Garden planner

Dates and times are subject to change. Call ahead to confirm.

Jan. 6-12

Events

Puyallup Home Show

TODAY-SUN 100 exhibitor displays offering ideas for landscaping, remodeling and decorating. The show includes gardening and interior-design information as well as product demonstrations. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Western Washington Fairgrounds, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup; $6-$7 (253-874-8711 or www.puyalluphomeshow.net).

Classes

Rhododendron University

TODAY Dr. Benjamin Hall of the University of Washington discusses the evolution of rhododendrons since the age of dinosaurs, 9 a.m.-noon, Lake Wilderness Arboretum, 22520 S.E. 248th, Maple Valley; $20-$25 (425-413-2572 or www.lakewildernessarboretum.com).

Woodland monarchy

WED Vancouver horticulturalist Dave DeMers will discuss Podophyllum, Paris and Arisaema, three unusual kinds of plants that are ideal for the woodland garden, and offer advice for local gardening, 6:45 p.m., Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St., Seattle; $5-$10 (206-527-1794 or www.northwesthort.org).

Plan ahead

Northwest Flower & Garden Show

FEB. 14-18 The show features display gardens, vendors and more. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 14-17, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 18, The Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle; $13-$65 (tickets available at local garden centers or www.gardenshow.com).

Gardens

PowellsWood Garden

ONGOING Garden is open during public events and by appointment only, PowellsWood Garden, 430 S. Dash Point Road, Federal Way; $5 (253-529-1620 or www.powellswood.org ).

Woodland Park Rose Garden

DAILY Award-winning garden with more than 259 varieties of roses, including Old Garden roses and 5,000 plants, 7 a.m.-dusk daily, Woodland Park Rose Garden, Woodland Park Zoo, North 50th Street and Fremont Avenue North, Seattle; free (206-684-4800 or www.zoo.org).

Bloedel Reserve

ONGOING 150-acre estate includes 84 acres of forest, Japanese garden, waterfall, azaleas and a visitor center, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday with admission by reservation only; 7571 N.E. Dolphin Drive, Bainbridge Island; $6-$10 (206-842-7631 or www.bloedelreserve.org).

Lakewold Gardens

ONGOING 10-acre estate offers self-guided walking tour of rose, woodland, rhododendron gardens, waterfall, statuary and architecture by Thomas Church; garden store; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, 12317 Gravelly Lake Drive S.W., Lakewood, Pierce County; $3-$5 (253-584-4106 or www.lakewold.org).

Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection

ONGOING 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays-Wednesdays, closed Christmas Eve, Weyerhaeuser campus, 33663 Weyerhaeuser Way S., Federal Way; free (253-924-3153 or www.weyerhaeuser.com/bonsai).

Rhododendron Species

Botanical Garden

ONGOING Guided tours available for groups of 15 or more with advance registration. The 22-acre woodland garden features more than 10,000 rhododendrons, perennials, flowering trees, shrubs and ponds, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays- Wednesdays, Weyerhaeuser campus, 2525 S. 336th St., Federal Way; $2.50-$3.50 (253-661-9377 or www.rhodygarden.org).

Campus Garden

ONGOING Medicinal-herb garden and reflexology path, open 24/7, Bastyr University, 14500 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore; free (425-602-3370).

Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden

DAILY 3-acre cottage-style garden featuring perennials, flowering shrubs and trees, with a stream and pond; private guided tours available, open daylight hours daily, North SeaTac Community Center, 13735 24th Ave. S., SeaTac; free (206-391- 4003 or www.highlinegarden.org).

Kubota Garden

DAILY Open daylight hours daily, 55th Avenue South and Renton Avenue South, south entrance, Seattle; free (206-725-5060 and www.kubota.org).

Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens

DAILY 10-acre garden and a 43-acre woodland preserve with trails; schedule guided tours in advance, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, 3531 S. Meerkerk Lane, Greenbank, Whidbey Island; $5 (360-678-1912 or www.meerkerkgardens.org).

Volunteer Park Conservatory

DAILY Rooms are kept between 72 and 80 degrees to suit the exotic bromeliads, palms, ferns and orchids, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily,, 400 E. Galer St., Seattle; free (206-684-4743 or www.volunteerparkconservatory.org).

Parsons Garden

DAILY Seattle park, formerly a family garden, open daylight hours daily, Seventh Avenue West and West Highland Drive, Seattle; free (206-684-4075).

Carl S. English Jr. Garden

DAILY Ornamental garden featuring a collection of exotic trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. daily, Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Lake Washington Ship Canal, Seattle; free (206-783-7001).

Work parties/volunteers

Arboretum tour guides

ONGOING Volunteers needed to lead adult and student tours and to provide visitor information. Training provided (information: 206-543-8801).

Seattle Tilth Programs

ONGOING Naturalist training to lead Earth Steward Garden Tours of the Children's Garden and garden-volunteer programs to help plant and maintain seasonal organic-gardening displays, ongoing training, Seattle Tilth, Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N., Seattle; free (information: 206-633-0451, ext. 2 or www.seattletilth.org).

Leschi Natural Area

SAT 9 a.m.-3 p.m. first Saturdays, 36th Avenue and East Terrace Street, Seattle (206-322-7648).

Lake Wilderness Arboretum

THU, SAT 40-acre arboretum managed and run by volunteers holds outdoor volunteers days, 9 a.m.-noon Thursdays and the first Saturday of the month, Lake Wilderness Arboretum Nursery, 22520 S.E. 248th St., Maple Valley (425-413-2572 or www.lakewildernessarboretum.org).

Volunteer Chore Services

DAILY Help low-income elderly or adults with disabilities throughout King County with gardening or yard work, choose day/time/location (888-649-6850).

Lakewold Gardens Estate

DAILY Flexible work schedule, 12317 Gravelly Lake Drive S.W., Lakewood, Pierce County (Amanda Bowens: 888-858-4106).

Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden

DAILY Flexible work schedule, 2525 S. 336th St., Federal Way (253-838-4646 or www.rhodygarden.org).

Submissions to Garden Planner must be received at least three weeks before publication. E-mail gardencalendar@seattletimes.com, fax 206-464-2239, or mail to: Garden Calendar, Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.