Flower & Garden Show: Experts to dish the dirt at King County 'healthy soil' booth

Popular gardening author Marianne Binetti to share tips

Stop by King County's educational booth at this year's Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Feb. 8-12, at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle and get the dirt on healthy soil.

This year's booth will provide an interactive experience with county experts available to answer questions and provide hands-on demonstrations in composting and mulching, which are two key ingredients for healthy soil.

“Our booth provides hands-on experience and an opportunity to hear from regional experts, “said Pam Bissonnette, Director of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. “We enjoy seeing returning visitors looking for new ideas, or first-time visitors who are seeking basic information on improving their gardens.”

King County resident Marianne Binetti, a well-known Pacific Northwest horticulturalist and author of several gardening books, will make guest appearances at King County's booth. Binetti will demonstrate her recipe for “dirt lasagna,” answer questions and sign books.

Washington State University Master Gardeners will also join King County experts in the booth for the duration of the Flower & Garden Show to answer questions and provide insight on the latest techniques for creating gardens and landscapes

King County staff are also offering seminars on specific topics during the show, including:

• The Best Native Plants for Northwest Gardens Seminar on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 9:45 am in the Hood Room features Greg Rabourn with the King County Native Plant Salvage program. Learn which Pacific Northwest native plants will not just survive but thrive in your garden.
• Natural Lawn Care, Caring for Lawns the Healthy Way will be led by Ladd Smith, who has been a regular presenter for King County's highly successful Natural Yard Care Neighborhoods program for the past three years. Smith, who co-founded In Harmony, an organic-based landscape services firm, will be on the Monrovia Stage on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 1:30 p.m.
• Rabourn and Doug Rice, the stars of the popular King County TV show, Yard Talk, will answer gardening questions throughout the Flower & Garden Show. Some gardening questions and answers could be used during an upcoming TV show.

King County continues to promote natural yard care as the best way to build a beautiful garden and yard without the use of harmful pesticides. Simple yard care practices can save money, time and the environment, while conserving natural resources by raising awareness about a pesticides-free approach to gardening.
More information on the 2006 Northwest Flower & Garden Show is available at http://gardenshownw.com/, or by calling 206-789-5333.