Q: Are there any free classes I can take to help me learn to grow my own food, and improve my garden skills in general?
A: Look into the Washington State University Master Gardener workshops held 10:30 a.m. until noon some Saturdays at the Bellevue Demonstration Garden, 15500 S.E. 16th St. in the Lake Hills area in Bellevue. Check the schedule at kingcountymg.org.
The free classes are taught by highly knowledgeable master gardeners and cover just about everything you need to know to grow outstanding vegetables, fruit, ornamentals and houseplants with an emphasis on using environmentally friendly methods.
While you’re there, take some time to tour the demonstration garden to see what vegetable varieties and other plants grow well in our area. Don’t hesitate to talk to the master-gardener volunteers you’ll see out working in the garden. They love to talk gardening, showing off their favorite varieties and answering any questions you may have.
Visit www.mgfkc.org (choose “demonstration gardens” under “resources” and scroll down to Bellevue) for a schedule of workshops and directions to the garden. While you are on the website, check out all the offerings at other demonstration gardens as well.
Q: We live in a condo and have a sunny deck. The kids and I want to pot up a container to surprise my wife on Mother’s Day. Any suggestions?
A: Why not choose plants that attract hummingbirds? The shelves at most local nurseries are filled with hummingbird favorites that will do great in a container garden. Pick a good-sized container; then choose an attractive centerpiece that produces nectar-filled flowers and is in proportion to the size of the pot.
Two hummingbird favorites that bloom all summer long are Fuchsia ‘Garden Meister,’ featuring long tubular, dark-red flowers, and Abutilon (flowering maple) sporting bell or lantern-shaped blossoms that come in a wide variety of colors. Next, fill in around the centerpiece with midsized plants.
A few of my favorites, which the hummingbirds enjoy as well, include Pelargoniums (geraniums), Agastache (hummingbird mint), woody Salvias, Mimulus (monkey flower), evergreen Penstemon, Nicotiana, Zinnia and Heuchera.
Finally, incorporate a few flowering vines such as nasturtium or petunias that will further entice the hummers with attractive nectar-filled blossoms as they spill over the side of the pot. Mom will have a great time watching the hummers doing acrobatics over her spectacular Mother’s Day container.
Q: How does one go about having their garden designated as a wildlife sanctuary?
A: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife instituted the Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary program to help offset the loss of more than 35,000 acres of wildlife habitat lost to housing and other development every year in Washington state. The goal is to encourage homeowners to make a few simple changes in their gardens to provide critically needed food, water and safe shelter for songbirds and other wildlife.
The requirements are simple: Plant trees and shrubs to provide shelter. Make sure there is plenty of water to drink and bathe, and a way to keep the station clean and fresh. Protect birds from cats, cover sites where undesirable birds (sparrows and starlings) tend to nest, and perhaps most important of all, avoid the use of pesticides that could harm wildlife.
If this sounds like something you would like to do, visit wdfw.wa.gov/living/backyard/. Download the application for certification and send it with $5 to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. In return, they’ll send you a certificate and a yard sign designating your garden as a wildlife sanctuary, and you’ll also receive a subscription to their wildlife newsletter.
Then get yourself a bird ID book to help you identify your visitors. You’ll enjoy watching all of the interesting creatures you’ll attract to your garden, while knowing that you’re helping provide badly needed sanctuary for songbirds and other wildlife.
Ciscoe Morris: ciscoe@ciscoe.com; “Gardening with Ciscoe” airs at 10 a.m. Saturdays on KING5.
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