Send calendar items four weeks before the event to Northwest Gardens, P.O. Box 1909, Seattle, WA 98111-1909; fax: 206-448-8216, Attn: Northwest Gardens; e-mail: nwgardens@seattlepi.com.
TODAY/SUN Swansons Nursery: 9701 15th Ave. N.W. 206-782-2543; or www.swansonsnursery.com. Seminars are free unless noted.
Today, 11 a.m. -- Tips for Less Strenuous Gardening: Explore gentle and easy ways to garden from a registered horticultural therapist. Free.
Today and Sunday -- Design Consultations: Register for a 20-minute consultation with a horticultural specialist and a member of the Swansons design team. Free. Must register: 206-782-2543.
Sunday, 11 a.m. -- Heathers with Brenda McIntosh: Learn how to care for heaths, heathers and callunas and how to integrate them successfully into a landscape. Free.
TODAY King County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden: 15416 S.E. 16th St., Bellevue. 425-485-5942.
Today, 10:30 a.m. -- Peonies, Siberian and Pacific Coast Irises with Jim and Ann Mossman.
SUN Seattle Tilth: Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N. Must register for all classes: 206-633-0451 Ext. 1 or www.seattletilth.org.
Sunday, 11 a.m. -- Fall Salad Gardening: Learn some easy techniques for creating a 4-foot-square fall garden. $18; $15 for members.
SEPT 2 Seattle Japanese Garden: 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E., in the Washington Park Arboretum. 206-684-4725.
Sept. 2, 6:30 p.m. -- Moon Viewing: Live music, storytelling, dancing and poetry will accompany harvest moon viewing as well as access to the gardens. $10.
TODAY/SEPT 2 Squak Mt. Greenhouses and Nursery: 7600 Renton-Issaquah Road S.E., Issaquah. Register: 425-392-1025 or www.squakmtnursery.com.
Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. -- Master Gardeners will help diagnose the insect, disease and any problems related to gardening.
Sept. 2, 2 p.m. -- Ornamental Grasses: Learn about the colors and textures that grasses can add to the garden.
TODAY Windmill Gardens: 5823 160th Ave. E. Sumner. 253-863-5843 or www.windmillgarden.com.
Saturday, 10 a.m. -- Planting a Whimsical Chair: Learn how to create a container by recycling an old chair, bring your own chair and other materials will be provided. $35. Must Register.
SEPT 2 Home Depot: Customers learn how to tackle home-improvement projects. Free. Reservations not required. www.homedepotclinics.com.
Sept. 2, 1 p.m. -- Tips and Products To Simplify Landscaping.
ONGOING WSU Master Gardeners: Members of the King County Extension of WSU Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer gardening questions every Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Lowe's, 2700 Rainier Ave. S. Free. Information: 206-760-0832.
ONGOING Sogetsu Ikebana: Nobuko Relnick offers Japanese flower arrangement classes Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m. and 6:30-8:30, at 19112 152nd Ave. N.E., Woodinville, and on Thursdays at 5 p.m. at Pottery Northwest, 226 First Ave. N. $20 plus a $7 materials fee. 425-489-1992 or email: nrelnick@Comcast.net.
TODAY Open Garden Days at Little and Lewis Garden Gallery: This is the last of seven opportunities in the year to view the garden without an appointment, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1940 Wing Point Way on Bainbridge Island. Free. Information: 206-842-8327 or www.littleandlewis.com.
TODAY-SUN Puget Sound Dahlia Association Show: Growers from all over the Northwest will display thousands of booms, baskets and artistic arrangements, Saturday 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Factoria Mall in Bellevue. Information: www.pugetsounddahlias.org.
THUR Identifying Tree and Shrub Pests and Diseases: WSU Extension Educator Todd Murray will teach identification and effective measures of dealing with shrub and tree pests, 7-9 p.m. at WSU King County Extension Cougar Room, 919 S.W. Grady Way, Suite 120, Renton. Free. Register, 206-205-3130 or king.wsu.edu/enviro/events.htm.
SEPT 2-3 Seattle Dahlia Society Show: Hundreds of blooms will be exhibited at this year's annual free show, noon-5 p.m. at Lake City Community Center, 12531 28th Ave. N.E. Free. Information: 206-546-1522.
SEPT 7 Public Meeting on Green Lake Improvements: This is the first of three public meetings to discuss the planned improvements at Green Lake Park, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Green Lake Library, 7364 E. Green Lake Drive N. Information: 206-684-8414 or goto.seattlepi.com/r290.
ONGOING Weyerhaeuser's Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection: 33663 Weyerhaeuser Way S., Federal Way. Free. 253-924-5206 or www.Weyerhaeuser.com/bonsai/.
Today through Sept. 27 -- "Traditions and Transitions: Arts of the Earth." Featuring ceramic works and bonsai created in the Japanese tradition, evolving toward a contemporary aesthetic.
ONGOING Natural Lawn and Garden Hotline: Educators help with gardening and composting questions. Sponsored by Seattle Public Utilities. 206-633-0224 or email: info@lawnandgardenhotline.org.
ONGOING Master Gardener Hot Lines: Master Gardeners are available to answer your questions, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Friday; 425-357-6010 or walk in at 600 128th St. S.E., Everett (in McCollum Park). Information: gardening.wsu.edu. Kitsap County hot line and message phone: 360-337-7158. King County Master Gardener Phone Clinic, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 206-296-3440.
ONGOING Horticulture scholarships: The Northwest Fuchsia Society offers scholarships to anyone attending an accredited school in horticulture, nursery management and the science of growing plants. For an application and guidelines, see a school counselor or write to Sally Williams, 11822 31st Place N.E., Seattle, WA 98125. 206-365-6887.
ONGOING King County Master Gardener Training: Applications for the 2007 WSU King County Extension Master Gardener training program are available at king.wsu.edu/gardening. In order to be considered, applications must be postmarked by Oct. 6. $135; Scholarships are available. e-mail: elaine.anderson@metrokc.gov, 206-205-3122.
ONGOING Dunn Gardens Docent Program: Trains docents to lead small public tours through these historic gardens. Information: 206-362-0933; e-mail: info@dunngardens.org or www.dunngardens.org.
ONGOING Washington Park Arboretum: Volunteer guides are needed to lead educational tours for the Sapling School Program. Guides are asked to commit to one three-hour shift a week for 10 weeks in the fall or spring. Information: 206-543-8801, www.uwbotanicgardens.org, or email: uwbgeduc@u.Washington.edu. Also, volunteers are needed for weeding, mulching, planting, pruning and other horticulture activities, Tuesdays, 12:30-3:30 p.m., year-round. Hand tools and work gloves provided. Contact David Zuckerman, grounds supervisor, 206-616-4050.
ONGOING Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden: Training provided and work shifts flexible to accommodate personal schedules. Opportunities include gift shop sales, tour guides, gardening, grant writing, clerical, building maintenance and more. 253-838-4646 (from Seattle), 253-927-6960 (from Tacoma) or www.rhodygarden.org.
ONGOING Bellevue Botanical Garden Society: Volunteers needed for special events, cashiering in the gift shop, data entry, docents (guiding tours), and to work with kids and assist staff teachers for the Living Lab Youth Education Program. Training provided. 425-451-3755.
ONGOING Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens: Volunteers needed for scheduled work parties, garden maintenance at the Arboretum, Legion Park, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett. 425-257-8597 or www.evergreenarboretum.com.
ONGOING Kruckeberg Botanic Garden: Volunteers needed to help in various ways, including hospitality, garden maintenance and docents. 20312 15th Ave. N.W., Shoreline. www.kruckeberg.org; 206-542-4777.
ONGOING Seattle Japanese Garden: Learn about Japanese gardening at 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E., in the Washington Park Arboretum. Contact: Kathy Blanchard at 206-684-4760.
ONGOING Seattle Youth Garden Works: Volunteer to work alongside homeless and low-income youths in the organic vegetable gardens in the South Park and University District sites. Volunteers are asked to model good work skills. 206-525-1213, Ext. 3133.
ONGOING Seattle Tilth Children's Garden: Volunteer to lead Earth Steward Garden Tours in the Children's Garden, a fun, hands-on garden field trip for preschool through sixth grade at the Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Wallingford. Volunteer training is free and ongoing. 206-633-0451, Ext. 2, or www.seattletilth.org.
ONGOING Volunteer Chore Services: Help low-income King County seniors with their yards. 425-284-8840 or e-mail: vc@ccsww.org.
ONGOING Columbia Lutheran Home: Now recruiting volunteers to help with gardening at Columbia Lutheran Home, 4700 Phinney Ave. N. Contact: Beth at 206-633-6177.
TODAY "Drop In" Tour of the Kubota Garden: The 25-acre Japanese American Kubota Garden offers free tours on the fourth Saturday of each month, 10 a.m. at Renton Ave. S. and 55th Ave. S. Free. Information: 206-725-5060 or www.Kubota.org.
ONGOING PowellsWood: The 40-acre private garden opens its gates for the summer, 430 S. Dash Point Road, a mile west of Pacific Highway S., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $5. Information: www.powellswood.org; 253-529-1620.
ONGOING Volunteer Park Conservatory: Docents lead 30- to 60-minute group tours that cover conservatory plant collections, architectural history, plant acquisition, production, and more, Tuesdays-Thursdays and Saturdays, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; 1400 E. Galer St. $25 per group; free for K-12 students; 206-322-4112; foc@volunteerparkconservatory.org.
ONGOING Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden: This 3-acre cottage-style garden is open daily during daylight hours. Free. Private guided group tours are available; North SeaTac Community Center, 13735 24th Ave. S. 206-824-7222 or www.highlinegarden.org.
ONGOING Bloedel Reserve: Reservations are required to tour the 150-acre reserve, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday; closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day; 7571 N.E. Dolphin Drive, Bainbridge Island. 206-842-7631 or www.bloedelreserve.org.