Garden Clubs: 10 a.m. Nov. 5. Luncheon meeting features “Home for the Holidays” designs by members, and “Gardens of Provence” program with guest speaker Rebecca Rickabaugh. Grace Lutheran Church, 22975 24th Ave. S., Des Moines. 425-255-6236.
Eastside Fuchsia Society: 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month. Evergreen Court Retirement Center, 900 124th Ave. N.E., Bellevue. 425-885-2107.
Evergreen Chrysanthemum Association: 7 p.m. the second Thursday of the month. Seattle Police Athletic Association Office, 11030 E. Marginal Way S., Tukwila. 253-852-8796.
Greater Federal Way Orchid Society: 7 p.m. the third Thursday of the month, except July, August and December. Anyone interested in learning about growing orchids is welcome. Bring an orchid to show or come with a question. Annual dues: $10. Kloshe Illahee Lodge, 2500 S. 370th St., Federal Way. 253-946-2300.
Green Thumb Garden Club: 7 p.m. the first Friday of the month. St. John the Baptist Church, 25810 156th Ave. S.E., Covington. 253-630-7674.
Lake Forest Park Garden Club: 9:30 a.m.-noon Oct. 14. Guests and new members welcome. Friends of Third Place Commons, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Bothell. 206-366-3302.
Lake Meridian Garden Club: The first Thursday of each month. Call for details and location. 253-631-7107.
Looking for a Garden Club: Garden clubs in the East Lake Washington District welcome new members. For nearby clubs, call the membership chairman: 425-822-7275 and leave a message.
O’Brien Garden Club: 11 a.m. the third Friday of the month. No meetings June-August. Club is a member of the National Council of State Garden Clubs. Fairwood Library, 17009 140th Ave. S.E., Renton. 425-255-6236.
Puget Sound Bonsai Association: 7 p.m. Oct. 27. Visitors welcome. University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St., Seattle. www.psba.us.
Puyallup Rose Society: 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month. Learn to prune, plant and grow roses. Dues: $10 per year. Washington State University extension, Allmendinger Hall, 7612 Pioneer Way E., Puyallup. puyalluprose@comcast.net.
Sunset View Garden Club: 10 a.m. the third Thursday of the month. Group is a member of the Washington State Garden Clubs. Golden Pines Retirement Home, 2901 10th Ave. N.E., Renton. 425-255-0859 or 425-255-8195.
Terra Tillers Garden Club: 7 p.m. the first Monday of the month through June. Group meets in members’ homes. Call for details, location. 425-885-4889.
Totem Lake Garden Club: 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month. Visitors welcome. Fire Station No. 26, 9930 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland. 425-822-7275.