Spring Native Plant Festival
Welcome new growth at Oxbow, where native plants bloom alongside fresh inspiration, shared discovery, and local landscape love.
Spring in the Snoqualmie Valley is both subtle and spectacular, and we invite you to notice it all—from ephemeral fawn lilies and their bowing flowers along the forest floor to the joyful song of Swainson’s thrush signaling the return of bright pink salmonberry blooms.
Join us at the Spring Native Plant Festival to grow awareness, deepen appreciation, and inspire action through workshops, guided walks, nature crafts, and hands-on exploration of the native plants that shape our corner of the Pacific Northwest.
Tickets
This event is supported, in part, by 4Culture’s Doors Open grant. We’re deeply grateful for their partnership, which allows us to offer accessible ticket pricing and connect more people with outdoor learning experiences.
Admission: FREE
Workshop Add-ons: $5
See what’s growing! Register to receive the full plant availability list in your inbox a week before the event. While advance registration isn’t required, it’s a great way to plan your picks and helps us make your plant shopping experience even smoother. It also helps us prepare the right amount of food and event materials while minimizing waste.
Let the festivities begin!
After selecting admission quantity, scroll inside the ticket box below to view optional workshops and choose a session time. Some workshops are limited and may sell out.
What to Expect
Whether you’re growing a backyard habitat, tending a balcony pot, or simply seeking a refreshing day outdoors with loved ones, come explore!
You’ll Discover:
Hands-on Exploration:
Each festival activity is an invitation to engage directly with nature, from meadow and nursery tours to crafts for all ages, including DIY paper pot planters and hand-dyed fabric created with colors coaxed from native flowers, bark, and berries.
Nature Connection & Learning for All Ages & Experience Levels:
From guided ID and ethnobotany trail hikes to in-depth gardening workshops, opportunities throughout the day encourage consideration and stewardship of the native plants that sustain this ecoregion and help shape what makes it so special.
Gathering & Sharing:
Food trucks, open spaces, and communal experiences create a welcoming atmosphere for connection and celebration. There’s space to ask questions, tell stories, and enjoy the moment together.
Native Plant & Plant Stand Shopping:
Browse a high-quality but limited* selection of native plants this year, along with new Oxbow merchandise, and support our restoration efforts with every purchase
*Due to December’s historic flooding, our nursery lost over 16,000 plants, resulting in a significantly smaller inventory than in previous years. Read our blog post, “How Winter Floods Reshaped Our Spring Plant Sale” for a full picture of the flood, our recovery efforts, and our pivot from our annual spring plant sale to this year’s festival.
Schedule
Check in at the Welcome Tent to receive your service number (also your raffle ticket!) and event info. Then explore the farm! Sip fresh Downpour coffee, chat with plant experts, or simply take in the spring landscape.
Line-Up: At 9:50AM, guests may begin lining up in service number order. The Plant Stand opens right at 10:00AM.
Declutter by bringing us your used seedling containers! We’re working to reduce plastic waste by reclaiming black 4-inch, band, and 1-gallon pots. Please bring only these sizes and colors. Reusable pots will be sanitized and put back into circulation, while damaged ones will be responsibly recycled.
Browse a limited selection of native plants and Oxbow merchandise, and connect with nursery specialists at our Ask the Expert and Information tables. Whether you’re planning a backyard habitat or choosing your first native plant, get personalized guidance and practical tips to help your outdoor space thrive.
Participants
All ages & experience levels
Duration
30 minutes
Session Times:
10:00-10:30AM
11:30AM-12:00PM
1:30-2:00PM
Cost:
Free
Explore the history, design, and ecology of Oxbow’s native meadow while learning about seasonal maintenance, habitat restoration practices, and future stewardship plans.
Drop-in “Make & Take” Craft Station
Fold and decorate your own biodegradable newspaper pot, plant native seeds inside, and take it home to grow indoors before transplanting outside later!
Participants
Adults of all experience levels
Duration
45 minutes
Session Times:
10:30-11:15AM
2:00-2:45PM
Capacity:
15
Cost:
Free
Develop plant identification skills and deepen your connection to the landscape as you explore Pacific Northwest species and their ecological and cultural significance through stories, seasonal cues, and close observation. Expect uneven terrain and a small-group experience limited to 15–20 participants.
Participants
All ages & experience levels
Duration
30 minutes
Session Times:
10:30-11:00AM
12:30-1:30PM
2:30-3:00PM
Cost:
Free
Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour and learn how our nursery is able to grow 160 species of plants native to the Puget Sound region to support the conservation of our region’s native plants, wildlife, and ecosystem. Dig deeper into processes such as seed saving, seed germination, and pest management, and take a closer look at how our nursery grows plants with a focus on biodiversity and resilience.
Participants
All age and experience levels
Duration
45 minutes
Session Times:
10:30-11:15AM
2:45-3:30PM
Put your chef hats on and get creative with seasonal ingredients in our outdoor kitchen! Use your imagination to make brand new bite-size dishes. Describe each flavor with color, drawing, and story. Team up for interesting flavor combinations, and write your recipes down for inspiration at home.
Participants
Adults of all experience levels
Duration
45 minutes
Session Times:
10:30-11:15AM
2:15-3:00PM
Cost:
$5
Explore how annual native plants can offer unique ecological support and design elements to your home garden. We’ll discuss common annuals native to Western Washington, how to incorporate them into your garden, and how to save seed to re-grow them year after year. This workshop is designed for adults with all levels of expertise.
Participants
Experienced adults
Duration
1 hour
Session Time:
11:30AM-12:30PM
Capacity:
20
Cost:
$5
Build practical propagation skills as you learn about seed harvest timing, processing techniques, storage best practices, and pretreatment methods for Pacific Northwest native species. This session is designed for adults with intermediate to advanced plant knowledge. The small group setting, limited to 15–20 participants, keeps the experience interactive and engaging.
Participants
All ages and experience levels
Duration
45 minutes
Session Time:
12:30-1:15PM
Cost:
$5
Discover the vibrant colors hidden in native flowers, bark, and berries as you learn the basics of plant dyeing. This beginner-friendly session covers how to harvest, prepare, and use natural materials to create sustainable colors, and you’ll takeaway your own hand-dyed piece.
Participants
Experienced adults
Duration
45 minutes
Session Time:
1:00-1:45PM
Cost:
$5
Learn how to manage garden pests using organic, ecologically friendly Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. Identify common Pacific Northwest pests, understand prevention techniques, and explore solutions that work with nature, including beneficial insects, mechanical and cultural controls, and safe organic alternatives to pesticides. This session is designed for adults with intermediate to advanced plant knowledge.
Drop-in “Make & Take” Craft Station
Create your own spud stamp and nature-inspired artwork in this playful, family-friendly activity.
FAQs
Winter flooding impacted over 16,000 plants in our nursery. We’re focusing on recovery and resilience while sharing knowledge and inspiration through a festival format.
Yes! There are crafts, workshops, tours, and activities designed for all ages and experience levels.
Yes. We recommend purchasing workshop tickets during event registration. Workshop spaces are limited and many sessions may sell out before the festival. While a small number of tickets may be available day-of, availability is not guaranteed, so reserving your spot ahead of time is the best way to ensure you can participate.
We recommend comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, a water bottle, and a notebook if you plan to attend workshops. You’re also welcome to bring back black seedling pots in 4-inch, band, or 1-gallon sizes to drop off for reuse or recycling.
Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed at this event. Please leave your furry friends at home. Thank you for your cooperation!
Oxbow is open rain or shine, except in cases of extreme weather (lightning, high winds, wildfire smoke, or flooding conditions that make it unsafe for visitors). All weather closures will be posted on our website, social media, and registrants will be notified via email.
Portable restrooms (Honey Buckets) are available for visitors. Handwashing stations and hand sanitizer will be provided.
Oxbow offers accessible parking and restroom facilities around our Plant Stand. But trails beyond can be uneven and difficult to navigate with wheelchairs or mobility aids. For questions or assistance, visit oxbow.org/visit/#accessibility or email thedirt@oxbow.org