Garden Calendar

Lavender and Herb Festival - First annual event, today and Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., enjoy the sights and aromas, learn the history and uses of culinary and medicinal herbs. Live music performed by area musicians with booths of local growers, artists and crafters. Take I-90 to Cheney/Four Lakes, exit 270, go 1.4 miles down the road on the left, look for balloons and signs. Free admission. Call 624-1901 for more information.

Lavender Festival - The 2004 Pend Oreille Lavender Festival will showcase the beauty of flower gardens and rows of lavender on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The event will also feature symphonic string quartets, gourmet food, vendors and educational booths, hands-on art for all ages, guided history tours and more. From Spokane: North on Division to Newport Highway (US 2) to Highway 211, left on 211 to Highway 20, first left, right on Triangle Road, right on Kings Lake Road, left on LeClerc Road, 13 miles to Le Clerc Creek Lavenders.

Cherry Festival - Cherry Harvest is a perfect time to enjoy country cooking, music, crafts and family fun in Green Bluff, look for signs at participating farms, will be held Saturday and Sunday and July 17 and 18.

CdA Cruisin’ the Gardens - The Coeur d’Alene Garden Club presents this benefit for CdA Charities on Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Seven gardens will be open, with garden artisan boutiques, live music and antique cars. Tickets are $10 and available at participating nurseries in Idaho and Spokane. Call (208) 699-6864 for more information.

Sundays in the Garden series - The next event, entitled “History and Tour of Rose Hill” by Lynn Schaefer, will be Sunday at 2 p.m. in Manito Park’s Manito Meeting Room, east of Gaiser Conservatory. Upcoming events in the series are: Aug. 8 “History and Tour of Duncan Garden” by Steve Nokes; September, “Tour of Ferris Perennial Garden,” and Oct. 3, “Autumn Joys and Jobs” by Maralee Karwoski. Free admission. (456-8038)

Spokane Orchid Society - Monthly meeting will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. The featured speaker is Judy Edwards, who will give a repotting demonstration.

The Gardeners of Spokane - will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook. The program will be presented by Dennis Fiess from Edwall, Wash., and he will discuss fuschias. This meeting is open to the public. Call 467-9804 for more information.

Herbology Field Trip – Sponsored by Community Colleges of Spokane, July 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Bring notebook, pen, self-sealing bag, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, camera, sack lunch and water. Cost is $26 (includes guides). Pre-registration is required by calling 279-6000.

Spokane in Bloom Garden Tour - This Inland Empire Gardeners event will be held July 17 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at six North Side gardens and two special bonus stops. Tickets are $7 and will be available the day of the tour at any of the gardens or may be purchased ahead of time at participating nurseries. The participating gardens are at 15720 N. Gleneden Drive; 412 W. Hazard Road; 16008 N. Cirrus Court; 7711 N. Panorama Drive; 8615 N. Northview Court; and 8721 N. Kensington Drive. There will be vendors at each garden. The special bonus stops include Caterina Winery, 905 N. Washington, with talks every hour from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., wine tasting for the day of the tour is $5; and Spokane MarketPlace, 809 N. Washington, a regional farmers and indoor public market. For more information on the tour, call 535-8434.

Seventh Annual Pond Tour - Sponsored by Inland Empire Water Garden and Koi Society, July 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., this self-guided tour will include six ponds in and around Spokane. There is a bonus pond near Cheney, too. See a variety of ponds built by both amateurs and professionals, and learn about the joys of water gardening. Admission is $7 for adults, with ages 12 and under free. Ticket booklets containing maps and directions to each pond can be purchased at most major garden and pet centers, or you can call 325-2882. E-mail rob@housewise.net for a list of retail outlets selling tickets.

Garden Tour and Art Show - Gardeners, musicians and artists will greet you on a tour of five gardens in Liberty Lake and surrounding communities on July 31 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets are $6 for the tour or $10 for the tour and a boat ride around the lake. Tickets and maps are available at the Pavillion Park parking lot. Call 255-9233 for more information.

Annual Flower Show – The Gardeners of Spokane will have its annual show “The Flora of Lewis and Clark” Aug. 14 with exhibit set-up at 8 a.m., judging at noon, and the public is welcome for viewing from noon-5 p.m., and viewing Aug. 15 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Spokane Valley Community Center, 10814 E. Broadway. Free admission and no charge for showing plants. Call 467-9804.

Fall Plant Sale - The Friends of Manito will have their Fall Plant Sale on Sept. 11 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. This event will be held at Manito Park, in an area just east of the Conservatory.

Kids in the Garden - Renaissance Faire sponsored by Friends of Manito, will be Sept. 25 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in Manito Park, east of Duncan Garden. TFM members can shop from 8-10 a.m. The complete plant list is available online at www.thefriendsofmanito.org, or at TFM’s office. Net proceeds from this sale are used to improve and maintain Manito Park. Call 535-9096 for more information.

Send information about garden-related events to Gardening News, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, PO Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99201; or send items by e-mail to marybethd@spokesman.com. Please include a phone number where we can call for details, if needed. Deadline is the Tuesday before publication.