Bellevue Botanical Garden will host a gardening symposium on Sunday, September 13, focused on growing yards that withstand changing weather while supporting native ecosystems.
"Gardening for Change: Cool Plants, Hot Topics 2026" runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the garden's Shorts House, 12001 Main St. Three speakers will lead hour-long talks on strengthening local ecosystems through home gardening.
The speaker lineup, according to event organizers:
- 10–11 a.m. — Alma Cardenas, Extension Master Gardener
- 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. — Molly van der Burch, Extension Master Gardener
- 12:30–1:30 p.m. — Cassie Knavel, Washington State Department of Agriculture
Beyond the talks, attendees can browse vendors, enter door-prize drawings, and build their own bouquets at a Bloom Bar station.
The Copper Kettle Coffee Bar at the Shorts House is expected to offer coffee, pastries, and light lunch items for purchase. All proceeds from vendor sales and the Bloom Bar support the WSU Extension King County Master Gardener Program through the Master Gardener Foundation.
The event is the latest in an annual series. Last year's edition, "Cool Plants Hot Topics: Become a Pollinator Protector," drew visitors to the same venue on September 14, 2025, with a focus on native plants and pollinator habitat.
The 53-acre garden, a partnership between the City of Bellevue and the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society, draws more than 400,000 visitors annually, according to the city.
The Bellevue Botanical Garden Society announced on July 17 that it received two grants from 4Culture — Public Free Access and Sustained Support — to fund programming through 2026 and 2027, keeping events like this one accessible to the community.
