february

We’re lucky to have mostly mild winters in the Northwest. While much of the northern half of the country is deep in snow, there are cyclamen and daffodils popping in yards and parks … a sweet reward for surviving the soggy days. We’re finding natural inspiration everywhere and hope you do too on one of these adventures…

Guided arboretum walks, free on the first Thursday of every month - wander and marvel through 230 acres of splendor.

Winter birding in the Skagit Valley, the acres of fields and bare trees make for fantastic sightings of owls, eagles and trumpeter swans. Make time to stop in for lunch at Tweets in Edison.

Razor clams on the coast, grab a shellfish license and your shovels and head to the beach with dates approved February 6 - 12th! These fast moving bivalves make the best clam chowder.

Hosting a Super Bowl party this year for the first time (hello Taylor!)? Do it right with a Game Day Box from Lark.

Northwest Flower and Garden show February 14 - 18th, find all of the botanical inspiration at workshops, display gardens, growers’ booths and lectures (including our favorite garden coach and field tripper, Susan Papanikolas on February 14th!).

Valentine road trip? Visit the beautiful (and often sunnier than Seattle) Yakima and Tieton. Check out the heart-inspired group show at the Boxx Gallery, tour the Mighty Tieton, stay at the El Nido Cabins and wine and dine your way around town (hello Nomad Kitchen, reopening February 13th)).

See nature interpreted through the artist’s lens at “Au Natural” at AMcE Creative Arts thru March 3rd. We can’t get enough of Trisha Gilmore’s tufted creations and are always smitten by the work of Michael Doyle.

Make this the year for planting an edible garden, learn all the basics to get started with an Intro to Organic Gardening workshop with Seattle Tilth February 17th at the Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands., register here.

Lunar New Year celebration in the Chinatown-International District February 24th , welcome the Year of the Dragon with dance, music and food. The dragon is believed to foster growth, progress and abundance — our fingers are crossed!