Northwestern Chapter
of the North American Rock Garden Society

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.​​​​

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Thursday, March 12, 2026, 7:30 pm - Richard Ramsden, "Flower Spotting on Tronsen Ridge"

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This presentation will center on one of the best and most accessible wildflower areas in the state: Tronsen Ridge. Located near Blewett Pass, diverse floristic elements from the Cascades, Wenatchee Mountains, and the Columbia River basin mix in this one location where habitats range from open forests to dry, rocky slopes. Species highlighted will include Penstemon, Anemone, Eriogonum, Lewisia plus many others that may be common or rare, most beautiful plus a few ugly ones.

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The speaker will share insights and expertise he has accrued in visiting the area over the past twenty years. He is a member of NWNARGS and has a rockery in Seattle where he grows native mountain plants. 

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Social time begins at 7:00 pm, program and meeting at 7:30 pm.

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Thursday, April 9, 2026, 7:30 pm - Mike Stewart, “The Smallest Rhododendrons”

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(Bill Gray, from the Pilchuk chapter of the Rhododendron Society, will be the presenter.)

 

From his extensive experience growing smaller Rhododendrons, Mike Stewart shows the habitat that many of the smaller Rhodies are found in China, how to duplicate these conditions in a nursery and techniques for propagation  of the smaller Rhodies. As many of these plants are from cooler, higher altitudes, our relatively cool summer temperatures let us grow a wide selection of these plants.

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Mike Stewart owned Dover Nursery, an important Rhododendron Nursery near Portland OR. A former President of both the American Rhododendron Society and the Rhododendron Species Foundation, Mike is involved with the renovations and renewal of Van Veen Nursery.

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A special thanks to Sandy Milam for facilitating this program.

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Social time begins at 7:00 pm, program and meeting at 7:30 pm.

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Thursday, May 14, 2026: Bryon Jones, "Dry Gardening in the Pacific Northwest: Tips, Tricks, and Plant Selection Ideas"

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What is ‘Dry Gardening”? Is it using drought tolerant plants? Are they shade or sun-loving plants? Does Dry Gardening mean using less water, or no water through various strategies? Is it a combination of all the above, or perhaps it includes even more? Let’s explore all these questions during this presentation, but perhaps Dry Gardening is ultimately what you decide it to be!

Bryon Jones is a plantsman, designer, and educator who connects plants, animals, and people through thoughtful design. With academic roots in Psychology and Environmental Horticulture, he blends plant science with a deep understanding of behavior and environment to create meaningful landscapes. Over a distinguished career in zoological horticulture, Bryon designed immersive, habitat-driven gardens that enhanced animal well-being while engaging and educating the public. He choreographs plants as charismatic storytellers — drawing from species from across the globe, he invites visitors to see nature with fresh eyes, fostering ecological literacy and a deeper understanding of the relationships that sustain healthy landscapes, wildlife, and communities. Bryon’s work has been featured on television, radio, and in horticultural publications.

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Social time begins at 7:00 pm, program and meeting at 7:30 pm.

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Friday, May 29, 2026: Plant sale prep and plant drop-off, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm 

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Saturday, May 30, 2026 - 10:00 am to 1:00 pm - 2026 ROCK GARDEN PLANT SALE!

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Rare plants from around the world and northwest natives will be on sale at the Bellevue Botanical Garden from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 30th.

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Volunteers and donors can shop early, from 9:30 am to 9:45 am. From 9:45 am to 10:00 am, all NWNARGS members can join the presale. Sale opens to the public at 10:00 am.

Members of the Northwestern Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society and regional specialty growers will offer a wide range of plants that grow in the mountains, forests and deserts of the West, along with plants from Europe, Asia and South America. Members will be available to demonstrate growing conditions and to give advice. 

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All proceeds from our plant sales benefit the ongoing educational mission of the Northwestern Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society.

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Volunteers and donors can shop at 9:30 am, other NWNARGS members at 9:45 am. Non-members can join at the sale!​

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More information here!