2024 BDG Workshop Schedule
The Bellevue Demonstration Garden (BDG) Workshops are held Saturdays from 9:30 to 10:30 AM from January through October each year. They are held online via the Zoom platform. Registrants will receive Zoom instructions to access the online class via email in advance of the class the day of the workshop. The workshops are recorded and recordings are available to all registrants. In some cases, speakers may have restricted the availability of recordings, and this information is provided with the registration information. Handouts, if provided, are linked for each workshop.
Cost: Advance registration is required for these workshops. The workshops fees help the Master Gardener Foundation support the activities of the WSU Extension Master Gardener program in King County.
Per workshop fee. The fee for each workshop will be $7.50.
Series subscription fee. There will be three series.
Series 1: 8 workshops (includes 1 free). Fee: $39
Series 2: 7 workshops (includes 1 free). Fee: $34.
Series 3: 7 workshops. Fee: $39.
Financial Need Fee Waivers. Financial Need Fee Waivers are available for all workshops. To request a waiver, complete and submit the request form prior to registering. The link to the waiver request form can be found on the registration page for each workshop. All requests must be approved by workshop staff prior to registration and will cover the complete cost of the registration. Please note that Financial Need Fee Waivers may not be used for a series subscription.
Registration: Advance registration is required for these workshops. Registration links for each workshop and for each series are included below.
Contact us: If you have questions about these workshops, you may contact us at bdgworkshops@gmail.com.
2024 Series 1
2024 Series 1 (8 workshops, 1 free):
BDG Workshop presentations from January 20 – March 23, 2024.
Registration is available for all the workshops in Series 1 at one time. The cost for these 8 workshops is $39.
Jan. 20, 2024
Gardening with Ferns. Speaker: Richie Steffens, Executive Director, Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden.
Presentation: Ferns are the ultimate foliage plants for our Pacific Northwest Gardens. There are few other plants that can provide the grace and beauty that a well-placed fern can provide, yet they are often underused or overlooked as we develop our gardens. Richie Steffen, executive director of the Elisabeth C Miller Botanical Garden, will share his tips and techniques for using these plants in the landscape as well as share some of the best and most beautiful ferns that thrive in our climate.
Feb. 3, 2024
Trial by fire! Propagation: From Seed to Spore and Cuttings. Speaker: Dell Brummet, Head Gardener at Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden.
Presentation: From the use of fire and boiling water to the impact of freezing cold temperatures, propagation can be very interesting. We will take a look at a handful of plants propagated from seeds and spores at the Elisabeth Miller Botanical garden and investigate what methods work best and why. We will also look at cuttings. You should come away with ideas of how to improve a home propagation set up as well as how to collect seeds and spores.
Feb. 10, 2024
Starting Flower and Vegetable Seeds. Speaker: Colleen Donahue, Master Gardener.
Presentation: Interested in growing your own flowers or vegetables from seed? Join Colleen as she shares her knowledge about growing a garden from seed. She will cover topics such as seed selection, how to set up your growing area for success, and how to keep seedlings healthy until planting time. New this year, Colleen will also talk briefly about starting perennials and winter veggies from seed.
Feb. 24, 2024
Composting with Confidence! Speaker: Joan Veach, Master Gardener.
Presentation: Most gardeners know that composting turns kitchen scraps and garden trimmings into a rich soil amendment. This presentation will focus on how that process works, and how you can make it work for you. We will meet the primary decomposers, bacteria and other microbes. Then, you will learn how to select materials for your compost system that will provide the decomposers with a balanced diet of protein (greens) and carbohydrates (browns). You will learn how to estimate the ratio of protein and carbohydrates in different food scraps and garden trimmings, so that you can keep your compost system in balance throughout the season. When this presentation is finished, you will be equipped to begin Composting With Confidence!
Mar. 2, 2024
Common Pests and Diseases of Rhododendrons. Speaker: Atsuko Gibson, Nursery Manager Rhododendron Species Garden.
Presentation: With the record setting heat and drought during the summer season, our rhododendrons are stressed more than ever. This resulted in an increasing number of plants suffering from disease and pests. This presentation will introduce you to the common Rhododendron problems and help you manage them in your garden.
Mar. 9, 2024
Weeds! Friends or Foes? Speaker: Jim Olson, Master Gardener.
Presentation: When does a plant become a weed? What circumstances favor weed growth? A whimsical look at how to identify, prevent, and control weeds.
Mar. 16, 2024
Free Class!
Noxious Weeds. Speaker: Skye Pellecci, King Conservation District Educator.
Presentation: In this presentation, you can expect to dive deep on all things weeds. Are all non-native plants weeds? What is the difference between a noxious weed and an invasive plant? Learn more about how these plants work, which weeds to watch for in the PNW, and get insight on weed management options and resources available to Washington state residents.
Mar. 23, 2024
The Complete Talk on Groundcovers. Speaker: Gary Lewis, Author and Owner Phoenix Perennials.
Presentation: Ground covers are widely thought of as purely utilitarian, but these plants also offer a diverse range of beautiful and intriguing options with a variety of colors, textures, and forms. They can unify a landscape and knit together plantings and hardscape. Gary will highlight tips and tricks for designing with ground covers to take your outdoor space to the next level and will discuss how diverse ground covers can make gardens more sustainable.
2024 Series 2
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2024 Series 2 (7 workshops, 1 free):
BDG Workshop presentations from April 6 – June 8, 2024.
Register for all the workshops in Series 2 at one time. The fee for these 7 workshops is $34.
Apr. 6, 2024
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Layering for a Dynamic and Beautiful Garden. Speaker: Laura Watson, Master Gardener.
Presentation: Coming soon.
Apr. 13, 2024
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Be the Boss of your Bare Roots and Bulbs. Speaker: Sean and Allison McManus, Owners Spoken Garden.
Presentation: Coming soon.
Apr. 27, 2024
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Emerging Pests: Northern Giant Hornet, Japanese Bettles, Spotted Lantern Fly. Speaker: Cassie Cichorz, WA Dept of Ag: Pest Management Program.
Presentation: Coming soon.
May 4, 2024
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Irrigation and Effective Water Management. Speaker: Christina Pfeiffer, Horticulture Educator.
Presentation: Coming soon.
May 18, 2024
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Beneficial Insects. Speaker: Laura Matter, Program Director of Natural Yard Care, Tilth Alliance.
Presentation: Coming soon.
Jun. 1, 2024
Free Class!
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Evaluating Fire Risk Around Your Home. Speaker: Michael Lasecki, King Conservation District.
Presentation: Coming soon.
Jun. 8, 2024
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Native Plants in King County. Speaker: Marinn Carpenter, King Conservation District.
Presentation: Coming soon.
2024 Series 3
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2024 Series 2 (7 workshops):
BDG Workshop presentations from September 7 – October 26, 2024.
Register for all the workshops in Series 2 at one time. The fee for these 7 workshops is $39.
Sep. 7, 2024
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Saving Flower and Vegetable Seeds. Colleen Donahue, Master Gardener.
Presentation: Coming soon.
Sep. 21, 2024
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Title: TBA. Speaker: Linda Chalker-Scott, WSU Professor.
Presentation: Coming soon.
Sep. 28, 2024
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Choosing Conifers for Color. Speaker: Ross Bayton, Director, Heronswood Garden.
Presentation: Coming soon.
Oct. 5, 2024
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Shrubs that Grow Well in King County. Speaker: Cleo Raulerson, Master Gardener.
Presentation: Coming soon.
Oct. 12, 2024
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Fall and Winter Wow for Containers. Speaker: Sue Goetz, Garden Designer, Writer and Speaker.
Presentation: Coming soon.
Oct. 19, 2024
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Right Plant, Right Place. Speaker: Laura Matter, Program Director for Natural Yard Care, Tilth Alliance.
Presentation: Coming soon.
Oct. 26, 2024
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Orchids for Fun. Speaker: Jim Olson, Master Gardener.
Presentation: Coming soon.
WSU extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through our local extension office. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs; contact the WSU Extension King County office at king.mg@wsu.edu at least two weeks prior to the event.