Nearly three decades of great gardening advice
Every year between January and March, the Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation and WSU Jefferson County Extension sponsor a lecture series featuring well-known gardeners, authors and subject matter experts on a variety of gardening subjects.
All sessions are held in-person at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. There is plenty of free parking at this venue.
Tickets Are Now on Sale!
Please visit: 2026YardAndGarden.eventbrite.com
Pro tip: To purchase a Series ticket, take these steps: #1. Click on the red “Check Availability” button. #2. Click on a highlighted date (e.g., January 10 or 17. #3. Click on “10 a.m.-12 p.m.” in the TIME section under “Choose Options.” #4. Click on Series Ticket, and add the number of tickets you want. Then, select “Check Out.”
We look forward to seeing you there!
2026 Presenters
Every year when the days are at their shortest, the weather looks the bleakest, and die-hard gardeners are out shoveling compost in the mud, wondering if the sun will EVER shine again, the Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation hosts the annual Yard and Garden Speaker Series. This year is the 27th time we have offered the lecture series!
May this year’s offerings from authors, gardeners, horticulturists and wildlife experts serve to enlighten and inspire you through the winter months. Below are brief bios of our 2026 speakers. Scroll to the bottom for the schedule and details about each presentation.
Gardening on a Warming Planet: Insights from Heronswood
Dr. Ross Bayton
Ross is director of Heronswood Garden, and author of several books on horticulture including The Gardener’s Botanical: An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names, New Trees: Introductions to Cultivation (with John Grimshaw), and Plant Families: A Guide for Gardeners and Botanists (with Simon Maugham). Ross holds a doctorate from the Royal Botanic Gardens where he studied the classification of tropical palms.
Growing Practices for a Resilient Edible Garden
Marni Sorin
Marni is a garden educator at Tilth Alliance, caregiver for the Good Shepherd Center Learning Garden (along with volunteers), and a small-scale organic gardener. Marni holds a master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Washington, and a Certificate in Education for Environment and Community from IslandWood.
Rooted in Research: How Urban Forests Sustain Us
Dr. Kathleen Wolf
Kathleen is a University of Washington research social scientist studying interactions between human and ecological systems, writer, and a key collaborator with the U.S. Forest Service Pacific NW Research Station on urban forestry studies. Kathleen holds a doctorate in Landscape Architecture and a master’s in Landscape Architecture, both from the University of Michigan.
Designing for Drought: Waterwise Designs with Native Plants
Lisa Taylor
Lisa is an educator, consultant, contributing author of the Maritime Northwest Garden Guide, 2nd ed., and Your Farm in the City: An Urban Dweller’s Guide to Growing Food and Raising Animals. Lisa is a Master Composter, a pioneer in Children’s Gardening, and has been teaching people of all ages to garden organically for 30 years.
Backyard Sanctuaries: Gardening for Birds and Biodiversity
Dr. Steve Hampton
Steve is an avid birder, writer, Conservation Chair and Christmas Bird Count Compiler for Rainshadow Bird Alliance, an enrolled citizen of Cherokee Nation, and a former resource economist for the California Department of Fish & Game. Steve holds a doctorate in resource economics.
Working with Nature: Smarter, Safer Pest Management
Jenny Glass
Jenny Glass is the plant diagnostician for the WSU-Puyallup Plant and Insect Diagnostic Laboratory. She also teaches plant pathology, diagnosis, and integrated pest management to Master Gardeners and other audiences in western Washington. Jenny holds a master’s degree in botany and plant pathology from Oregon State University.
Schedule and Presentation Details
January 10
Speaker: Dr. Ross Bayton
Lecture title: “Gardening on a Warming Planet: Insights from Heronswood”
Description: Weather is perhaps the most crucial factor determining the health of our plants, and many gardeners have begun to notice changes in the regular patterns of weather. As one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier gardens, Heronswood has begun to adapt its plant selections and cultural practices to accommodate our changing climate. Join Director Ross Bayton to find out what Heronswood is doing and whether it is working.
January 17
Speaker: Marni Sorin
Lecture title: “Growing Practices for a Resilient Edible Garden”
Description: Organic gardening practices can positively impact soil health and build climate resilience — all while growing a bountiful edible garden. Gardener, educator and small-scale farmer Marni Sorin will discuss techniques for supporting soil health, strategies and tools to adapt to changing weather patterns, and ways that gardens can help mitigate the effects of climate change.
January 24
Speaker: Dr. Kathleen Wolf
Lecture title: “Rooted in Research: How Urban Forests Sustain Us”
Description: Gardeners and naturalists intuitively know that time in nature is good for people. Research of recent decades confirms those hunches, and also expands the depth and dimension of knowledge about nature experiences and human health. Research social scientist and writer Dr. Kathleen Wolf will provide an overview of the wide-ranging studies and how nature can be planned and designed to boost community and individual resilience of mind and body.
January 31
Speaker: Lisa Taylor
Lecture title: “Designing for Drought: Waterwise Designs with Native Plants”
Description: No matter where you live in Washington, water conservation is an issue. Educator, consultant, and author Lisa Taylor will share how landscaping with native plants, rain gardens and cisterns help conserve and filter water and provide habitat for pollinators. She’ll also walk us through how small changes such as creating contours and rain gardens and adding cisterns and rain barrels can lead to big improvements in water quality and retention.
February 7
Speaker: Dr. Steve Hampton
Lecture title: “Backyard Sanctuaries: Gardening for Birds and Biodiversity”
Description: When it comes to supporting wildlife habitat in the places we live, there are both opportunities and challenges. Avid birder and author Steve Hampton will walk attendees through how to attract a wide diversity of species by creating edge habitat in backyards, all the while navigating a variety of urban hazards and invasive species.
February 14
Speaker: Jenny Glass
Lecture title: “Working with Nature: Smarter, Safer Pest Management”
Description: Let’s face it — pests can make gardening a real challenge. Jenny Glass, plant diagnostician for the WSU-Puyallup Plant and Insect Diagnostic Laboratory, will share practical strategies for resilience: choosing hardy plants, improving soil health, and adapting to changing conditions. In addition, she’ll highlight different gardening practices that help avoid pest problems, and showcase some of the good (and surprisingly interesting) organisms that are in your yard that are eager to help.