Home and Garden Calendar

EVENTS

Rain gardens and floral design: The Oak Harbor Garden Club program, from 9 a.m. to noon, Dec. 11, features natural resource planner Rob Hallbauer on installing a rain garden, and florist Audrey Butler on arranging holiday centerpieces. The meeting is at First United Methodist Church, 1050 Ireland St., Oak Harbor. Call Helene Valdez at 360-675-0392.

Festival of Poinsettias: Molbak’s holiday tradition runs now through Dec. 24 and features more than 25 varieties of Molbak’s grown poinsettias. The 14-foot-high poinsettia tree is a great place for family Christmas card photos. On weekends, through Dec. 23, there will be live music, free slices of Danish kringle and hot beverages, and Santa will be there for photo ops from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check out molbaks.com for details on dates, times and a full list of holiday performers. Molbak’s is at 13625 NE 175th St., Woodinville.

Growing Groceries training: The WSU Extension classes teach mentors how to grow productive food gardens in an an environmentally friendly way. The trained volunteers then share their knowledge. The application deadline is Jan. 18. Classes start Feb. 9 and continue for four Saturdays at the Snohomish County Extension building at 600 128th St., McCollum Park, Everett. Tuition is $135 for those who volunteer 35 hours as mentors after certification, or $185 for nonvolunteers. Contact: Karie Christensen, 425-357-6039, or Christensen4@wsu.edu for more information.

Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens 2012 lectures: Noon to 1 p.m. select Saturdays, at the arboretum, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett, either in the indoor classroom or, when appropriate, outside on the arboretum grounds. All the classes are free. Seating is limited. Call 425-257-8597 for reservations. See www.evergreenarboretum.com for more about the arboretum.

Dec. 8: “Winter Blooming Plants” with Trevor Cameron of Sunnyside Nursery, Marysville.

Interior design classes: Kelly DuByne of Distinctive Interior Designs and Monika Krisofferson of Efficient Oranization NW offer the following classes. Check www.distinctiveinteriordesigns.net, 425-238-3678, or www.EfficientOrganizationNW.com, 425-220-8905.

Free community events:

First Saturday of each month: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ask a Designer color consultations at Lynnwood Miller Paint, 18021 Alderwood Mall Parkway, Ste. 103. Register at 425-248-4950.

Everett Parks &Recreation: Register at 425-257-8300, ext. 2, or www.everettwa.org. Classes taught at VanValey house, 2130 Colby Ave., Everett; 6 to 7:30 p.m., $25 (unless otherwise noted):

Dec. 13: Furniture University: Quality, Placement and Styles to Make Your Home Wow.

Marysville Parks &Recreation: register 360-363-8400, www.marysvillewa.gov. Classes taught at Marysville Library, 6120 Grove St. Classes from 6 to 7:30pm, $22 (unless otherwise noted):

Dec. 20: The Significance of Color.

NURSERY CLASSES

These local nurseries feature gardening classes, guest speakers and special events throughout the year, often for no charge. Check their websites or call for details.

Christianson’s Nursery and Greenhouse: 15806 Best Road, Mount Vernon; 360-466-3821; www.christiansonsnursery.com.

McAuliffe’s Valley Nursery: 11910 Springhetti Road, Snohomish; 360-862-1323; www.mcauliffesvalleynursery.com.

Molbak’s Garden &Home: 13625 NE 175th St., Woodinville; 425-483-5000; www.molbaks.com.

My Garden: 17414 Bothell-Everett Highway, Mill Creek; 425-402-1842; www.mygardennursery.com.

Pine Creek Nursery: 23225 Sofie Road, Monroe; 360-863-8866; pinecreeknursery.com.

Sky Nursery: 18528 Aurora Ave. N., Shoreline; 206-546-4851; www.skynursery.com.

Sunnyside Nursery: 3915 Sunnyside Blvd., Marysville; 425-334-2002; www.sunnysidenursery.net.

The Plant Farm at Smokey Point: 15022 Twin Lakes Ave., Marysville; 360-652-3351; www.theplantfarm.com.

Wight’s Home &Garden: 5026 196th St. SW, Lynnwood; 425-775-3636; www.wights.com.

PLANT CLINICS

Got a gardening question? You can call the master gardener hotline from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 425-357-6010 or visit the Home &Garden section at snohomish.wsu.edu.

To submit an item for the Home &Garden calendar, e-mail features@heraldnet.com.