The first of six lectures in our 2025 Yard & Garden Lecture Series begins January 11.

The series is in person this year at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Port Townsend. If you’ve already purchased tickets, we thank you for your support! Ticket sales help support Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation programs.

Richie Steffen is our first speaker on “In Search of Excellence: Great Plant Picks for the Garden.” Few people have a passion for plants or an excitement about gardening greater than Richie Steffen. He is executive director for the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden, overseeing the development of the garden, its programs, and the rare plant collections. The Miller Garden works with expert horticulturalists around the region to select the best garden ornamentals through the Great Plant Picks program greatplantpicks.org.

Each lecture will run from 10 a.m.– noon. The price for the entire six-lecture series is $75; single-event tickets are available for $15. Tickets may be purchased from 2025yardandgarden.eventbrite.com.

The lecture series continues on Saturdays through February 15 with notable gardening and horticultural experts:

January 11: Richie Steffen, “In Search of Excellence: Great Plant Picks for the Garden”

January 18: Mark Turner, “The Beauty of Weeds”

January 25: Sue Goetz, “Edible Garden Landscape Design”

February 1: David Allen, “A Wild Idea: Native Plants for Pollinators, Birds, and Wildlife”

February 8: Karen Wright, “Native Bees of Washington State”

February 15: Clay Antieau, “The Importance of Being Evergreen”

Speaker bios and topic details can be found at jcmgf.org.

Ticket sales help support Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation educational and charitable activities. The talk is co-sponsored by Washington State University’s Jefferson County Extension Service. The series’ presenting sponsors are Scott Rogers, Realtor®, from RE/MAX® First in Port Townsend and Moving Earth LLC in Port Townsend.