meetings & events calendar
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our monthly meetings
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NWNARGS meets up to ten times a year at the Bellevue Botanical Garden (12001 Main Street, Bellevue, WA 98005), in addition to periodic online meetings. Meetings feature illustrated presentations by local, national and international experts; plant cultivation tips and demonstrations; and information about Pacific Northwest growing conditions and plant resources. Meetings are usually held the second Thursday of each month (with exceptions, see below). Refreshments and social time start at 7:00 pm, business meeting and program at 7:30 pm. Please s the map below for the exact location. Our meetings are free and open to the public and non-members and guests are welcome!
2026 Programs & Events (all meetings in person at the Bellevue Botanical Garden unless otherwise noted)
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Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11:00 am - NWNARGS Chapter Members, "A Seedy Affair" - Have you ever wondered what a John Innes mix is? Do words like scarification and stratification sound like torture methods? What about phrases like “top dressing”, “damping-off”, and “excellent drainage”? No worries. Ron Ratko, Richard Ramsden, and Claire Cockcroft will be leading a hands-on program about growing plants from seed, focusing on alpine plants and plants native to our region. There will be a short presentation with a hand-out. Then you will get a chance to choose your seeds, make up a pot and take it home. Hopefully you will gain bragging rights later in the year when your seeds have germinated. Maybe you’ll be so successful, there will be enough plants for a potting party? Hope springs eternal, even when seedlings don’t!
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This is a hands-on session at the Bellevue Botanic Garden, open to NWNARGS members and their guests. Social time starts at 10:30 am, meeting and presentation at 11:00 am.
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​Sunday, February 15, 2026, 11:00 am - Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy, "From Gak to Yak"
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Join Kelly and Sue of Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy as they revisit their July 2025 expedition to Arunachal Pradesh, a remote and spectacular corner of the Eastern Himalayas bordering Tibet and Bhutan. They’ll explore what makes this region one of the world’s most botanically and culturally rich landscapes, sharing vivid stories and images of soaring mountains, sacred temples, and an extraordinary array of plants. Highlights include multiple species of Meconopsis (the famed Blue Poppy)—among them Meconopsis gakyidiana—along with a host of other remarkable botanical treasures.
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Social time begins at 10:30 am, program and meeting at 11:00 am.​​​​
maps
pictures from some of our past meetings
One of our members perusing some of Ron Ratko's seeds for sale. A percentage of the profits go to our chapter. Photo by Lynn Schueler
Thanks to our generous donors, we have an extensive collection of garden-related books for sale. Photo by Lynn Schueler
Photo by Lynn Schueler
At our monthly meeting. Photo by Lynn Schueler