Calendar
Friends of the Conservatory offers a calendar of events that explores a wide range of topics, including horticulture, arts and music, cultural awareness, landscape and architecture, and more. All of our programming is made possible by the generosity of our donors and partners. Some of our most popular programs include:
Guided Tours ***Temporarily Unavailable***
Lectures and Workshops
Art and Music Events
Seasonal Celebrations: Special events held throughout the year, including our popular Holiday Open House, Spring and Fall Plant Sales, and more.
We strive to make educational and cultural experiences more accessible to everyone and are committed to offering affordable programming.
John Riziki Musical Performance
John Riziki is a singer-songwriter hailing from Accra, Ghana, who has called Issaquah home for more than twenty years. He was five years old when his family immigrated to the United States. First writing songs as a teenager, John is now releasing his music into the world—sharing the stories and moments that shaped him, in hopes that everyone can relate them to their own.
Jack Johnson Presents “Fungi: The Facts and the Flimflam”
Presentation and lecture by Jack Johnson on Fungi. Free to the public with a suggested donation of $10 per person.
John Riziki in Concert
JOHN RIZIKI is a singer-songwriter from Accra, Ghana living in Seattle, WA.
First writing songs as a teenager to better navigate and reflect on his experiences. John is now releasing his music into the world–sharing the stories and moments that shaped him, in hopes that everyone can relate them to their own.
Volunteer Park Walking Tree Tour
Brad Schneider will give you a tour thru Volunteer Park as we explore and identify the magnificent trees, some of them the biggest ones in the city limits. He will show you, hands on the details to identifying each tree which you can use later on as you explore other trees in other parks or around your neighborhood. Brad has been in horticulture for about 40 years of his life. He graduated from Cal Poly, SLO with degree in Ornamental Horticulture w/ Minor in arboriculture. He has done horticulture in 5 states and has worked at the Missouri Botanical gardens. He has just retired from the City of Seattle Parks where he was a Gardener and Senior Gardener for the Landscape crew for 23 years. *Suggested donation of $30
*Please email foc@volunteerparkconservatory.org if you would like to join the tree tour!
SPRING PLANT SALE
Please join us for our annual Spring Plant Sale! Check out thousands of plants to purchase! Fun for the whole family!
SPRING PLANT SALE
Please join us for our annual Spring Plant Sale! Check out thousands of plants to purchase! Fun for the whole family!
Puget Sound Gesneriad Society Show and Sale
Join us for the annual African Violet Show and Sale!
Musical Performance by Evelyn Frances
Evelyn Frances is an experimental, avante garde musician and songwriter from Upstate New York, currently based in Seattle. Her work weaves in her foundation as a classical flutist and jazz musician, while moving forward into electronic exploration of sound. Lyrically, she touches on themes of climate change and human’s relationship to nature, political rage, and her own struggles with mental illness.
Her first album, Seed, was recorded serendipitously at Electric Lady Studios, where she met her producer and engineer, Phil Joly, while she was interning at the studio. They are now working on her second album, alongside Matthew Politoski, which is set to be released in 2025.
Sogetsu Ikebana Presentation
Joins us for a presentation and show on Ikebana style flower arranging by the Sogetsu Society. Display will be out from 11am-3pm. Presentation will be from 2-3pm.
Sogetsu Ikebana Presentation and Show
Joins us for a presentation and show on Ikebana style flower arranging by the Sogetsu Society. Arrangements will be on display 11am until 4pm. If you’d like to see the demonstration, that will be held from 2-3pm in the Priebe Wing.
Presentation by Michael Meechan on Exotic Plants from Southeast Asia
"Hidden Gems of the Tropics: Exploring Rare Southeast Asian Plants"
Cost: FREE! (Suggested $10 donation)
Length: 60 minutes, including Q&A session
Description: Step into the lush, biodiverse world of Southeast Asia and discover the rare and extraordinary plants that thrive in its tropical ecosystems. From the vibrant hues of Sonerila to the overharvesting of bucephalandra, this talk highlights the beauty and significance of botanical treasurers from Southeast Asia. Whether you are a plant enthusiast, a conservationist, or simply curious about nature's hidden gems, this talk will leave you inspired to protect and cherish these irreplaceable species.
Lunar New Year Activities
Join us for a fun-filled afternoon as we celebrate Lunar New Year! We will have a guest harpist, tai chi master, and an amazing fashion show for you to enjoy! Activities will be from 1-3pm and is included with cost of admission. We hope to see you there!
Chinese Black Tea Ceremony
Lucky Teas Lunar New Year, Year of the Snake
2025 Chinese Lunar Year’s Tea presentation and testing, invite you to come and experience Chinese Black Tea and sharing their enthusiasm and sweetness.
“瑞茶迎春·金蛇贺岁”
这个茶会既突出了节庆氛围与蛇年吉祥的寓意，同时保留了红茶主题的雅韵。2025新春花园茶会，诚邀您来体验中国红茶的热情与甜美！
Tea Presentation and Tasting Schedule:
The event will be hosted on February 1 Saturday afternoon: 12:15-3:00
1st Session: 12:15-1:00
2nd Session: 1:15-2:00
3rd session: 2:15-3:00
This Tea Presentation and Testing will share with you five different Chinese Black Teas with their own characters.
本次茶会将为您奉上五款极具特色的中国红茶
1. Lapsang Shuchong; 正山小种红茶: 世界界红茶鼻祖
2. Chinese Red; 中国红: 高海拔云南红茶
3. Qimen Tea Jasmine Aroma; 祁门茉莉香: 茉莉花窨制的祁门红茶
4. Rose Bailin; 玫瑰白琳:玫瑰窨制的白琳工夫红茶
5.Osmanthus Scented Jiuqu桂花九曲：桂花窨制的西湖九曲红梅
Tea Party Organizer : Ms. Meng Huai and Lisa Chen 茶会策划人
Ms. Meng Huai, National certified tea presenter and tea culture promoter, and the Founder of Seattle Chinese Tea Culture Studying and Research Association.
孟幻：国家级高级茶艺师，西雅图中华茶文化学会创办者，从事中国茶的教学及茶文化传播多年，希望用茶的健康与美好影响更多人。西雅图中华茶文化学会是一个专注于中国茶教学，传播中国传统文化、东方美学、健康生活的机构。
Tea Presenters and service personals茶席主要负责人及志愿者：
Li Yun李云; Zhang Ming张敏; Jia Yu贾宇; Grace Chen; Nico; and Shirley Tong
Classical Harpist Bill McJohn Performs Live (Copy) (Copy)
Join us for classical harp music performed live by Bill McJohn in the Bromeliad House. It is free with admission.
Open until 3pm
We are open on December 25th but will be closing one hour early at 3pm. Happy Holidays!
Classical Harpist Bill McJohn Performs Live (Copy)
Join us for classical harp music performed live by Bill McJohn in the Bromeliad House. It is free with admission.
Harpist, Xue Mei Jiang performing on the Chinese Guzheng (Harp)
Come enjoy live traditional Chinese harp playing by Xue Mei Jiang. Included with admission (standard admission is $6)