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Sounds Fun Virtual Story Time

This month’s stories celebrate the sounds of nature. Stop by the library during January or February 2026 to pick up a nature sounds activity. , THE BAT by Elise Gravel CHIRRI & CHIRRA by Kaya Doi SQUEAK! By Laura McGee Kvasnosky and Kate Harvey McGee, Check in each month for new stories and activities that celebrate gardens, plants, and nature. Event interval: Ongoing event. Accessibility Contact: Nick at nickjpw@uw.edu. Event Types: Not Specified. Age Range: Children. Families. Thursday, January 1, 2026 – Saturday, January 31, 2026. Online. For more info visit depts.washington.edu.

Master Pruner - Full Series (online)

Cost: $350 for current PlantAmnesty Members, $410 for non-members Financial aid slots available on a first-come, first-served basis, REGISTER ONLINE Sign up for the whole Master Pruner Series at once and receive a series discount! This lecture series, offered twice annually in partnership with PlantAmnesty, is designed for those who work in landscape maintenance. Each lecture provides information on tools and techniques for quality pruning with better long-term results and customer satisfaction. The series runs every Thursday for 6 weeks, January 22nd - February 26th, with 2 lectures on each Thursday at 9:30am-11:30am and 12:30pm-2:30pm. Registration for the full series closes the first date of the series, January 22nd, 2026; registration for individual classes will still be available.  The Master Pruner Full Series includes all 12 Master Pruner lectures as a bundle. Individually, each class is $35 for PlantAmnesty Members and $75 for non-members. Registering for the full series earns PlantAmnesty members… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Ellie Bender, Christina Pfeiffer, Bess Bronstein, Keith Dekker, & Ingela Wanerstrand. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_2606a9faa346. Thursday, January 22, 2026. Online via Zoom. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Master Pruner: Tree Pruning I (online)

Cost: $35 for PlantAmnesty Members, $75 for non-members Register Online, Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Pruning trees makes sense when you understand the science behind it. You will be introduced to the basics of tree biology and structure, tree responses to the basic types of pruning cuts, and pruning standards and best management practices. Part of the Master Pruner Series held in partnership with PlantAmnesty. Professional credits pending: ISA -2, APLD - 2, CPH - 2, ecoPRO -2, NALP/WALP - 2. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Ellie Bender. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_2606a9faa346. Thursday, January 22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM. Online via Zoom. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Master Pruner: Shrub Pruning I: The Friendly, Fearless, and Forgiving (online)

Cost: $35 for PlantAmnesty Members, $75 for non-members Register Online, Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Learn the basic pruning cuts, basic shrub habits, and how to identify good pruning objectives (why prune?). Learn about best pruning methods based on the natural growth habit of plants like nandina, tall Oregon grape, lilac, deciduous and evergreen azaleas, red flowering currant, camellia, Burkwood x osmanthus, kinnikinick, and yews. Part of the Master Pruner Series held in partnership with PlantAmnesty.  Professional credits pending: ISA - 2, APLD - 2, CPH - 2, ecoPRO -2, NALP/WALP - 2 Instructor Christina Pfeiffer is a horticulture consultant and educator with over 40 years’ experience in landscape horticulture. She brings an emphasis on sustainable garden practices that work in sync with nature to her classes.  She holds degrees in horticulture from Michigan State and the University of Washington, and is an ISA Certified Arborist ®.  For Christina, the next… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Christina Pfeiffer. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_905569f320a4. Thursday, January 22, 2026, 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Forest Bathing (in-person)

Cost: $25 for first registration, $15 for each additional ticket Advance registration required. REGISTER ONLINE Join UW Botanic Gardens and Cascadia Forest Therapy for a unique forest bathing opportunity in the Washington Park Arboretum. Forest bathing (or shinrin-yoku) has been popular in Japan for decades and is gaining momentum in the US. The practice encourages you to move in nature at a slower pace and take in the atmosphere around you. Multiple scientific studies have shown that the practice lowers stress and blood pressure levels, while increasing immune system functioning, making you more resilient to diseases and illness. During this class the guide, in partnership with the forest, will offer an evolving series of invitations crafted to help participants slow down and open their senses. The opening of one’s senses encourages mindfulness, which readies the heart and mind to be fully present in the natural world. Come discover the medicine of being in the forest. Accessibility: These sessions are… Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Washington Park Arboretum (LNDMK-8). Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Cascadia Forest Therapy. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_2fdafee9fa59. Saturday, January 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Soil Science - Full Series

Cost: Full Series 15% Discount - $230.00 REGISTER ONLINE, Financial aid slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Join us in our series Getting Down to Earth: Understanding soils for ecosystem resilience and repair to learn about the properties of soil, the ecology of soil in its microclimate and larger environment, and how to manage and remediate soil for your restoration site. These classes were developed and are instructed by Christina Pfeiffer and Rodney Pond and are a part of UW Botanic Garden’s Ecological Restoration for Professionals program. This series will be beneficial for those working in ecological restoration, landscape professionals, landscape architects and designers, and natural area stewards. Home gardeners are welcome as well! The Soils Science - Full Series includes all 6 soils science classes: Scratching the Surface: Soil Formation, Structure, and Chemistry , Buried Alive!: Digging into Soil Biology and Ecology , Soaking It All In: Understanding Soil Water , Getting into the… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Christina Pfeiffer and Rodney Pond. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_38813016038f. Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 9:00 AM – 11:15 AM. Online via Zoom. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Scratching the Surface: Soil Formation, Structure, and Chemistry (online)

Cost: $45 REGISTER ONLINE, Financial aid slots available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Class 1 of 6. Students will be introduced to the format of the class series and learn the essential basics of soil science; how they are formed, their physical properties and chemistry. Students will be provided and introduced to soil management plan and soil assessment worksheets to develop for their own project sites. Instructors will give demonstrations of soil properties assessment techniques to be performed as homework at their project sites. Getting Down to Earth: Understanding soils for ecosystem resilience and repair - About the Series Understanding soils – what they are, how they function, how they degrade, and how to steward them back to health – empowers restoration professionals to design and implement more resilient and self-sustaining ecosystem restoration projects. This series of classes will build from the ground up a holistic knowledge of soils that will enable students to understand how and when… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_fcd880cec112. Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 9:00 AM – 11:15 AM. Online via Zoom. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Master Pruner: Shrub Pruning II: Shearables, Hackables, and Untouchables

Cost: $35 for PlantAmnesty Members, $75 for non-members Register Online, Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Some plants get cut to the ground annually, others are barely touched or all hell breaks loose. Find out which ones are which, what to appropriately shear every year, and how the “the pruning budget” differs between plant species and times of year. We will talk about heath, heather, lavender, rockrose, coppicing for stem and foliage effect, sub-shrubs like Russian sage, cape fuchsia, santolina, and sages, witch hazel, winter sweet, and double-file viburnum. Part of the Master Pruner Series held in partnership with PlantAmnesty. Professional credits Pending: ISA -2, APLD - 2, CPH - 2, ecoPRO -2, NALP/WALP - 2 Instructor Kristin Jackson has worked with plants in nearly every corner of the industry, from retail to landscaping to growing, and now as the Executive Director of PlantAmnesty. She’s a Seattle University Alum, a horticulture grad from Edmonds College, a… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Kristin Jackson. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_65c85d6ea678. Thursday, January 29, 2026, 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Gardening with the Seasons: Winter (online)

Cost: $25 Financial aid slots available on a first-come, first-served basis, REGISTER ONLINE, Though it seems there isn't much to do in the garden over winter, dormant season tasks can set the stage for a good gardening year. When weather keeps us indoors, we can plan ahead for tasks and garden changes to be done in the months ahead. When the weather is nice enough to spend time outdoors, it can be amazing how much we can actually take care of now. This session will cover dormant season pruning and transplanting for specific plant types, winter weeding and garden care, best tools and practices, and planning ahead for the new growing season. About this series: Plants and gardens don't live by the written calendar, but by the seasonal cycles and cues of changes in daylight, temperature, and moisture.  When gardeners become acquainted with the seasonal rhythms and life cycles in the garden, and learn to work in sync with nature, caring for the garden becomes more of a process and less of a battle with potential… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Christina Pfeiffer. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_363dfa8fbfb5. Thursday, January 29, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. Online via Zoom. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Feathered Friends Virtual Story Time

Birds are fascinating, whether they are flying, roosting, or building nests. Learn more about them in these stories. CRICK, CRACK, CROW! by Janet Lord and Julie Paschkis MEL FELL by Corey R. Tabor SWEEP UP THE SUN by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder, Check in each month for new stories and activities that celebrate gardens, plants, and nature. Event interval: Ongoing event. Accessibility Contact: Nick at nickjpw@uw.edu. Event Types: Not Specified. Age Range: Children. Families. Sunday, February 1, 2026 – Saturday, February 28, 2026. Online. For more info visit depts.washington.edu.

Buried Alive!: Digging into Soil Biology & Ecology (online)

Cost: $45 REGISTER ONLINE, Financial aid slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Class 2 of 6. We will explore the realm of soil biology, its web of interdependence that creates soil ecology, and how a healthy soil ecosystem builds the foundation of whole ecosystem health and resilience. Emphasis will be made on the relationship between soil biology, physical properties, and chemistry. Soil and landscape stewardship practices and their impacts on soil biology will be introduced. Instructors will provide a soil biology assessment work sheet and review key observations that indicate soil ecosystem health. Getting Down to Earth: Understanding soils for ecosystem resilience and repair - About the Series Understanding soils – what they are, how they function, how they degrade, and how to steward them back to health – empowers restoration professionals to design and implement more resilient and self-sustaining ecosystem restoration projects. This series of classes will build from the ground up a… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Christina Pfeiffer & Rodney Pond. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_65ab7912b6a5. Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 9:00 AM – 11:15 AM. Online via Zoom. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Master Pruner: Shrub Pruning III: The Puzzlers and Consequences (online)

Cost: $35 for PlantAmnesty Members, $75 for non-members Register Online, Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. This class covers how to prune rhododendron, hydrangea, callicarpa, Viburnum bodnantense, and abelia. Included in this class are basic pruning techniques, common pruning mistakes, and corrective pruning strategies. Part of the Master Pruner Series held in partnership with PlantAmnesty. Professional credits pending: ISA -2, APLD - 2, CPH - 2, ecoPRO -2, NALP/WALP - 2. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Ellie Bender. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_cf206708e6f0. Thursday, February 5, 2026, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM. Online via Zoom. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Master Pruner: Corrective Pruning (online)

Cost: $35 for PlantAmnesty Members, $75 for non-members Register Online, Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. This class covers how to restore the natural shapes of trees and shrubs that have been mal-pruned. Students attending this class should already be familiar with principles of selective pruning. Included are discussions of water-sprouts, suckers, radical renovation techniques, and crown restoration. Part of the Master Pruner Series held in partnership with PlantAmnesty. Professional credits pending: ISA -2, APLD - 2, CPH - 2, ecoPRO -2, NALP/WALP - 2 Christina Pfeiffer is a horticulture consultant and educator with over 40 years’ experience in landscape horticulture. She brings an emphasis on sustainable garden practices that work in sync with nature to her classes.  She holds degrees in horticulture from Michigan State and the University of Washington, and is an ISA Certified Arborist ®.  For Christina, the next best thing to being in the garden is teaching and… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Christina Pfeiffer. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_aea487e8e1df. Thursday, February 5, 2026, 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Arboretum Lichens

Cost: $45 Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.  REGISTER ONLINE Lichens grow on trees, shrubs and rocks in botanic gardens and can tell us about air quality and the make-up of plants and geology. Botanic gardens can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and algae. You will also learn about common lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart that lists lichens found in your neighborhood. Lichens are harmless to your plants and add aesthetic value to trees and shrubs. We can actually use them as indicators of air pollution! Join Dr. Katherine Glew at the Washington Park Arboretum to get a head start on learning lichens from one of Seattle’s botanic gardens. You can enjoy the late winter/early spring season by looking for lichens, rather than staying inside and missing out on the excitement of being outside! Instructor Katherine Glew, Ph.D. is Curatorial Associate of Lichens at the University of… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Katherine Glew, Ph.D. Curatorial Associate of Lichens at the UW Herbarium, Burke Museum. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_9a781a534777. Saturday, February 7, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Washington Park Arboretum. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Framed Pressed Flower Keepsake (in-person)

Cost: $80 Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.  REGISTER ONLINE Join local botanical artist and small business owner Meg Brown of Acorn Flower Press (@acorn_flowerpress) to design your very own framed pressed flower keepsake! You’ll get to use locally sourced flowers, petals, leaves, and other greenery from around the Greater Seattle area that have been dried and pressed along with your very own keepsake to give as a gift for a special occasion or to keep for yourself to treasure for a lifetime. Items that will be provided (included in registration fee): Pressed flowers and greenery , Matte board for adhering your designs to , pH neutral adhesive , Paint brushes , Pens, What you will need to bring: One “flat” keepsake item 5x7 or smaller (think photo, invitation, poem, letter, etc) , Your creativity. Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Center for Urban Horticulture. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Megan Brown. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_110e35f6092e. Saturday, February 7, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Soaking It All In: Understanding Soil Water (online)

Cost: $45 REGISTER ONLINE, Financial aid slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Class 3 of 6. We will dive into exploring how water enters, moves, and gets stored in soils and the relationship between levels of soil moisture and ecosystem function. Topics will include how topography influences water movement, soil physical and chemical properties control soil water storage, and field methods for assessing soil water holding capacity and drainage. Irrigation tools and best management practices will be reviewed. Getting Down to Earth: Understanding soils for ecosystem resilience and repair - About the Series Understanding soils – what they are, how they function, how they degrade, and how to steward them back to health – empowers restoration professionals to design and implement more resilient and self-sustaining ecosystem restoration projects. This series of classes will build from the ground up a holistic knowledge of soils that will enable students to understand how and when to choose soil… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Christina Pfeiffer & Rodney Pond. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_faed8c7deb99. Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 9:00 AM – 11:15 AM. Online via Zoom. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Bird Talk: Crows - The Avian Einsteins (Online)

Cost: $25 - Advance registration required Financial aid slots available on a first-come, first-served basis, REGISTER ONLINEJoin master birder and author Constance Sidles as she takes you into the secret world of crows! Crows are among the smartest of all birds—they can recognize human faces, pass knowledge along to new generations, work together to protect each other, set up sentries to watch for danger, and even use tools. Indeed, all members of the crow family (called corvids) are intelligent, including ravens, jays, and magpies. Come listen to a master birder and storyteller share the amazing and complex lives of these geniuses of the avian world! New to Zoom or need more information? Get Started Here. All times are Pacific Time. Accessibility: Closed captioning (through Zoom) is available for all of our online classes. This class will be recorded and available for registrants to view for 2 weeks after the class date. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Constance Sidles. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_d3f9e33d6813. Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. Online via Zoom. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Botanical Fiber Art Workshop: Winter Botanical Embroidery Basics (in-person)

Class Cost: $50, pre-registration required  REGISTER ONLINE, Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Let's stitch some winter greenery. Learn a new skill or brush up on an old one with local fiber artist Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ. We’ll cover embroidery basics like the satin stitch, back stitch, stem stitch, French knot, lazy daisy stitch while stitching winter plants in this hands-on, two-hour workshop. Each attendee will receive a workshop kit that includes an embroidery hoop, assorted full skeins of DMC embroidery thread, cotton fabric, winter botanical transfer designs, an embroidery needle, felt, a sawtooth hook, and printed instructions. Whether you're an embroidery newbie or a stitching pro, you're sure to learn new stitches, techniques, and tips!Melissa Galbraith is the fiber artist behind MCreativeJ. She was born and raised in the desert of Washington state where her mother instilled a love of making things by hand at an early age. Melissa shares her love of… Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Center for Urban Horticulture. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Melissa Galbraith. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_841e5b453828. Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Master Pruner: Prune and Renovate the Overgrown Landscape (online)

Cost: $35 for PlantAmnesty Members, $75 for non-members Register Online, Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. This is a primary class of the Master Pruner course series. It covers basic pruning of ornamental trees and shrubs as well as creative solutions to the overgrown or over-planted garden. The types of pruning cuts are shown and discussed, and the concept of the 'pruning budget' is discussed for different plant and different growth types. Before and after photos and diagrams of real-life pruning examples will be used to illustrate pruning for size reduction and pruning for definition (thinning). Students will gain insight into the process of yard renovation, where pruning is but one tool in renovating a garden. Part of the Master Pruner Series held in partnership with PlantAmnesty. Professional credits pending: ISA -2, APLD - 2, CPH - 2, ecoPRO -2, NALP/WALP - 2. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Ellie Bender. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_1095d0f40080. Thursday, February 12, 2026, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM. Online via Zoom. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Master Pruner: Fruit Tree Pruning (online)

Cost: $35 for PlantAmnesty Members, $75 for non-members Register Online, Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Learn the basics of fruit tree pruning and how seasonal growth differences and specific goals affect when you use different pruning approaches. Apple, cherry, plum, and pear pruning will be addressed. Part of the Master Pruner Series held in partnership with PlantAmnesty. Professional credits pending: ISA -2, APLD - 2, CPH - 2, ecoPRO -2, NALP/WALP - 2 Ingela Wanerstrand is the owner of Green Darner Garden Design and a frequent horticultural speaker. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Ingela Wanerstrand. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_cb5cbeb85e48. Thursday, February 12, 2026, 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM. Online via Zoom. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Getting into the Weeds: Sorting out the details of soil conditions & management considerations (online)

Cost: $45 REGISTER ONLINE, Financial aid slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Class 4 of 6. Building up from the previous classes, we will review soil disturbance and resulting stewardship challenges commonly encountered at restoration sites such as former agricultural land, urban fill, construction sites, brownfields, and degraded natural areas. We will review how to assess for common soil disturbances as well as historical and ecological site conditions for their soil management plans. Reasons and resources will be reviewed for more technical soil testing through consultants and labs. Getting Down to Earth: Understanding soils for ecosystem resilience and repair - About the Series Understanding soils – what they are, how they function, how they degrade, and how to steward them back to health – empowers restoration professionals to design and implement more resilient and self-sustaining ecosystem restoration projects. This series of classes will build from the ground up a holistic knowledge… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Christina Pfeiffer & Rodney Pond. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_135e539bce47. Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 9:00 AM – 11:15 AM. Online via Zoom. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Master Pruner: Pruning Art or Pruning Horror? (online)

Cost: $35 for PlantAmnesty Members, $75 for non-members Register Online, Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. This class covers the three main forms of mal-pruning: tree topping, inappropriate shearing of trees and shrubs, and over-thinning. Then we compare and contrast mal-pruning with bona-fide examples of pruning art: pollarding, cloud pruning, topiary, pleaching, and coppicing. The class ends on a humorous note as slides are shown of "The Good, the Bad, and the Bizarre". Part of the Master Pruner Series held in partnership with PlantAmnesty. Professional credits pending: ISA -2, APLD - 2, CPH - 2, ecoPRO -2, NALP/WALP - 2 Instructor Christina Pfeiffer is a horticulture consultant and educator with over 40 years’ experience in landscape horticulture. She brings an emphasis on sustainable garden practices that work in sync with nature to her classes.  She holds degrees in horticulture from Michigan State and the University of Washington, and is an ISA Certified Arborist… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Christina Pfeiffer. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_7ab79c4180a0. Thursday, February 19, 2026, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Master Pruner: Japanese Garden Pruning (online)

Cost: $35 for PlantAmnesty Members, $75 for non-members Register Online, Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. This class will cover pruning Japanese upright maples (fan pruning), Japanese laceleaf maples (shell pruning), pruning pines (cloud pruning) and shearing masses of lower story plants. Part of the Master Pruner Series held in partnership with PlantAmnesty. Professional credits pending: ISA -2, APLD - 2, CPH - 2, ecoPRO -2, NALP/WALP - 2 Instructor Bess Bronstein is a horticultural consultant, a previous instructor for the Edmonds Community College horticulture program, and an ISA Certified Arborist. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Bess Bronstein. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_2df57b8829b3. Thursday, February 19, 2026, 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Forest Bathing (in-person)

Cost: $25 for first registration, $15 for each additional ticket Advance registration required. REGISTER ONLINE Join UW Botanic Gardens and Cascadia Forest Therapy for a unique forest bathing opportunity in the Washington Park Arboretum. Forest bathing (or shinrin-yoku) has been popular in Japan for decades and is gaining momentum in the US. The practice encourages you to move in nature at a slower pace and take in the atmosphere around you. Multiple scientific studies have shown that the practice lowers stress and blood pressure levels, while increasing immune system functioning, making you more resilient to diseases and illness. During this class the guide, in partnership with the forest, will offer an evolving series of invitations crafted to help participants slow down and open their senses. The opening of one’s senses encourages mindfulness, which readies the heart and mind to be fully present in the natural world. Come discover the medicine of being in the forest. Accessibility: These sessions are… Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Washington Park Arboretum (LNDMK-8). Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Cascadia Forest Therapy. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_7ebef8f6a5de. Saturday, February 21, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Digging In: Getting Down & Dirty into Soil Management & Remediation Techniques (online)

Cost: $45 REGISTER ONLINE, Financial aid slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Class 5 of 6. Conserving and building self-sustaining soils form the foundation of ecosystem restoration. Learn how a good understanding of existing site and soil conditions informs choosing best approaches to protecting intact soil ecosystems and repairing disturbed soils.  Long-standing best practices as well as practices rooted in recent groundbreaking research will be covered.   Working around existing native vegetation, especially trees, to protect roots, proper use of soil amendments, erosion control, and mulch will be reviewed. Getting Down to Earth: Understanding soils for ecosystem resilience and repair - About the Series Understanding soils – what they are, how they function, how they degrade, and how to steward them back to health – empowers restoration professionals to design and implement more resilient and self-sustaining ecosystem restoration projects. This series of classes will build from the… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Christina Pfeiffer & Rodney Pond. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_f146493ed2cb. Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 9:00 AM – 11:15 AM. Online via Zoom. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Master Pruner: Rose Pruning (online)

Cost: $35 for PlantAmnesty Members, $75 for non-members Register Online, Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Learn the right way to prune roses: hybrid teas, climbers, & landscape roses. This class will cover the best time of year to prune, the right tools, and techniques for ensuring healthy, long-lasting roses. Part of the Master Pruner Series held in partnership with PlantAmnesty. Professional credits Pending: ISA -2, APLD - 2, CPH - 2, ecoPRO -2, NALP/WALP - 2 Instructor Keith Dekker has been involved in horticulture for over 47 years. For the last 32 years his career has focused on the comprehensive care of residential landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. As a Clallam County Master Gardener and active volunteer with PlantAmnesty, Keith contributes to his community by teaching classes and giving talks to promote best practices for successful, sustainable gardening.  Keith lives on the Olympic Peninsula with his wife, and Arlo the wonder dog. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Keith Dekker. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_7b1803b4c118. Thursday, February 26, 2026, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Master Pruner: Conifer Pruning (online)

Cost: $35 for PlantAmnesty Members, $75 for non-members Register Online, Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Conifers play by different rules than their flowering friends. This class will cover timing and where to make cuts that will help conifers stay vibrant. Part of the Master Pruner Series held in partnership with PlantAmnesty. Professional credits pending: ISA -2, APLD - 2, CPH - 2, ecoPRO -2, NALP/WALP - 2 Instructor Bess Bronstein is a horticultural consultant, a previous instructor for the Edmonds Community College horticulture program, and an ISA Certified Arborist. Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Bess Bronstein. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_16fce42fd608. Thursday, February 26, 2026, 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Tremendous Trees Virtual Story Time

Trees make everything better, and these stories celebrate their beauty and power. Stop by the library during March or April 2026 to pick up a neighborhood tree tour map. SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT TREES by Toni Yuly SQUIRREL’S FAMILY TREE by Beth Ferry and A.N. Kang LOG LIFE by Amy Hevron, Check in each month for new stories and activities that celebrate gardens, plants, and nature. Event interval: Ongoing event. Accessibility Contact: Nick at nickjpw@uw.edu. Event Types: Not Specified. Age Range: Children. Families. Sunday, March 1, 2026 – Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Online. For more info visit depts.washington.edu.

Arboretum Lichens

Cost: $45 Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.  REGISTER ONLINE Lichens grow on trees, shrubs and rocks in botanic gardens and can tell us about air quality and the make-up of plants and geology. Botanic gardens can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and algae. You will also learn about common lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart that lists lichens found in your neighborhood. Lichens are harmless to your plants and add aesthetic value to trees and shrubs. We can actually use them as indicators of air pollution! Join Dr. Katherine Glew at the Washington Park Arboretum to get a head start on learning lichens from one of Seattle’s botanic gardens. You can enjoy the late winter/early spring season by looking for lichens, rather than staying inside and missing out on the excitement of being outside! Instructor Katherine Glew, Ph.D. is Curatorial Associate of Lichens at the University of… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Katherine Glew, Ph.D. Curatorial Associate of Lichens at the UW Herbarium, Burke Museum. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_1fce11048360. Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Washington Park Arboretum. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.

Writing in Nature, Nature in Writing (in-person)

Cost: $150 for full, 3-class series Limited financial aid slots offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.  REGISTER ONLINE This workshop includes three, three-hour sessions. It is suitable for writers of poetry, fiction, or literary non-fiction who are interested in biological, cultural, and philosophical variables informing a sense of place. Each session will include 30-60 minutes of time spent in guided walking and observation in the Arboretum, with camera and/or notebook for recording observations. , Each session will then include 30-60 minutes of related reading and discussion. The instructor will provide short reading choices in poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. The goal is to broaden our conception of writing about place. , Then the instructor will offer prompts which might inspire individual work during the next 30-60 minutes of generative writing. Participants may choose to write in their preferred genre. , Time will always be saved for sharing work, with community guidelines for respectful and… Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: urbhort@uw.edu. Presenter: Rebecca Timson. Contact Information: urbhort@uw.edu. Ticket Link: https://apps.ideal-logic.com/uwbg?key=2WSB-TGY2T_K9KH-5PTF_ea44cd8a114d. Saturday, March 7, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Washington Park Arboretum 2300 Arboretum Dr E, Seattle WA. For more info visit apps.ideal-logic.com.