Garden planner | A list of local garden classes and events

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

Sept. 29-Oct. 5

Classes

5 Easy Steps to Better Soil

TODAY Practical approaches to understanding your soil and what to do to make it better. Preregistration required, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St., Seattle; $35 (206-685-8033 or www.uwbotanicgardens.org).

Culinary Herb Gardening

TODAY Seattle Tilth gardening classes geared to condo- and apartment-dwellers, 10 a.m.-noon, Cascade Park, 11803 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., Seattle; free (reservations: 206-633-5045 or www.seattletilth.org).

Container Plantings for Winter

TODAY Part of the King County Master Gardener Foundation series, 10:30 a.m., Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, 15500 S.E. 16th St., Bellevue; free (425-485-5942).

Planting Fall Containers

TODAY Infuse personal style into container plantings with design strategies and tips, 11 a.m.-noon, Molbak's, 13625 N.E. 175th St., Woodinville; free (425-483-5000 or www.molbaks.com).

Master Gardener Clinics

at Bellevue Nursery

TODAY-SUN Master gardeners on-site to answer questions, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. today and Sunday, Bellevue Nursery, 842 104th Ave. S.E., Bellevue; free (425-454-5531 or www.bellevuenursery.com).

Fall and Winter Perennials + Fabulous Foliage

TODAY-SUN Plants that add color to your garden through late fall and winter, 10:30 a.m. today and 1 p.m. Sunday, Wight's Home & Garden, 5026 196th St. S.W., Lynnwood, free (425-775-3636 or www.wights.com).

Fall Pruning — Small Trees and Shrubs

SUN, WED Correct pruning methods and techniques to enhance growth habit and promote good health, 1 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday, Emery's Garden, 2829 164th St. S.W., Lynnwood; free (425-743-4555 or www.emerysgarden.com).

Home Project Garden Design

TODAY Learn to make your own plans and work with plants creatively and design for outdoor living, 10 a.m.-noon, Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St., Seattle; $35 (206-685-8033 or www.uwbotanicgardens.org).

Master Gardener Plant Clinic

MON Master Gardeners will answer your gardening questions, 4-8 p.m., Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St., Seattle; free (www.king.wsu.edu/gardening/PlantClinics.html).

Rain Gardens

TUE Learn about the techniques and benefits of a rain garden, 7-9 p.m., Maple Valley Community Center, 22010 S.E. 248th St., Maple Valley; free (registration: 425-413-2572 or www.lakewildernessarboretum.org).

Sales

Plant Amnesty

SUNDAY Trees, shrubs, vines and perennials donated from local nurseries, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle (206-783-9813 ext. 0).

Washington Park Arboretum

TODAY, WED Sale of plants donated by local gardeners, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Washington Park Arboretum, 2300 Arboretum Drive E., Seattle; free (206-325-4510 or www.arborteumfoundation.org).

Tours

Seattle Japanese Garden

TODAY-MON, WED Information on the culture, philosophy and horticulture of the garden. Tour is offered free with regular garden admission, 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 12:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, Seattle Japanese Garden, 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E., Seattle; regular admission, $3-$5 (206-684-4725).

Dunn Gardens

THU-SAT Restored 1915 Olmsted Brothers-designed private garden in North Seattle open to the public for guided tours only, 1 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. Saturdays, address provided with tour reservation, Seattle; $7-$10 (206-362-0933or www.dunngardens.org).

Gardens

PowellsWood Garden

ONGOING Garden is open during public events and by appointment only, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, PowellsWood Garden, 430 S. Dash Point Road, Federal Way; $5 (253-529-1620 or www.powells wood.org).

Woodland Park Rose Garden

ONGOING 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, 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 (425-602-3272).

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.-7 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

WED, THU 40-acre arboretum managed and run by volunteers holds outdoor volunteers days, 9 a.m.-noon Wednesdays and 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 with gardening or yardwork, 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).

Dunn Gardens

DAILY Opportunity to become a docent and lead garden tours, includes training, classes and garden visits, times/dates vary, garden located in Broadview, Seattle (206-362-0933 or www.dunngardens.org).

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.