2026 PNW Garden Savvy
Welcome to PNW Garden Savvy!! This is your online Saturday morning go to for lively garden education while you enjoy your morning coffee or tea.
PNW Garden Savvy classes 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 prior to the presentation. The classes are recorded and recordings will be made available to all registrants. Handouts, if provided, are linked for each class.
Note: In some cases, speakers may have restricted the availability of recordings, and this information is provided with the registration information.
Cost: Advance registration is required for these classes. Our class fees include Washington state sales tax which we are now required to collect and remit to the state. The class fees help the Master Gardener Foundation support the activities of the WSU Extension Master Gardener program in King County. Registration links for each class and for each series are included below.
Class Fee Waivers: Individual classes are eligible for a Financial Need Fee Waiver. To apply please email PNWGardenSavvy@mgfkc.org, specifying which class you’d like a waiver for. Please apply for waiver no later than Thursday 5:00 PM before the Saturday class.
Per class fee. The fee for each class will be $9.00.
Series subscription fee. There will be three series.
Each series has 6 classes and will be offered at a discounted subscription price of $42.00.
Series 1: January 10 to March 21, 2026
Series 2: April 11 to June 6, 2026
Series 3: September 12 to November 7, 2026
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are gathered on the sacred lands of the Coast Salish Peoples who have lived along the shores of the Central Salish Sea since time immemorial. We honor all First Peoples indigenous to the place we now call King County – their ancestors and descendants who have cared for these sacred lands and waters for thousands of years. We give thanks to the Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snoqualmie, Stillaguamish, and Tulalip Tribes for sharing their ancestral lands and watersheds with us, and we embrace our responsibility to help protect and restore them for future generations.
Contact us: If you have questions about these classes, you may contact us at PNWGardenSavvy@mgfkc.org.
2026 Series 1
2026 Series 1 (6 classes):
PNW Garden Savvy classes from January 10 to March 21, 2026.
Registration is available for all the classes in Series 1 at one time. The cost is $42.00.
The classes are recorded and recordings will made available to all registrants.
Jan. 10, 2026
PNW Month-by-Month Tips for Cultivating More Resilient Garden. Speaker: Christina Pfeiffer, Horticulture Educator, IA Certified Arborist.
Presentation: In gardening, as with many things in life, timing can be everything. Some of our long time “tried and true” methods may no longer be as effective as in the past. Learn how to optimize key tasks and timing for a more sustainable and healthy landscape. Handout for presentation: Tips for Cultivating More Resilient Garden.
Jan. 24, 2026
Principles of Gardening in the PNW – Intermediate Level. Speaker: Jim Olson, Extension Master Gardener.
Presentation: Learn ways to get better results from your veggie gardening efforts. In this class, learn how to better understand and use your gardening space, whether in ground or in containers. Also, learn how key practices such as fertilization, irrigation, integrated pest management, plant selection and planting dates, influence your results
Feb. 7, 2026
Grow Your Own Flowers and Vegetables – from Seed. Speaker: Colleen Donahue, Extension Master Gardener.
Presentation: Have you ever thought about growing your own plants from seed but didn’t know where to start? Create a beautiful & bountiful flower/vegetable garden using the information you will learn in this presentation. Colleen grows hundreds of seedlings each spring. You will learn practical information about how to select seeds, how to set up your growing area, how to nurture tiny seedlings until they are ready for planting, and how to get them off to a strong start after they are planted. Handout for presentation: Starting Seeds
Feb. 21, 2026
Vegetables A-Z. Speaker: Joan Veach, Extension Master Gardener.
Presentation: From Asparagus to Zucchini, vegetables are delicious, nutritious, and fun to grow. Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, each type of vegetable has its own peculiar preferences about soil, light, water, and season. Join Joan, as she shares insight into growing a variety of vegetables in our Pacific Northwest climate.
Mar. 7, 2026
Go Native – Get To Know Your Native PNW Bulbs. Speakers: Sean McManus, Horticulturist and Allison McManus, Science Teacher.
Presentation: Bulbs are amazing perennial plants and are so unique to the gardening world. Native bulbs are even more interesting and can be considered a mystery, but we want to tell you all about them. From the Puget Sound to the Cascade Mountains to the east side and beyond, get to know 10 PNW native bulbs, how to grow them, and all their benefits to your garden
Mar. 21, 2026
Introduction to Pruning with Plant Amnesty. Speaker: Kristin Jackson, Executive Director of Plant Amnesty.
Presentation: Pruning makes sense when you understand the science behind it. You will be introduced to the basics of tree biology and structure, tree responses to the basic types of pruning cuts, pruning standards and, best management practice.
2026 Series 2
Registration coming soon!
2026 Series 2 (6 classes):
PNW Garden Savvy classes from April 11 to June 6, 2026.
Registration is available for all the classes in Series 2 at one time. The cost is $42.00.
The classes are recorded and recordings will made available to all registrants.
Apr. 11, 2026
Registration coming soon!
Natural Lawn Care. Speaker: Ladd Smith, Co-owner of In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes.
Presentation: Learn the five steps of Natural Lawn Care (NLC), based on the Natural Yard Care (NYC) Program. The importance of good soil will be reinforced. Moss control, weed control and other lawn pests will be discussed as well as seasonal tasks like watering, fertilizing, and mowing. Other lawn tasks like aeration, overseeding and top dressing will also be presented.
Apr. 25, 2026
Registration coming soon!
Basics of Composting. Speaker: Gary Fredricks, WSU Emeritus.
Presentation: Learn how to effectively compost food waste and garden material. Learn the different ways to compost and the advantages of each method. Find out how to prepare your garden for next year without spraying or tilling.
May 2, 2026
Registration coming soon!
The Beauty of Weeds. Speaker: Mark Turner, renowned garden author and photographer .
Presentation: Maybe they just showed up in your garden, or you noticed them as you walked your neighborhood or drove down the road. They’re the plants we call weeds, the ones we didn’t ask to join our gardens. But just because they’re weeds doesn’t mean they’re ugly. In fact, some of our weeds are quite beautiful. Come on a journey showcasing some of our most unwelcome plants and get a few tips on controlling them, too.
May 16, 2026
Registration coming soon!
Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden. Speaker: Molly van der Burch, Extension Master Gardener.
Presentation: Discover fun facts about our two Pacific Northwest hummingbirds and learn about flowers and native plants to create a hummingbird-friendly garden or container.
May 30, 2026
Registration coming soon!
Soil Fertility and Fertilizers for King County. Speaker: Gary Hergert, Professor Emeritus.
Presentation: This presentation will continue our exploration into the science of soil here in King County. Soil chemistry and plant biology, as related to nutrient uptake, will be discussed. Learn the basics of soil amendments – fertilizers, pH and liming, sources, timing, and application. Your lawn and garden will thank you for taking this class.
Jun. 6, 2026
Registration coming soon!
Dahlias 101, 102, and 103. Speaker: Roger Walker, Puget Sound Dahlia Association.
Presentation: Growing dahlias in the Pacific Northwest: from the basics to the not-so-basic. Dahlias 101 will focus on the routine of planting, caring for, digging, and storing your dahlias over the winter. Dahlias 102 will cover the hows and whys of taking dahlia cuttings. And Dahlias 103 will delve into the world of dahlia hybridization: growing dahlias from seed and searching for exotic new varieties.
2026 Series 3
Registration coming soon!
2026 Series 3 (6 classes):
PNW Garden Savvy classes from September 12 to November 7, 2026.
Registration is available for all the classes in Series 3 at one time. The cost is $42.00.
The classes are recorded and recordings will made available to all registrants.
Sep. 12, 2026
Registration coming soon!
Growing Unusual Edible Plants in the PNW. Speaker: Anna Sczaniecka.
Presentation: Tired of the ordinary? Come explore a range of exotic and unusual edible plants that can be grown in the Pacific Northwest. From truly far-flung crops to simply uncommon varieties, there’s something here for every kind of gardener. Discover new flavors, new textures, and new scents — and maybe a few new favorites for your garden!
Sep. 26, 2026
Registration coming soon!
Habitat gardening for pollinators in a changing world. Speaker: Angela Laws, PhD.
Presentation: Addressing climate change and protectin biodiversity go hand-in-hand. Join Angela Laws from the Xerces Society to learn about some of the many ways that pollinators and other invertebrates may be affected by climate change. We’ll discuss actions that everyone can take to help protect pollinator biodiversity, including gardening to create climate-smart habitat around our homes and communities.
Oct. 3, 2026
Registration coming soon!
Choosing the Right Bulbs for Your Garden: From Timing and Texture to Growing In-ground and Containers. Speaker: Sean McManus, Horticulturist and Allison McManus, Science Teacher.
Presentation: Flowering bulbs don’t have to be a mystery and can be the easiest, most fulfilling plants to grow in your garden. Hear how to get started gardening with flowering bulbs, including pairing with other bulbs and hardwood perennials, and some fun container gardening tips and tricks!
Oct. 10, 2026
Registration coming soon!
The All-Season Grass Garden: Drought Tolerant and Beautiful. Speaker: Susan Calhoun, Landscape Designer.
Presentation: Creating a beautiful garden with grasses, is the focus of this class. This is a garden that can fit into any established garden or new build. Grasses are naturally drought tolerant, attract pollinators, and are sustainable. Color, texture, fragrance, and 4 seasons of interest, this type of garden can do it all.
Oct. 24, 2026
Registration coming soon!
Resilient Landscapes: Battling Climate Change at Home. Speaker: Mike Peronto, Extension Master Gardener.
Presentation: This class will give you a heads up on planning for the year ahead. Learn simple steps one can take in designing and maintaining a home yard, to battle climate change. This presentation is broken down into sections on climate change, lawn maintenance, garden bed design, and growing veggies.
Nov. 7, 2026
Registration coming soon!
Seed Snails & Winter Sowing: Grow More, Stress Less. Speaker: Erica Browne Grivas, horticultural speaker and writer.
Presentation: Grow more seeds with less effort! Winter Sowing jumpstarts seedlings outdoors all winter, while space-saving Seed Snails make starting seeds easy. Join award-winning Seattle Times journalist Erica Browne Grivas for practical tips to get your spring garden off to a great start.
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.