SBGS Garden Tours and Classes in 2024
Most of our events are open to the public and free to attend, thanks to SBGS membership fees and generous donations. Help us continue offering educational programs by becoming a member today! Be sure to stay informed about upcoming events by signing up for our newsletter or following us on social media.
Nature Journaling Workshop
When: Thursday, January 23rd at 10:00am
Where: Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. SE, Sammamish
Join us for a free, drop-in nature journaling workshop - a relaxing practice of noticing the natural world and recording observations in a sketchbook. No experience necessary. We will provide an introduction to nature journaling along with a nature connection technique. During these months of potential inclement weather, we will meet indoors. Bring a pencil/pen and sketchbook/paper to work on techniques. We’ll bring in nature items to explore. Class offered by Karen Houlding.
Indoor Food Gardening
When: Wednesday, February 19th 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Where: The Lodge at Beaver Lake, 25101 SE 24th, Sammamish
Join us for an engaging family-friendly activity! Discover the art of growing food indoors during the winter months, from regrowing vegetables to cultivating microgreens. Each participant will have the chance to create their very own mini microgreen kit to take home and nurture. We kindly ask that adults remain on-site with children.
Please note that registration is required for this free event.
Nature Journaling Workshop
When: Thursday, February 20th at 10:00am
Where: Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. SE, Sammamish
Join us for a free, drop-in nature journaling workshop - a relaxing practice of noticing the natural world and recording observations in a sketchbook. No experience necessary. We will provide an introduction to nature journaling along with a nature connection technique. During these months of potential inclement weather, we will meet indoors. Bring a pencil/pen and sketchbook/paper to work on techniques. We’ll bring in nature items to explore. Class offered by Karen Houlding.
Other Local Events
Fall Native Plant Sale - King Conservation District
When: Now online!
Where: https://kingcd.org/programs/better-backyards/native-bareroot-plant-sale/
The KCD Native Plant Sale is a preorder sale with a set pickup date. Ordering takes place starting November 18, 2024 and pickups are March 1, 2025.
KCD’s Native Plant Sale offers a variety of native trees and shrubs for conservation purposes such as wildlife habitat, windbreaks, hedgerows, reforestation and stream enhancement. They also work great on home and garden projects. A majority of the plants offered are bareroot stock. This means that they do not come in pots or burlap bags, but are harvested from the field in winter when the plants are dormant and ready to be replanted. Bareroot plants are affordable, hardy, have well-developed roots and are easy to handle, transport and plant.
Free 1st Thursday Public Tour At Washington Park Arboretum
When: Thursday, January 2, 2025, 11:30am – 1pm
Where: Washington Park Arboretum Graham Visitors Center, 2300 Arboretum Dr E, Seattle
The 1st Thursday public tours are casual walks through various areas of the 230-acre Washington Park Arboretum. Walks feature seasonal themes, collections plants, explorations of botany, and the history of our organization. January’s tour will focus on some of the amazing conifers in the collection as well as a talk about these gymnosperms as early plant species and what makes them unique in the plant world.
To join the walk, meet at the Graham Visitors Center. Docents will be there to greet and gather visitors. Visit here for more details.
SBGS Volunteer Opportunity - The Garden Progresses
Meet us in the Heritage Garden! Please bring gloves, a bucket, hand tools (some can be provided) and water. Parental consent needed for minors to volunteer. Waiver forms will be at the garden. Questions? Our volunteer email contact is heritage@sammamishbotanical.org. Our work parties are on Tuesdays from 10 am to noon.
To view dates for Saturday work parties, visit our Facebook page, and the Sammamish Volunteer Portal on Galaxy.
Tour the Heritage Garden
Are you part of a group that would like more information on the plants in the garden? You may request a docent tour by email, or fill out our Garden Tour Form.
New Trails in Big Rock Park South!
Design improvements begin in 2025 for Big Rock Park South, and a temporary fence has been installed to delineate the open and closed sections of the park. It is decorated with a unique art installation. This art was created by Sammamish community members and showcases pollinator habitats on painted wood panels. From the parking lot in Big Rock Park Central, you may follow the trails leading southward.
Interested in offering an educational class to our community?
View our application process for more info. Please apply either online with the form below, or by filling out a PDF application form and emailing heritage@sammamishbotanical.org. Our education committee would like to hear from you!
BBG (Bellevue Botanical Garden) has an abundance of garden education.
Visit here to see learning opportunities. The gardens are beautiful in all seasons. Take a walk to experience the garden!
Washington Native Plant Society
There are a number of online webinars! Join the trend for expanding native plants in your garden. The WNPS website offers many activities and speakers throughout the state.
Master Gardeners of King County
Visit their website for a wealth of garden information with online classes. The Bellevue Demo Garden is a wonderful spot to visit while in the area, developed and maintained by the Master Gardeners.
Take a nature walk with the family
Above Photos: Hazel Wolf Wetlands; Beaver Lake and Pine Lake Parks (photos courtesy of City of Sammamish)
We recommend local kid friendly walks in the area. Print our Native Plant Scavenger Hunt and see how many you can identify!
Create Nature Art with Your Family!
Try a nature art activity that’s perfect for kids of all ages! Explore your yard or head out on a nature walk to gather materials, then bring them to life with one of our art prompts. Full instructions are included to make this project easy and fun for everyone!
A big thank you to talented artist and SBGS member Eric Montoya for designing these beautiful prompts. They feature local Sammamish wildlife like eagles, beavers, hummingbirds, and blue herons.
Have fun collecting, and don’t forget to share your creations with us on Facebook—we’d love to see them!
Completed Hummingbird Garden Art