Classes & Workshops

Houseplants 101 with Ben Billick | Saturday, January 28th, 2023 | 10:30 am

Learn the basics of houseplant care from A to Z. Intended for beginning to intermediate indoor gardeners, this workshop will lay the foundation for successfully growing houseplants. Participants will take home a houseplant cutting of their very own to test out their green thumbs!

Master gardener and hoya enthusiast Ben Billick knows his houseplants! Ben, a former biologist turned stay-at-home-dad, founded BirdBerry Nursery in 2022 to share his homegrown collection. All BirdBerry plants are propagated from Ben’s personal plant collection and are grown indoors in Seattle, WA. Ben strives to ensure that his growing operation is as sustainable as possible from start to finish. Check out Ben’s houseplant collection on his Etsy page or PlantBaby.

Our classes fill up fast, registration is required.

Members: $35

Nonmembers: $45

Register Here

Winter Sowing and No-Transplant Winter Sowing with Diane O’Neill | Saturday, February 11th, 2023 | 10:30 am

Give your garden a head start with these fun and easy gardening hacks! The first in a three-part gardening series with Diane O’Neill, this course will teach you how to create upcycled mini-greenhouses to protect your seedlings from winter’s chill. Participants will leave with several examples as well as the skills to create more at home.

Diane O’Neill is a Certified Square Foot Gardening Instructor and was the first instructor in the nation to receive this designation when the training went online. She is active in the organization and presented a session on soil blocking to other Certified Instructors. She managed the preparation of 2,000 soil blocks for Seattle Giving Gardens last fall. Diane actively participates in several Facebook forums on Winter Sowing and No-Transplant Winter Sowing and prepared over 200 jugs of winter-sown veggies, flowers, and herbs in 2022. She’s worked at both Swanson’s Nursery and Molbak’s, is a former Master Gardener, and has been a speaker at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show.

Our classes fill up fast, registration is required.

Members: $35

Nonmembers: $45

Register Here

Conifer ID with Walt Bubelis | Saturday, February 25th, 2023 | 10:30 am & 1:00 pm

Want to tell a Western Red Cedar from a Lawson Cypress? A yew from a young redwood? Join Walt Bubelis, professor emeritus of Edmonds Community College, for an introduction to our local conifers, both native and exotic. This is a great class for budding botanists, citizen scientists, and gardeners who want to take their skills to the next level.

Professor Emeritus from Edmonds Community College, Walt Bubelis created the school’s regionally renowned horticulture program from scratch. With over 50 years of horticultural experience and deep roots at the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, Walt is a wealth of Garden knowledge and stories.

Our classes fill up fast, registration is required.

Members: $25

Nonmembers: $35

Register Here

Soil Blocking with Diane O’Neill | Saturday, March 11th, 2023 | 10:30 am

No need for plastic pots! Soil blocking is a simple and efficient way to grow healthy and hearty starts for your garden. Perfect for veggies, perennials, and herbs, use soil blocking to give your plants a head start. This tried and true method allows for maximum root growth without the risk of becoming root-bound or transplant shock. Participants will learn how to create, use, and transplant soil blocks in this interactive class with Diane O’Neill. 

Diane O’Neill is a Certified Square Foot Gardening Instructor and was the first instructor in the nation to receive this designation when the training went online. She is active in the organization and presented a session on soil blocking to other Certified Instructors. She managed the preparation of 2,000 soil blocks for Seattle Giving Gardens last fall. Diane actively participates in several Facebook forums on Winter Sowing and No-Transplant Winter Sowing and prepared over 200 jugs of winter-sown veggies, flowers, and herbs in 2022. She’s worked at both Swanson’s Nursery and Molbak’s, is a former Master Gardener, and has been a speaker at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show.

Our classes fill up fast, registration is required.

Members: $25

Nonmembers: $35

Register Here

Have an idea for a workshop or interested in leading one yourself? Contact programs@kruckeberg.org!

TOURS

Visitors to the Garden and Nursery are welcome Friday through Sunday during open hours.

PRIVATE TOURS

Private, staff-led tours are available by arrangement and provide an overview of the plant collection, the history and origins of the garden, along with discussions about the future. Tours are $10/person, with a $60 minimum. Private tours can be arranged for Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday during the week, as well as Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All tours are booked in advance by contacting the garden at kbgf@kruckeberg.org.

SELF-GUIDED TOURS

Self-Guided Tours – See the Garden through the eyes of Walt Bubelis,  Professor Emeritus of Horticulture, through his seasonal self-guided tours. Use your smartphone to scan the QR codes posted throughout the Garden to learn more about each featured plant.

Bird Tour brochure – The Kruckeberg Garden is home to over 40 bird species. Download our self-guided bird tour and checklist, or pick one up at the Garden kiosk.

BEFORE YOUR TOUR

All visitors must remain on the paths to avoid soil compaction and damage to plants. The upper garden is flat, but not paved. The path to the lower garden is relatively steep (beyond ADA standard slope) but in some cases can be manageable by wheelchairs. We recommend that you contact us in advance of your tour if you have concerns about accessibility.

YOUTH FOREST FIELD TRIPS

For all things kid-related, visit our Kids Only page.