EVENTS
Tulip Festival: The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival begins April 1 and runs through April 30 with driving tours, bus tours and festival events all month long. Daffodils are already in bloom, but tulips take their own time. Check the festival website for interactive maps and festival events, www.tulipfestival.org or see the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SkagitValleyTulipFestival. You can pick up maps and a brochure of events at the festival office, 311 W. Kincaid St., Mount Vernon. You can also 360-428-5959.
Orchid show and sale: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 6 and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 7 at Sky Nursery. View the Northwest Orchid Society’s prize-winning orchids, ask the experts your questions and shop for rare orchid varieties. Sky Nursery is at 18528 Aurora Ave. N. Shoreline; 206-546-4851, www.skynursery.com. Call 425-257-0583 or 206-440-9266 for more information or go to www.nwos.org.
Spring Fecal Fest: Woodland Park Zoo is offering its Zoo Doo compost and Bedspread mulch. Because its in such high demand you have submit a request by postcard or online www.zoo.org/fecalfest by March 31 to be entered into a drawing. Send a standard postcard marked Zoo Doo or BS (Bedspread) to: Dr. Doo, Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N. 59th St., Seattle, WA 98103, including your name, phone numbers, and how much you would like to purchase from a garbage-bag full to a pickup load. Online forms and prices and instructions for pick up may be found at www.zoo.org/fecalfest or call 206-625-7007 (POOP).
Importance of Bees: 9 a.m. to noon April 9 at the Oak Harbor Garden Club meeting, First United Methodist Church,1050 Ireland St., Oak Harbor. Beekeeper Alerd Johnson will discuss attracting bees to your garden. Call Helene Valdez at 360-675-0392.
CLASSES
Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens 2013 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 and some classes require registration. Call 425-257-8597 for reservations. See www.evergreenarboretum.com for more about the arboretum.April 20: Hydrangeas with Wink Cushman, master gardener and past president of the arboretum.
- May 18: Attracting birds to your backyard with Linda Woolsey, member of the local and National Audubon Society.
- June 15: Dahlias with Dick Weakley, master gardener.
- July 20: Summer care of Japanese maples with Trevor Coleman of Sunnyside Nursery.
- Aug. 17: Native plants with Andy Sudkamp, a horticulturist and biology teacher. Meet at the arboretum entrance for a tour.
- Sept. 21: Fall/winter containers with Dee Drake, arboretum volunteer. Registration necessary. Meet at the arboretum entrance.
- Oct. 19: Putting your Garden to Bed with Wink Cushman. master gardener. Meet at the Arboretum entrance
- Nov. 16: Holiday natural centerpieces with Marylou Hart, arboretum board member and master gardener. Registration necessary.
- Dec. 7: Arboretum gift-making workshop for kids, noon to 2 p.m., with Hap Wertheimer, past arboretum president and art teacher. Registration necessary.
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.
- Ask a Designer: Free color consults April 6 and May 4 with Kelly DuByne at Ace Hardware, 303 91st Ave. NE, Lake Stevens. Call 425- 334-7630 to sign up for 20-minute consusltation.
- Get Psyched about Color: Free brown-bag lunch session June 26 at Chapell Hill Fire Station 1825 S. Lake Stevens Road, Lake Stevens.
Everett Parks &Recreation: Classes from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Van Valey House, 2130 Colby Ave., Everett. Register at 425-257-8300, ext. 2, www.everettwa.org. 6 to 7:30pm $25.
- March 28: If These Walls Could Talk, decor tips for walls and windows.
- April 16: Paper Control for Busy Families.
- April 25: Paint Your Home Interior Like a Pro: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Color Sing.
- May 14: Organize Your Time and Kids to Get Out the Door on Time.
- May 23: Creative Ways to Infuse Color into Your Home.
- June 4: Declutter, Organize and Park in Your Garage.
Lake Stevens School District: Classes from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Educational Service Center, 12309 22nd St. NE. Lake Stevens. $20. Register at 425-335-1500, www.lkstevens.wednet.edu.
- April 23: DeClutter Your Home and Decrease Your Stress.
- April 25: The Significance of Color.
- May 9: Creating the Ultimate Outdoor Space.
- May 21: DeClutter, Organize and Park in Your Garage.
Marysville Parks &Recreation: Classes 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Marysville Library, 6120 Grove St. $22. Register at 360-363-8400, www.marysvillewa.gov.
- April 18: Creating the Ultimate Outdoor Space to Love Your Patio.
- May 23: The Significance of Color.
- June 6: Paint Your Home Like a Pro.
South Whidbey Tilth: A series about growing fresh food from 6 to 7:45 p.m. every Thursday in March in the Calyx Classroom at the Tilth market, 2812 Thompson Road, Langley. The full course costs $35 for South Whidbey Tilth members and $55 for nonmembers. Single classes are $10 and $15. Register by emailing info@southwhidbeytilth.org. www.southwhidbeytilth.org, or call 360-544-2278.
- March 28: Planning your warm season crops with Anza Muenchow. Learn about extending the growing season and maximizing harvests. season crops.
Winter speaker Series: The Snohomish County Master Gardener Foundation series features eight gardeners, authors and experts now through April. The talks are from 9:30 to11:30 a.m. at Mukilteo Presbyterian Church Social Hall, 4514 84th St. SW, Mukilteo. Single lecture tickets may be available at $20 each at the door. See www.snomgf.org/ or call 425-357-6010.
- April 5: Dan Hinkley, Trees, Shrubs and Vines for Year Round Interest in a Pacific Northwest Garden.
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.
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