Ladd Smith

                                                                     

Ladd Smith has 25 years of horticulture experience.  He received his B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Nevada, Reno.  Ladd and his family have lived in the Seattle area for 17 years.  He has owned In Harmony Sustainable Landscaping for 14 years with his business partner, Mark Gile.

 

Ladd will discuss the steps necessary to reduce our impact on our planet and our carbon footprint.  The five steps to Natural Yard Care will be presented and discussed.  Please welcome Ladd Smith!

Dan Hinkley

Dan Hinkley, has had a lifelong interest in plants, leading him to receive his B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture and Horticulture Education from Michigan State University in 1976 and his M.S. in Urban Horticulture from the University of Washington in 1985.  In 1987, while teaching horticulture at Edmonds Community College he and his partner, Robert Jones, began Heronswood Nursery, near Kingston.  Devoted to introducing rare and unusual plants to gardeners of North America, this endeavor has led Dan into the wilds of China, South and Central America, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Nepal, Vietnam, Taiwan, Sikkim, Bhutan, Tasmania and Canada numerous times a year for the past 16 years.  He has written a number of periodicals and has won numerous awards for his horticultural accomplishments and contributions.  He currently resides in Indianola WA where he is in the process of realizing his latest endeavor, the Gardens of Windcliff, on a south-facing bluff overlooking Puget Sound. In 'The Dry Lush'

Dan will discuss a range of plants appropriate for the modified Mediterranean climate we embrace in the greater Puget Sound region.  Though many think of drought tolerant gardens as somewhat stale and parched, there exists an enormous number of plants that provide superb year round effects in foliage, flower and structure that require little supplemental water after initial establishment.   Please welcome Dan Hinkley!

Marianne Binetti

Marianne Binetti has a degree in Horticulture and is the author of 10 books.  She is also a syndicated columnist and a frequent guest on HGTV and local television.  In addition, Marianne does a radio show with KIXI.  She helps solve garden problems every week in the Seattle P.I..

 Today Marianne will help you learn to choose plants that like our climate and your soil type including Mediterranean herbs, native plants and old fashioned favorites.  This is the easy answer to having a lovely landscape in peace with the gardener, our weather and our soils.  Low maintenance landscapes make for relaxed gardeners. 

 

Marianne will stay to sign copies of her books.  For those of you that want to purchase Marianne’s new book, Container Gardening for Washington and Oregon or any of her other books, Barnes and Noble is onsite.    Please welcome Marianne Binetti!

Janet Sailer

Janet Sailer currently serves as the Conservation and Public Information Specialist for the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District.  She holds a Master of Arts degree in Environment and Community from Antioch University in Seattle, WA.  Janet manages the District’s water conservation and irrigation programs and is a Certified Irrigation Auditor with the Irrigation Association.  Prior to her position at the District, Janet attained fifteen years of professional experience in the parks and landscaping field, including a nine-year position as a senior park technician at the City of Redmond, WA.

 

Greg Rabourn

Greg Rabourn’s passion for native plants collided with his dislike of mowing many years ago.  He has been practicing and preaching native plant and low maintenance landscaping techniques ever since.  Greg is co-host of KCTV’s new gardening show “Yard Talk”.  Greg is a weekly guest for the Greendays Gardening Panel, a popular call-in radio show on KUOW, 94.9 FM.  Greg was the primary photographer and author of the popular website “Northwest Native Plant Landscaping Guide”.  He organizes volunteer efforts to rescue native plants before they are bulldozed for development. 

Did your water bill almost bankrupt you last summer?  Does your lawn inspire yawning?  Are dandelions king of your jungle?  Then lawn reduction surgery may be for you.  Lawn is often not the best choice for many yards, but we often default to these high maintenance landscapes.  After attending this workshop, you will learn if grass is your best choice, methods for killing grass and drought-tolerant, low maintenance alternatives to lawn.  Please welcome Greg Rabourn!

David McDonald                                                                             

David McDonald is a biologist and environmental scientist with Seattle Public Utilities.  He helped create the regional Soils for Salmon and Natural Yard Care programs.  David works with landscape, building and design professionals to develop cost-effective, healthy, and environmentally friendly landscape strategies.   

Today David will discuss easy ways to grow healthy soil, for a healthy landscape.  David will also be conducting a mulch mowing demonstration from 11:30 – 12:00 and again from 1:40 – 2:10.  For that demonstration, please meet him outside in the grassy area between the Senior Center and City Hall.  Please welcome David McDonald!

Meeghan Black

Meeghan is an Emmy award winning Television news journalist and Meteorologist with more than 20 years experience anchoring and reporting daily news. She has covered everything from presidential visits to corporate mergers to natural and unnatural disasters.  Meeghan is the producer and co-host of the Gardening with Ciscoe segments on KING TV.  Meeghan and Ciscoe Morris have teamed together to bring fun and knowledgeable gardening tips to Northwest viewers for more than seven years now.

 

Meeghan is a native of the Seattle area.  Since 1994, Meeghan has been a reporter, anchor and meteorologist at KIRO-TV and currently KING-TV. 

 

Meeghan is a frequent emcee and speaker for various Puget Sound events.  She lives with her husband and daughter in the Seattle area. 

 

Ciscoe

Cisco is well known in the media.  Featured on KING5 TV, ‘Gardening with Ciscoe with KING5’s Meeghan Black’, can be seen every weekend on the KING5 ‘Morning News’ and on the KING5 ‘Noon News’ on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  His half-hour long ‘Gardening with Ciscoe’ with co-star Meeghan Black, can be seen every Saturday on KING5.  In addition, ‘Gardening with Ciscoe Live’ can be seen every Friday night on the Northwest Cable News Network.  Ciscoe also makes regular appearances on the 'Gardening by the Yard' show on the Home and Garden cable network.  His humorous and informational radio call in show, ‘Gardening with Ciscoe’, can be heard every Saturday morning on 710 KIRO, beginning at 10:00 AM.  In addition, Ciscoe has co-authored two books.  His newest book ‘Ask Ciscoe’ made its debut in late 2006 and is among the top selling garden books nationwide.  You can read Ciscoe’s ‘To Do’ column every week in the Saturday Gardening Section in the Seattle P-I.  Ciscoe’s home garden was featured in the October/November 1999 issue of ‘Seattle Homes and Lifestyle.  Despite all of that, Ciscoe regularly leads garden tours to countries all over the world.  His last exciting tour was to South Africa in October of 2007.  We are very happy to have Ciscoe be one of our speakers.  Also, Ciscoe will be staying after his presentation to sign his books for you.  If you haven’t purchased one yet, Barnes and Noble is on hand selling our authors’ books as well as other great books on waterwise landscaping.