Upcoming Events
Most of our events are open to the public and free to attend, thanks to SBGS membership fees and generous donations. Help us continue offering educational programs by becoming a member today!
Be sure sign up for our newsletter or follow us on socials to hear more about about upcoming events!
Nature Explorers Club
Print Making
Our next Nature Explorers Club adventure takes us into the beautiful intersection of math, art, and the garden!
Join us for a spooktacular afternoon of autumn-inspired printmaking. We'll explore nature’s textures and seasonal shapes by creating beautiful (and a little bit creepy) art with:
Mushroom spore prints
Apple and pumpkin stamps
Scary plant specimens on display
Pumpkin dissection station: kids can squish, scoop, and study real pumpkins and seeds
This workshop is perfect for young artists and curious minds alike. Come dressed for mess, and be ready to create.
Open to ages 5 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Bring: Sketchbook or paper, water bottle, and weather-appropriate clothing. Supplies will be provided for printmaking.
SBGS Board Meeting
Board meetings are usually held on the second Tuesday of intermittent months with location to be determined. All members of the SBGS are welcome to attend.
Please send attendance requests to info@sammamishbotanical.org for more details .
Nature Journaling for Relaxation
Join us in the garden at this month's meet-up for a demo of herb drying with a mesh drying rack
Join us for monthly nature journaling - a relaxing activity that encourages slowing down to notice details, explore with curiosity, and connect with the natural world by recording observations in a sketchbook. No experience required! We’ll share ideas for connecting with nature to help you capture the garden’s beauty and the wonders of the outdoors.
Each session includes:
• Guided nature journaling and sketching
• Time to explore and observe
• Prompts and demos from experienced instructors
Bring: A sketchbook/paper and a pencil/pen (optional: colored pencils/watercolor)
Class offered by Karen Houlding.
SBGS 2025 Annual Meeting
SBGS 2025 annual meeting will be held at the Lodge at Beaver Lake on Wednesday, October 29th, 2025. Come at 6:30 pm to chat with fellow gardeners, enjoy desserts and refreshments! Meeting and presentations will begin at 7:00 pm. We look forward to a presentation by well-known local gardener, writer and speaker, Lorene Edwards Forkner.
Nature Explorers Club
Stay tuned for details on our next Nature Explorers Club adventure.
Bring: Unlined journal or sketchbook, pencil, colored pencils, water bottle, and weather-appropriate clothing.
Nature Journaling for Relaxation
Join us for monthly nature journaling - a relaxing activity that encourages slowing down to notice details, explore with curiosity, and connect with the natural world by recording observations in a sketchbook. No experience required! We’ll share ideas for connecting with nature to help you capture the garden’s beauty and the wonders of the outdoors.
Each session includes:
• Guided nature journaling and sketching
• Time to explore and observe
• Prompts and demos from experienced instructors
Bring: A sketchbook/paper and a pencil/pen (optional: colored pencils/watercolor)
Class offered by Karen Houlding.
Nature Journaling for Relaxation
Join us for monthly nature journaling - a relaxing activity that encourages slowing down to notice details, explore with curiosity, and connect with the natural world by recording observations in a sketchbook. No experience required! We’ll share ideas for connecting with nature to help you capture the garden’s beauty and the wonders of the outdoors.
Each session includes:
• Guided nature journaling and sketching
• Time to explore and observe
• Prompts and demos from experienced instructors
Bring: A sketchbook/paper and a pencil/pen (optional: colored pencils/watercolor)
Class offered by Karen Houlding.
Nature Explorers Club
Stay tuned for details on our next Nature Explorers Club adventure.
Bring: Unlined journal or sketchbook, pencil, colored pencils, water bottle, and weather-appropriate clothing.
Nature Journaling for Relaxation
Join us for monthly nature journaling - a relaxing activity that encourages slowing down to notice details, explore with curiosity, and connect with the natural world by recording observations in a sketchbook. No experience required! We’ll share ideas for connecting with nature to help you capture the garden’s beauty and the wonders of the outdoors.
Each session includes:
• Guided nature journaling and sketching
• Time to explore and observe
• Prompts and demos from experienced instructors
Bring: A sketchbook/paper and a pencil/pen (optional: colored pencils/watercolor)
Class offered by Karen Houlding.
Nature Explorers Club
Stay tuned for details on our next Nature Explorers Club adventure.
Bring: Unlined journal or sketchbook, pencil, colored pencils, water bottle, and weather-appropriate clothing.
Nature Journaling for Relaxation
Join us for monthly nature journaling - a relaxing activity that encourages slowing down to notice details, explore with curiosity, and connect with the natural world by recording observations in a sketchbook. No experience required! We’ll share ideas for connecting with nature to help you capture the garden’s beauty and the wonders of the outdoors.
Each session includes:
• Guided nature journaling and sketching
• Time to explore and observe
• Prompts and demos from experienced instructors
Bring: A sketchbook/paper and a pencil/pen (optional: colored pencils/watercolor)
Class offered by Karen Houlding.
Nature Explorers Club
Stay tuned for details on our next Nature Explorers Club adventure.
Bring: Unlined journal or sketchbook, pencil, colored pencils, water bottle, and weather-appropriate clothing.
Nature Journaling for Relaxation
Join us for monthly nature journaling - a relaxing activity that encourages slowing down to notice details, explore with curiosity, and connect with the natural world by recording observations in a sketchbook. No experience required! We’ll share ideas for connecting with nature to help you capture the garden’s beauty and the wonders of the outdoors.
Each session includes:
• Guided nature journaling and sketching
• Time to explore and observe
• Prompts and demos from experienced instructors
Bring: A sketchbook/paper and a pencil/pen (optional: colored pencils/watercolor)
Class offered by Karen Houlding.
Nature Explorers Club
Stay tuned for details on our next Nature Explorers Club adventure.
Bring: Unlined journal or sketchbook, pencil, colored pencils, water bottle, and weather-appropriate clothing.
Nature Journaling for Relaxation
Join us for monthly nature journaling - a relaxing activity that encourages slowing down to notice details, explore with curiosity, and connect with the natural world by recording observations in a sketchbook. No experience required! We’ll share ideas for connecting with nature to help you capture the garden’s beauty and the wonders of the outdoors.
Each session includes:
• Guided nature journaling and sketching
• Time to explore and observe
• Prompts and demos from experienced instructors
Bring: A sketchbook/paper and a pencil/pen (optional: colored pencils/watercolor)
Class offered by Karen Houlding.
Nature Explorers Club
Stay tuned for details on our next Nature Explorers Club adventure.
Bring: Unlined journal or sketchbook, pencil, colored pencils, water bottle, and weather-appropriate clothing.
Nature Journaling for Relaxation
Join us for monthly nature journaling - a relaxing activity that encourages slowing down to notice details, explore with curiosity, and connect with the natural world by recording observations in a sketchbook. No experience required! We’ll share ideas for connecting with nature to help you capture the garden’s beauty and the wonders of the outdoors.
Each session includes:
• Guided nature journaling and sketching
• Time to explore and observe
• Prompts and demos from experienced instructors
Bring: A sketchbook/paper and a pencil/pen (optional: colored pencils/watercolor)
Class offered by Karen Houlding.
Nature Explorers Club
Found Object Art in Nature
In this session of Nature Explorers Club, we’ll transform natural treasures into works of art. Together, we’ll practice slowing down, looking closely, and reconnecting with the wonder of the natural world. The goal is to see nature with fresh eyes, enjoy the process as much as the product, and reawaken our sense of curiosity.
Activities will include:
Taking apart a flower petal by petal to observe its hidden details
Creating mandalas from gathered natural objects
Using Y-shaped sticks to form stars, signs, and simple games
Exploring the Fibonacci spiral and designing our own
Experimenting with representational art inspired by what we find outdoors
What to Bring:
An unlined journal or sketchbook
Pencil and colored pencils
A water bottle
Weather-appropriate clothing
Optional: your own natural collections such as sticks, pebbles, fern leaves, seed pods, berries, feathers, cones, moss, bark, lichens, or other small finds
Nature Journaling Workshops
Join us in the garden at this month's meet-up for a demo of botanical ink making!
Join us for monthly nature journaling - a relaxing activity that encourages slowing down to notice details, explore with curiosity, and connect with the natural world by recording observations in a sketchbook. No experience required! We’ll share ideas for connecting with nature to help you capture the garden’s beauty and the wonders of the outdoors.
Each session includes:
• Guided nature journaling and sketching
• Time to explore and observe
• Prompts and demos from experienced instructors
Bring: A sketchbook/paper and a pencil/pen (optional: colored pencils/watercolor)
Class offered by Karen Houlding.
Nature Journaling Workshops
Join us for a free, drop-in nature journaling workshop - a relaxing practice of noticing the natural world and recording observations in a sketchbook. No experience necessary. We will provide an introduction to nature journaling along with a nature connection technique.
Check back on our social pages for weather updates closer to the event!
Bring a pencil/pen and sketchbook/paper to work on techniques.
Class offered by Karen Houlding.
SBGS Board Meeting
Board meetings are usually held on the second Tuesday of intermittent months at noon with location to be determined. All members of the SBGS are welcome to attend.
Please send attendance requests to info@sammamishbotanical.org for more details .
Heritage Garden Private tour- Cascade Water Alliance
The SBGS will be hosting a private Heritage Garden tour for the Cascade Water Alliance.
Interested in scheduling a tour for your own group? We’d love to host you! Reach out to us at heritage@sammamishbotanical.org to arrange a private docent-led tour and explore the beauty and story of the garden together.
Cascade Water Alliance offers free gardening classes to help you have beautiful, healthy landscapes while using water efficiently.
Nature Explorers Club
Session 3: Family Ties - Meet the Plants!
In this session we will be exploring plant families. Learn how to recognize, observe, and sketch 10 common plant families found right in the garden.
This hands-on art and science adventure in the garden is suitable for ages 5 and up! Explore nature through journaling, botany, and sketching in a fun, relaxed setting for kids, teens, and adults. Perfect for learners of all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Each session includes:
• Guided nature journaling and sketching
• Time to explore and observe
• Prompts and demos from experienced instructors
Bring: Unlined journal or sketchbook, pencil, colored pencils, water bottle, and weather-appropriate clothing.
To learn more about our new programming, please visit our website.
Next session: September 24, 2025 Nature Explorers Club — SBGS
Nature Explorers Club
Session 2: Plant Detective Academy!
Experienced SBGS Gardeners will provide a hands-on art and science adventure in the garden for ages 5 and up.
Learn how botanists group plants:
• Monocots vs. dicots - identify and sketch characteristics of each group
• Gymnosperms vs. angiosperms
• Woody plants vs. herbaceous plants
This hands-on art and science adventure in the garden is suitable for ages 5 and up! Explore nature through journaling, botany, and sketching in a fun, relaxed setting for kids, teens, and adults. Perfect for learners of all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Each session includes:
• Guided nature journaling and sketching
• Time to explore and observe
• Prompts and demos from experienced instructors
Bring: Unlined journal or sketchbook, pencil, colored pencils, water bottle, and weather-appropriate clothing.Take a closer look at how botanists observe, describe, and identify plants!
Nature Journaling Workshops
Join us for a free, drop-in nature journaling workshop - a relaxing practice of noticing the natural world and recording observations in a sketchbook. No experience necessary! We will provide an introduction to nature journaling along with a nature connection technique.
The event will be cancelled in the case of rain. Bring a pencil/pen and sketchbook/paper to work on techniques.
Class offered by Karen Houlding.
Private Medina Garden Tour with Denise Lane
Join us for an exclusive guided tour of Denise Lane’s stunning private Medina garden. Denise will personally walk us through her beautifully designed landscape, sharing insights about her unique plant selections and garden inspirations. After the tour, guests are welcome to stay and enjoy sack lunches in this serene setting.
Nature Explorers Club
Join our new monthly Nature Explorers Club!
Experienced SBGS Gardeners will provide a hands-on art and science adventure in the garden for ages 5 and up. Explore nature through journaling, botany, and sketching in a fun, relaxed setting for kids, teens, and adults. Bring an unlined journal/sketchbook, pencil, colored pencils, water bottle, and weather-appropriate clothing
Each session includes
Guided nature journaling and sketching
Time to explore and observe
Prompts and demos from experienced instructors
Session 1: “Leaf It to the Experts” A Crash Course in Botany.
Take a closer look at how botanists observe, describe, and identify plants!
Participants will explore plant anatomy through observation and sketching, focusing on:
Flower parts (dissect and draw floral organs)
Leaf shapes, margins, and venation
Leaf arrangements and structures
Perfect for learners of all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Don’t miss our outdoor outreach box located in the Heritage Garden with sketch samples, prompts & more!
Heritage Garden Private Garden Tour
The SBGS will be hosting a private Heritage Garden tour for the Providence Point Garden Club.
Interested in scheduling a tour for your own group? We’d love to host you! Reach out to us at heritage@sammamishbotanical.org to arrange a private docent-led tour and explore the beauty and story of the garden together.