Stop by this year’s Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Feb. 18 -22, at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center in Seattle, and let King County show you solutions to your garden problems that are practical, safe and affordable.
Everyone who stops by the booth – from novices to those born with a green thumb – can learn a few new tricks by calling King County’s garden hotline. With the help of an expert gardener on the other line, visitors can get answers to anything from simple composting techniques to the best ways to incorporate earth-friendly practices into everyday gardening.
The Garden Hotline services and brochures are provided through the Natural Soil Building Program and are free to all King County residents and those serviced by the Saving Water Partnership. The Garden Hotline can be reached at 206-633-0224, Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or you can e-mail at help@gardenhotline.org.
This year King County is partnering with EnviroStars, an innovative regional program that certifies businesses for their efforts in preventing pollution and reducing hazardous waste. Professional landscapers from the EnviroStars program will be on hand to talk about resource-efficient, pollution-preventing landscaping maintenance practices.
Washington State University Master Gardeners will also join King County experts in the booth for the duration of the show to answer questions and provide insight on the latest techniques for creating beautiful gardens and landscapes.
King County staff will offer seminars on specific topics during the show, including:
• Imagine That! Creative Reuse in the Garden. Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m., on the Monrovia DIY Stage King County “EcoConsumer” and Seattle Times columnist Tom Watson will demonstrate how salvaged materials such as bricks, old tools and broken statues can be used to create everything from raised beds to pathways. With Tom’s distinctive props and creative ideas, gardeners can learn how to convert ordinary spaces into one-of-a-kind works of art.
• Think Global, Grow Local. Sunday, Feb. 22 at 12:30 p.m. on the Monrovia DIY Stage, Tom Watson will show guests the links between gardening, the environment and our health, and how you can make a world of difference in your own backyard. This talk will touch on veggie gardening, composting, the use of chemicals and more.
King County promotes environmentally-conscious yard care as the best way to build a beautiful garden without the use of harmful pesticides or unnecessary watering. Simple, natural yard care practices can save money, time and the environment, while conserving natural resources.
More information on the 2009 Northwest Flower & Garden Show is available at http://www.gardenshow.com/seattle/index/index.asp. To learn more about King County’s “It’s Easy Being Green” campaign, visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/stewardship/being-green.aspx.
