MOUNT VERNON

Home show opens

The 28th annual Skagit Valley Home Show will be open from noon to 6 p.m. today through Sunday, March 14-16, at the Skagit County Fairgrounds, 1410 Virginia St. The show is sponsored by the Skagit/Island Counties Builders Association and the Skagit Valley Herald.

Ciscoe Morris will offer gardening advice with humor at 1 p.m. Sunday in the pavilion. Live broadcasts by radio stations KAPS 660 AM, KBRC 1430 AM and KAFE 104.3 FM, workshops and door prizes are planned for all three days. The annual Surplus Sale of building materials will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday in the pavilion.

Admission to the show is $3 a person or $5 per family, and parking is free. More details are available at http://www.sicba.org.

BURLINGTON

Plant auction

The Komo Kulshan rhododendron chapter’s annual spring plant auction will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, at the Burlington Senior Center. Plants specific to the Northwest will be featured for the public auction. Experts in growing rhododendrons will answer questions. Contact Lynn Torset at 360-856-2410 or go to http://www.flounder.ca/komokulshan/index.asp for more information.

BOW

Native Plant Sale

The 2008 Skagit Conservation District Native Plant Sale will run from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Friday, March 21, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 22 and April 12, at the WACD Plant Materials Center, 16564 Bradley Road.

The conservation-grade, bare-root trees and plants are intended for use in shelterbelts, erosion control and wildlife habitat. They are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The district’s Web site, http://www.skagitcd.org, offers plant descriptions, prices, sale location directions and other information. 360-428-4313.

MOUNT VERNON

Growing kiwi and figs

Puget Sound Kiwi Co. owner Bob Glanzman will present “Kiwi: The Wonder Fruit” at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at Christianson’s Nursery, 15806 Best Road.
Glanzman will show how to grow and prune this popular vine and offer an introduction to fig varieties suited for Northwest gardens. $5, reservations required. 360-466-3821.

MOUNT VERNON

Stained-glass class

Dick and Karen Seymour will teach how to transform an ordinary glass-topped patio table into a garden jewel with stained-glass applique. The Stained Glass Table Workshop will be held from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at Skagit Valley Gardens, 18923 Johnson Road. $65, includes supplies and tool use in making a 4-inch sample. Preregistration required, 360-424-6760 or 206-525-1577.

MOUNT VERNON

Gardens in a flower pot

“Container Gardening”: Joanne Romann from Yarrow & Thistle will conduct a demonstration and hands-on workshop about growing a garden in a flower pot. The class will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at Christianson’s Nursery, 15806 Best Road. $5 (plus cost of materials). 360-466-3821 or 800-585-8200.

MOUNT VERNON

Summer competition

Mount Vernon city residents with a yard, garden or planter boxes visible from the street are eligible to enter the “Mount Vernon in Bloom” colorful summer displays competition intended to beautify the city’s landscape.

The event is being organized by the nonprofit Mount Vernon Plant Society and Chuckanut District of the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs with the sanction of Mount Vernon’s City Council and Chamber of Commerce. Participants can register between April 1 and May 31. For an entry form or more information, visit the Mount Vernon Plant Society Web site, http://www.gardencentral.org/wa/mvps/ or call 360-422-6232.

STANWOOD

Free workshops

A Farmers Market Springtime Garden Faire will feature free gardening workshops and other attractions Saturday, April 5, at the Stanwood/Camano Fairgrounds. Call 360-652-5708 for information or visit http://www.gardenfaire.com.

MONROE

Building log homes

Skip the mortgage and build a log home. The Log Home Builders Association will offer a two-day class on building log homes from scratch on April 5-6 near Monroe. Experts will demonstrate techniques for building without a kit. Contact the association at 360-794-4469 or http://www.loghomebuilders.org.

Club meetings

The following garden groups welcome visitors and prospective members.

• Upper Skagit Gardeners will meet from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 15, upstairs at the Cajun Bar and Grill, 7296 Baker St., Concrete. The speaker will present rose care and landscaping. Contact Gladys at 360-826-4848 or Gerry at 360-424-8635.

• The North Cascades Fuchsia Society will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, March 17, at the Creekside Retirement Center, 400 Gilkey Road, Burlington. Call Kay at 360-336-6565.

• Sedro-Woolley Community Gardeners will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, at the Sedro-Woolley Senior Center, 715 Pacific St. Contact Kim 360-941-4600 or Gerry 360-424-8635.

• The Komo Kulshan Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, in the Burlington Community Center, 1011 Greenleaf Ave. The Komo Kulshan Chapter, 360-856-2410 or http://www.flounder.ca/KomoKulshan/index.asp, serves Skagit and Whatcom counties.


* Send information about gardening seminars and events for the Garden Guide column in writing to or to P.O. Box 578, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, fax: 360-428-0400. The deadline is noon the Monday before publication.