Events

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 in advance; $8 at the door. Holiday Inn, 1 Grady Way, Renton. 425-255-6125.

Northwest Orchid Society Annual Fall Show and Sale: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 8; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 9. Features orchids ranging from rare to easy-to-grow varieties, hourly talks and re-potting service. Swansons Nursery, 9701 15th Ave. N.W., Seattle.

Reindeer Festival: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 15-16. Get photos with a tame reindeer, enjoy refreshments, live music and children’s craft projects. Swansons Nursery, 9701 15th Ave. N.W., Seattle. www.swansonsnursery.com.

Garden d’Lights: 5-10 p.m. nightly, Nov. 29-Jan. 3. Annual holiday display uses more than 500,000 lights throughout the gardens. Cost: Free; donations encouraged. Parking: $5. Bellevue Botanical Gardens, 12001 Main St., Bellevue. 425-451-3755 or www.bellevuebotanical.org.

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. 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. 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

Squak Mountain Greenhouses and Nursery: 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, including: 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.

Ikebana demonstration: 1-2 p.m. Nov. 9. Learn about the art of Japanese flower arranging. Cost: Free. Swansons Nursery, 9701 15th Ave. N.W., Seattle. www.IkebanaByMegumi.com.

“All You Want to Know About Bulb Forcing and Container Design”: 11 a.m. Nov. 15. Registration required. Smith and Hawken, 12200 Northup Way, Bellevue. 425-881-6775.

Wreath Making: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily, Nov. 28-Dec. 14. Purchase fresh evergreens and create your own wreath on Swansons’ machines. Swansons Nursery, 9701 15th Ave. N.W., Seattle. www.swansonsnursery.com.

Volunteers

Bellevue Botanical Gardens: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 9 and Dec. 14, volunteers can help dig, pot and take home a perennial from the NPA Perennial Border. Also: Nov. 10-Jan. 18, volunteers needed to help with various aspects of the annual Garden d’Lights display. Helpers needed for: Nov. 10-21, installation; Nov. 29-Jan. 3, greeting; Jan. 4-18, break-down. Advance registration and background check required. 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. Nov. 7. Group will make centerpieces for Veterans Day Luncheon; speaker Firley Pickens will discuss recent trip to Africa. Cost: Donation of food for Auburn Food Bank. Auburn Parks and Recreation Building, 910 Ninth St. 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 Nov. 11. 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.

Northwest Horticultural Society: 7 p.m. Nov. 12. Reception at 6:30 p.m. Speaker: Fran Sharp on “Classic Northwest Garden Gems: Japanese Maples and their Conifer Counterparts.” Cost: $5 for members; $10 for non-members. Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St., Seattle. 206-527-1794 or www.northwesthort.org.

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.

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.