When the daffodils bulbs start to push from the earth, it's a sure sign that spring is on the way. Green thumbs rejoice at the arrival of seed catalogues, primroses and pansies at the local markets, and the promise of a new growing season. It is also a season of abundant opportunities to learn more about gardening at class, on a tour, or by volunteering at a community garden. Here are some of our favorites:
Garden tours: for those wanting to see beautiful landscaping up close: the historic Dunn Gardens in Seattle's Broadview neighborhood offers tours and workshops, the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge is offering secret season walks on March 16th and 18th, and the beloved Heronswood Garden in Kingston will bring back their Friday open days on March 3rd along with popular plant sales in April and May.
Visit the newly reopened City People's Garden Store in the Madison Valley or Urban Feed and Garden on Beacon Hill and sign up for free workshops on seed starting, landscaping with edibles, and more.
Early spring plant sales: don't miss Seattle Tilth's spring edible plant sale on March 18th, this year taking place at Orca K8 school in the Columbia City neighborhood. Looking for native plants? Check out the Seward Park Audubon's sale on March 11th and 12th. Not only are these plants easy to grow and care for, they are just the thing to invite birds and natural pollinators to your yard.
Volunteer opportunities: Don't have a yard but still wish to garden? Join a work party at the Beacon Food Forest or the Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands, or sign up for a pea patch garden of your own!
Read and marvel at the new book Plant: Exploring the Botanical World by Phaidon ... the extraordinary images will inspire.
Go green!