Bellingham Alive

Birchwood Garden Club's November 5th Meeting
2025-11-05 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver)
Birchwood Garden Club
November Topic: Common Threads Farm School Program
The November 5, 2025 meeting of the Birchwood Garden Club will be held in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
The speaker for the evening will be Sarah Wheatley, Garden and Volunteer Programs Manager for Common Threads Farm, a local nonprofit that teaches gardening and cooking in the public schools. Sarah delivers Common Threads Farm programs at Birchwood Elementary and the Lummi Nation School, and works with school communities and volunteers to care for school gardens at 25 Whatcom County schools. The presentation will cover what Common Threads Farm is, the
founding history, what they do, and why they do it. Please join us to hear about this interesting and important subject.
The Birchwood Garden Club is accepting applications for donations to help support the efforts of non-profit organizations that offer opportunities in the realm of horticulture, agriculture or related fields. Applications are being accepted for up to $500 each from now until December 31 and awarded by March 1, 2026. Applications can be found at: https://www.birchwoodgardenclub.org/donate-page.html. Follow the directions on this page to print a hard copy of the form.
Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings where we will have membership brochures available to join our club. Check out our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org to see the fun activities and community services our club does! You can join us on Instagram and Facebook @ Birchwood Garden Club.

Birchwood Garden Club's December 3rd Meeting
2025-12-03 19:00 - 21:00
Birchwood Garden Club
Established 1931-Bellingham, Washington
Planting Seeds of Friendship throughout our Community
December Topic:
Attracting Hummingbirds
Speaker–Julie Whittaker, owner of The Wild Bird Chalet
The December 3, 2025 meeting of the Birchwood Garden Club will be held in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Doors open at 6:30PM.
The speaker for the evening will be Julie Whittaker, owner of the Wild Bird Chalet, 108 Ohio Street, Bellingham. Julie will speak on attracting hummingbirds. The Wild Bird Chalet is a local, independent vendor of wild bird food and feeders, hummingbird feeders, and other supplies, as well as items for squirrels, bats, and miscellaneous critters.
Julie has been a Whatcom Co. resident since 1990. She bought the business in 2019, and has fed birds for more than a dozen years. She has a degree in ecology, with a specialty in native plants, and is passionate about habitat for wildlife. Please join us!
The Birchwood Garden Club is accepting applications from non-profit organizations in Whatcom and Skagit counties to help support projects that are related to horticulture, agriculture or related fields. Applications for up to $500 can be found at birchwoodgardenclub.org and will be accepted until December 31 and awarded in February.
Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings where we will have membership brochures to join. Check out our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org to see the fun activities and community services our club does!

Birchwood Garden Club's May 7th Meeting #2
2026-01-02 00:00
Birchwood Garden Club
Established 1931-Bellingham, Washington
Planting Seeds of Friendship throughout our Community
May Speaker Topic: Fungi in the Garden.
The May 7, 2025 meeting of the Birchwood Garden Club will be held in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
Our speaker will be our own Fred M. Rhoades who will talk about “Fungi in the Garden and Yard: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful.” He will discuss where the fungi fit into the scheme of things and some of the beneficial and harmful mushrooms and other fungi you can find or encourage in your gardens and yards. He will also present a survey of some mushroom art he’s seen in local gardens.
Fred M. Rhoades is a mycologist/lichenologist, retired instructor, and current research associate in the Biology Department at Western Washington University. He lives in Bellingham, where he continues to pursue his interests in gardening, cryptogamic botany (lower spore producing, plant-like organisms), and natural-history photography. Please join us for this most interesting presentation!
Remember—-Birchwood Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale is coming up! Saturday, May 3, 2025. Bellingham’s Central Public Library, lower level conference room, 121 Central Avenue. 11 AM until 2 PM. Cash only please!
Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings. Membership brochures will be available.
Check our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org to see the fun activities and community services our club does! You can also join us on Instagram and Facebook @ Birchwood Garden Club.

Birchwood Garden Club's January 7th Meeting
2026-01-07 19:00 - 21:00
Birchwood Garden Club
Established 1931-Bellingham, Washington
Planting Seeds of Friendship throughout our Community
January Topic:
The Importance of Native Plants
The January 7, 2026 meeting of the Birchwood Garden Club will be held in the Rotunda Room of the Old City
Hall Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
The speakers for the evening will be Bay Renaud and Angie O’Hare from Plantas nativa LLC.
They will talk about the importance of native plants and how to utilize them in your own yard, not only for beauty, but also for the pollinators, birds, and our planet’s future.
Bay and Angie have been dedicated to helping people
understand Northwest native plants for many years. Plantas nativa specializes in offering 100% native NW species and has over 200 species in stock, including
favorites like penstemon, red columbine, flowering currant, trillium, camas, iris, lily, and more.
The stock is available in a variety of sizes and is obtained from licensed and inspected growers
who pride themselves in growing healthy stock from seed (not removed from nature).
The Birchwood Garden Club is accepting applications from non-profit organizations in Whatcom and Skagit counties to help support projects that are related to horticulture, agriculture or related fields. Applications for up to $500 can be found at birchwoodgardenclub.org and will be accepted until December 31 and awarded in February.
Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings where we will have membership brochures to join. Check out our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org to see the fun activities and community services our club does! You can also join us on Instagram and Facebook @ Birchwood Garden Club.

Birchwood Garden Club's February 4th Meeting
2026-02-04 19:00 - 21:00
Birchwood Garden Club
Established 1931-Bellingham, Washington
Planting Seeds of Friendship throughout our Community
February Topic:
Pruning Trees and Shrubs
The February 4, 2026 meeting of the Birchwood Garden Club will be held in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
The speaker will be Travis Dickson, a certified ISA Arborist and the owner of Rain Dance Landscaping, a Pacific Northwest-based company specializing in expert pruning and naturalistic garden care.
With 25 years of professional experience, Travis brings deep expertise in tree biology, pruning practices, and sustainable landscape management. His presentation will focus on pruning techniques for fruit trees, ornamental trees, and shrubs, as well as how to evaluate and manage large trees on small properties—balancing their benefits and challenges.
Travis is passionate about helping gardeners make informed, confident decisions to support the long-term health and beauty of their outdoor spaces. Please join us!!!
Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings where we will have membership brochures to join. Check out our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org to see the fun activities and community services our club does! You can also join us on Instagram and Facebook @ Birchwood Garden Club.

Salish Seed Swap
2026-02-07 12:00 - 15:00
Salish Seed Swap
Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 12 pm – 3:00 pm
At the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship (Downstairs)
1207 Ellsworth St, Bellingham, WA 98225
Bring seeds to share, learn about seeds and seed saving, get seeds for your garden, talk to other people interested in growing things!
$10 suggested donation, at the door. No one turned away for lack of funds.
Early entrance (11:30 am) for members of the Salish Seed Guild and people bringing seeds to share.
Several vendors of local plant, specialty seeds and plant related products will be selling their unique offerings.
Please bring your own envelopes to package bulk seeds being offered.
More info or to become a member go to www.salishseed.org

Gardening Green course in Sudden Valley begins February 28!
2026-02-28 09:30 - 2026-04-18 11:30
Discover the secrets to vibrant, lower-maintenance, and environmentally friendly landscaping with WSU Whatcom County Extension’s Gardening Green courses.
Saturdays: 2/28, 3/14, 3/28, 4/11, and 4/18 from 9:30am – 11:30am
Cost: $42 fee for soil testing
The course will also be offered in Birch Bay. To learn more and register for either option go to: https://extension.wsu.edu/whatcom/nr/gardening-green/

Birchwood Garden Club's March 4th Meeting
2026-03-04 19:00 - 21:00
Birchwood Garden Club
Established 1931-Bellingham, Washington
Planting Seeds of Friendship throughout our Community
March Topic:
Gardening for Fragrance with Diana Wisen
The March 4, 2026 meeting of the Birchwood Garden Club will be held in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
The speaker will be Diana Wisen, a WSU Extension Master
Gardener since 1991, speaking on Gardening for Fragrance.
Sometimes we forget to consider scent when we select plants for our gardens. Fragrance can bring an added dimension to the color and texture of our garden beds. Neuroscientists consider the sense of smell to be important to our enjoyment of life because it enhances our experience of taste, can trigger memories, and can change our mood and emotions. Diana will introduce us to many plants, which can add scent to our gardens. At the end of her talk, she will provide us with a
list of plants – trees, shrubs, herbs, flowers, all kinds of plants – to which we can refer to bring scent into our gardens. Please join us!
Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings where we will have membership brochures to join. Check out our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org to see the fun activities and community services our club does! You can also join us on Instagram and Facebook @ Birchwood Garden Club.

Birchwood Garden Club's April 1st Meeting
2026-04-01 19:00 - 21:00
Birchwood Garden Club
Established 1931-Bellingham, Washington
Planting Seeds of Friendship throughout our Community
April Topic:
Gardening With Wildflowers with Molly Hashimoto
The April 1, 2026 meeting of the Birchwood Garden Club will be held in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
Our speaker for the evening will be Molly Hashimoto. Molly is a gifted artist and teacher who is loved for her patient tutelage as much as her remarkable paintings. In addition to many years with the North Cascades Institute, she taught at the Haystack Institute, the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, and the Yosemite Conservancy. She connects students of all ages with nature and with their creative identity through watercolor workshops dedicated to Northwest and Western landscapes.
Molly has previously written three books. “Trees of the West,” “Colors of the West,” and “Birds of the West.”
Her latest book is “Wildflowers of the West.” On April 1st she will tell us about wildflowers that we can use in our gardens.
Please join us for what promises to be a most interesting presentation.
www.mollyhashimoto.com
Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings where we will have membership brochures to join. Check out our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org to see the fun activities and community services our club does! You can also join us on Instagram and Facebook @ Birchwood Garden Club.

Birchwood Garden Club's 33rd Annual Plant Sale!
2026-05-02 11:00 - 14:00
Birchwood Garden Club’s 2026 Plant Sale!
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Bellingham Central Library, Lower Level
11:00 AM until 2:00 PM
It is said that April showers bring May flowers. May flowers will also be found at the 33rd Annual Plant Sale of the Birchwood Garden Club on Saturday, May 2.
The Plant Sale will be held in the lower level conference room of the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Avenue, Bellingham WA.
Local plants grown by local gardeners for our local climate ― all plants in the sale have been donated by the Birchwood Garden Club members. There will be an affordable assortment of annuals, perennials, veggie starts, indoor plants, and more. Come early for best selection!
Cash or check only please.
Proceeds from the Plant Sale benefit numerous community organizations and provide for the maintenance of the public gardens at the Museum and Central Library. The Club also funds small grants for gardening-related projects that enrich our neighborhoods and encourage the love of gardening for all ages.
Founded in 1931, Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings held in the Rotunda Room of the Whatcom Museum, featuring guest speakers on current gardening topics.
Check out our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org
or join us on Instagram and Facebook @ Birchwood Garden Club.

Doreen Wynja “The Spirited Garden: Creative Private Retreats”
2026-05-21 19:00 - 20:30
A Visual Presentation of 17 Garden-makers in the Pacific Northwest
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Whatcom Museum, 121 Prospect Street, Bellingham
7PM – Doors open at 6:30pm
Tickets: $10 Members, $15 General
We are delighted to welcome photographer Doreen Wynja who will share highlights from her stunning new book, The Spirited Garden: Creative Private Retreats (Rizzoli, 2025). Her images capture the richly realized and profoundly personal visions of 17 garden-makers in the Pacific Northwest, from the Willamette Valley to the Salish Sea. This visually powerful presentation will fill you with inspiration and encourage you to get out into your garden and create your own magic.
Oregon-based Doreen has been photographing plants and gardens for over twenty years. Known for her ability to capture the spirit, story, and personality of gardens, her work has appeared in Garden Design, Fine Gardening, Landscape Architecture, American Gardener and Marin Magazine. She has been an outside contractor for Monrovia Nursery since 2004, and has a host of other commercial clients, including artists and garden designers.
Doreen’s book, The Spirited Garden: Creative Private Retreats, co-written with Lorene Edwards Forkner, will be for sale at the lecture

4th Annual DVSAS Garden Tour
2026-06-06 10:00 - 15:00
Spend June 6th with us (rain or shine) exploring some of the most beautiful and unique gardens in Bellingham—all while supporting the work we do at DVSAS.
Your $25 ticket includes a self-guided tour of seven stunning local home gardens.
This is a wonderful way to gather garden inspiration, enjoy time with friends, and make a meaningful difference in our community.

Purple Passion Sale at Meerkerk Gardens
2026-06-06 10:00 - 2026-06-07 16:00
Purple Passion Sale at Meerkerk Gardens. Rhodoendrons, Azaleas, and companion plants. All plants 20% off, 25% ff for members. 10-4 Sat/Sun June 6 and 7.

Skagit Symphony’s Art in the Garden Bash & Garden Tour
2026-06-28 11:00 - 16:00
Skagit Symphony’s Art in the Garden Bash & Garden Tour
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 11am-4pm
Experience the Beauty of Bow-Edison as you relish the sights and sounds at the pastoral landscapes of the four historic properties featured. Discover and enjoy the Performing and fine art displays at the 2026 Art in the Garden Bash & Garden Tour.
Early Bird Price $30 ($35 price after June 14th.)
Purchase tickets at these Garden Bash Ticket outlets (cash and checks only):
Christianson’s Nursery
Sheely’s Floral & Gifts
Stowe’s Shoes & Clothing
Available by credit card at the Skagit Symphony Office or at skagitsymphony.com
For more information visit skagitsymphony.com or call Skagit Symphony: 360-848-9336
Tour locations are disclosed upon ticket purchase.
