LWTC Alum Creates Award Winning Display Garden

LWTC Horticulture alum Jessi Bloom strives to create sustainable and family friendly landscapes through her company, NW Bloom.  When Cyle Eldred from the Northwest Flower and Garden Show approached her to be a part of this year’s show, she knew it would be a great opportunity to showcase her ideas on environmentally healthy gardens.  Together with Seattle Tilth, she brought to life “A Family’s Little Garden in the City.” 

“Getting to do this show was a huge moral boost for my crew,” Jessi said.  “I really wanted to show people that they can do this themselves – they can create an urban farm.”  With chickens, goats and plenty of edibles, she accomplished her goal…and with amazing flair.  Her garden captivates garden show visitors and judges alike, earning a slew of awards:  NWFGS gold medal, Pacific Horticulture Garden Award, Sunset Western Living Award, Arbor Eden Gala Choice Garden Award, 425 Magazine Editor’s Choice Award,  and the American Horticultural Society’s Environmental Award. 

Jessi and Seattle Tilth will offer seminars at the Northwest Flower And Garden Show, which runs through this weekend at the convention center.  On Saturday, Jessi will give a seminar on rainwise gardens; on Sunday, she will talk about garden renovation.

The flower and garden show isn’t the first time Jessi has been recognized for her efforts in sustainable horticulture.  In 2007, she was given the Washington State Environmental Excellence Award;  in 2008, the gvernor’s award for sustainable practices in business. 

Jessi’s determination to pursue her passion was evident from the first day she set foot on our campus.  In 1997, she decided to enroll in our program but found that it was full.  On the first day of class, Jessi stood in line for four hours on the chance that another student had dropped out, and a space opened up. 

She loved the intensity of our program, and learning under Don Marshall.  “Don believed in me, and my ideas on gardening organically,” Jessi says. “And he made it fun and exciting to learn.” 

In 2000, Jessi started NW Bloom as an organic landscape maintenance company.  As her company grew, she added design and installation to the services she provides.  She and her husband specialize in creating environmentally sound landscapes.

“What I love about LWTC is that I can always come back  – the door here is always open,” says Jessi.  “and I often hire program graduates.”

Our students also helped Jessi set up her NWFGS garden display – it was a great opportunity for to our students to both network, and see how this program can set you on the right path for success.

Building Display Gardens at the 2010 NWFGS

One of the perks of being a student in our horticulture program is the opportunity to help build the display gardens at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show.  It was one of my favorite experiences as a student, and today while at the convention center I still felt that rush of excitement as designers watched their plans come to fruition.

Our students jumped right into the bedlam, dodging beeping bobcats and huge trucks hauling very large boulders from Marenakos.  They primped plants, shoveled sawdust, built structures and more.  Students Maryke Peiser, EagleSong, and CariAnn Schoenmakers pictured above helped LWTC alumni Jessi Bloom with her first ever NWFGS display.

Students Joseph Weninger, Kathryn Sinn and Natascha Bybee worked with designers Rebecca Robinson and Adam Gorski, creating a garden that will take you to another time.  (I just can’t tell you any more than that or it would spoil the surprise.)  They worked on an amazing stone wall, tucking ferns along the way.  

Set-up of the show contintues today and tomorrow morning.  Judging begins promptly at noon on Tuesday, and the show opens to the public Wednesday, February 3.

Growing Your Passion at the NWFGS

With the Northwest Flower and Garden Show less than two weeks away, our students are gearing up for set-up of both the display gardens, and our own education booth. 

Gordana Lake, Jill Hamilton, Kathryn Sinn, Natascha Bybee, Martin Keeney, Max Crothers, Damien Carman, Dylan Stewart, Jim Castle and Anne Nelson lent their creative abilities to design our education booth at the show.  This year’s theme: “Growing Your Passion.”  Each student added their own touch to our booth:   Natascha Bybee, who is skilled on the computer, has designed beautiful sign graphics; Kathryn Sinn lent her artistic abilities by drawing a cross-section of a flower; Gordana Lake and Jim Castle are creating a photo slide show; Max Crothers worked on a propagation medium display – the end result was definately a group endeavor.  All of our horticulture students will take a turn staffing our booth, so please come and see us.

Another exciting role we play in the Northwest Flower and Garden Show is helping designers set up their gardens, and this year is no exception.  It is truly amazing to watch these garden rise from the concrete floors of the convention center and literally blossom.   This year we will be working with Judith Jones ( Fancy Fronds)  Jessi Bloom (Northwest Bloom) and Katie Penke (Seattle Tilth); Pamela Richards (Pamela Richards Garden Design) and Susan Browne (Susan Browne Landscape Design); Zsofia Pastor (WSNLA); Rebecca Robinson (Robinson Landscape Design) and Adam Gorski (Adam Gorski Landscapes; Susan Arndt (Timeless Design) and finally Gayle Johnson (Flower Growers of Puget Sound / Skagit Gardens).  Each of these designers has taken valuable time to come talk with our students about their gardens.  From what we have seen of their designs, it should be a pretty fabulous show!

The Northwest Flower and Garden Show begins Wednesday February 3 and runs through Sunday, February 7 at the convention center in Seattle.

Hardy Cyclamen Fest in Marysville

If you love seeing the sweet butterfly-like blooms of hardy cyclamen in the depths of winter, then we have a treat for you.  Bouquet Banque Nursery in Marysville will open their doors to the public on January 31 and February 13, offering thousands of hardy cyclamen to add color to your garden!

During  winter break, Instructor Don Marshall had the pleasure of touring the nursery with owner and cyclamen expert Judy Zugish, and seeing first hand the more than 60,000 cyclamen plants.

“Judy has more species of cyclamen than I have ever seen,” Don said.  “The diversity is incredible! The subtle differences in the leaves, growing habits and flowers make this plant magical.”

With a terrific supply of  healthy and beautiful stock plants, Judy and her business partner Bill Roeder can carefully hand pick the green seeds before they become overripe – the timing is critical.  They closely examine each plant,  selecting the traits they want to see move forward.  The results of their efforts are stunning.

Their nursery will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on January 31 and February 13.  We would encourage you to visit and see the amazing array of hardy cyclamen.

Student Spotlight: Laurie O’Kane

Student Laurie O’Kane is a motivator.  A single mother of two teenaged boys, she balances school and family life with a smile and laugh.  

With determination and boundless enthusiasm, Laurie began her education with us last spring during the landscape design segment of our program.  

Laurie completed her floral studies at the Floral Design Institute in Seattle in 2008, and worked with a local florist before deciding to apply these skills towards a career in garden design.

During the summer work experiences where each student is paired with a professional in the green industry, she discovered that garden coaching was also something she enjoyed.

Laurie is definately a leader in her class; she motivates the students around her to aim high and work hard.  She received the Jim Coleman $1,000 horticulture scholoarship for outstanding academics and enthusiasm for learning.  Plants donated from Northwest Nurseries and sold during our spring and fall plant sales fund this scholarship.  She earned a second as an alumni of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority which offers continuing education funds for its members.

Laurie begins her last quarter with us  in January, where she will study soils, pruning and pest management as well as winter plant identification.  We have every confidence that she will be successful in whatever she endeavors.

Horticulture And Art Connect

 LWTC horticulture students are playing a key role in an art exhibit at the Open Satellite Gallery in Bellevue, growing more than 1,200 strawberry plants for Japanese artist Merio Koizumi.

His exhibit, called “The Corner of Sweet and Bitter,” examines the plight of Japanese Americans residing in Bellevue during World War II.  Primarly strawberry farmers, Bellevue’s Japanese Americans created a thriving agribusiness which came to a sudden end when the farmers were put into internment camps during the war.  Once released, the farmers found their farms were no longer viable in the suburb’s burgeoning commercial and residential expansion. 

 In a symbolic gesture to Bellevue’s history, a real strawberry field will be a centerpiece of  Koizumi’s exhibit,  using the plants grown by our students.  The Japanese artist has visited our campus several times, working with the students to repot strawberry plants and talking to them about his installation.  During his last visit, Instructor Don Marshall worked with Koizumi to create a furrowed strawberry field mock-up .

Students will help Koizumi install the strawberry field in early November.  His exhibit opens to the public on November 10, and runs until  January 9, 2010.

Internship at Willows Lodge

We are excited to announce a new partnership for learning with Willows Lodge and the property’s Director for Natural Beauty, EagleSong.  One student per quarter will have the opportunity to intern at Willows Lodge, learning to care for and manage a sustainable landscape. 

Students will work hand-in-hand with EagleSong, who endeavors to create a landscape that is sustainable and beautiful.  She sees the grounds as a service to both lodge guests and the community with each garden area offering a different function and mood. 

“We monitor and adjust.  Our goal is to create a landscape that is stable, even if the environment isn’t,” says EagleSong, who has revitalized the Willows Lodge property over the last seven years. 

While each quarter will offer different learning opportunities, the focus will remain the same: working with nature to create grounds that are robust and eye-appealing.  Students  have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with garden renovating, soil nurturing, composting, irrigation, fine pruning and design. 

To apply for this exciting opportunity, send your application to EagleSong at eaglesong@willowslodge.com.

Celebrate!

Closing the door on a year of horticulture studies, seventeen superstars graduated from our program today. Suzanne Phillips,  Debbie Howard-Kite, Ryan Walsh, Tracy Crouch, Alice Aeshenbacher, Mahonia Ruffcorn, Dana Burbank, Monica Payne, Darla Smith, Liang Du, Quinn Pense, Kharysa Watt, Corrie Allen, Dan Field, Kathy Ewert, Wyatt Bashinski, and Jeanette Mauer.    After the ceremony, we celebrated with a veritable feast!  Graduate Susan Harp summed up the year by saying “It was a year well-spent.  I really enjoyed the real-life, hands on experience!”

We had another important milestone to celebrate as well:  Don Marshall’s 30th year at the college.  Many alumni stopped by to congratulate him, and others sent their well-wishes through cards, emails and photos.  He has inspired so many people, and kept this horticulture program current and competitive.  We look forward to his 31st year!

Accent On Alumni: Robin Haglund

Robin Haglund, a 2003 graduate of Lake Washington Technical College’s horticulture program, hit the ground running after completing our horticulture program. A garden coach, writer, and award winning landscape designer, she says “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of this program.”
After completing her horticulture studies, she founded Garden Mentors, a company dedicated to garden coaching. She also designed a website devoted to garden questions and free advice called gardenhelp.org. All this success is fueled by her love of horticulture.
A lifelong gardener, Robin decided to leave the high tech computer industry to pursue a career in the green industry in 2002. After deligent research, she chose to get her start here at LWTC.
“I have a friend who went through the program and liked its design…and then I met Don!” Robin laughs. Don Marshall founded our program 30 years ago, and is a program instructor.
While attending LWTC, Robin particularly enjoyed the organized and established curriculumn, a block concept that combines lecture with hands-on experiences.
“I also loved how the program allows students to network in the industry through work experiences (job shadowing) and the helping at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. It really sets this program apart,” she says.

Crossroads Mall Garden Center Opportunity

Have you always wanted to own your own garden center? Here is a great opportunity: Crossroads Mall in Bellevue is soliciting bids for a gardening center and nursery which would complement the mall’s new community pea patch. The mall’s owners are very community oriented, and host a farmer’s market every Tuesday during the harvest season.

The garden center would be on a 60,000 square foot lot of undeveloped land just north of the Crossroads Mall cinema. Call Gordon Schaeffer at (425)-269-7023 for more information.