Northwest Perennial Alliance
Hardy Plant Study Weekend
Four Season Splendor:
Design for Year Round Beauty
June 18 – 21, 2010
Bellevue Hilton, Bellevue, WA
Frequently Asked Questions
Never been to Study Weekend? Here are the answers to frequently asked questions:
Just what is “Study Weekend?”
What is the cost?
When is it?
What is the Solstice Celebration?
What happens at Breaks?
Is Lunch available?
Will speakers sign their books?
Can I buy Plants?
What about Creative Workshops?
Will there be Open Gardens?
Where do I find Hotel Information?
How do I find the Hotel?
How soon do I need to register?
Registration opens February 1, 2010. When we hosted this conference in 2006 we sold out within five weeks, with a waiting list of over 100 people.
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Can I get a refund if I have to cancel my registration?
There is a $15 fee for all cancelled registrations. Cancellations prior to May 24 will receive a refund of the balance. After that date your registration will be considered a donation to the NPA.
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Can I transfer my registration to a friend?
Yes, registrations are transferable, but you must notify the registrar, Amy Forsberg, at info@northwestperennialalliance.org or call 425-218-0108. If you want to transfer your registration to a friend, NPA will keep your paid fee, and you need to be reimbursed by the person assuming your registration. If you wish a refund from NPA, your registration will be considered cancelled, with a $15 cancellation fee, and the waiting list will be used to fill the space.
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What if I need to cancel a room reservation at the Bellevue Hilton?
You must cancel your room at the Bellevue Hilton (425-455-1300) no later than 72 hours prior to your planned arrival date or you will be charged for one night’s stay. The NPA is not responsible for your hotel registration.
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What if I only want to cancel an optional workshop?
There is no refund for canceling a workshop space after May 24.
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Can I register for only part of the weekend?
There is no prorated registration.
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What if I volunteer to help? Do I get in free or at a reduced rate?
Everyone volunteering must be a registered attendee to the Study Weekend. Contact info@northwestperennialalliance.org or call 425-647-6004 to volunteer to help and enjoy the fun.
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Just what is “Study Weekend?”
Study Weekend is a horticulture tradition, dubbed by garden writer Debra Prinzing as “horticulture camp for grownups!” It is a four-day conference that is hosted by one of four “sister” organizations in the Pacific Northwest: The Northwest Perennial Alliance (NPA), the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon (HPSO), the Hardy Plant Society of Willamette Valley and the Hardy Plant Society of Vancouver or Victoria. Each year the location rotates between Seattle, Portland, Eugene and Vancouver or Victoria, Canada. They are usually held in mid-June every year. Portland will be hosting the 2011 conference.
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What is the cost?
The basic registration fee is $140, which includes all lectures, refreshment breaks, garden tours, Tea at the Border, plant sales, book sales and author book signings. There are optional events too: the Solstice Celebration ($35) on Saturday evening, and the creative workshops on Friday ($40 each).
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When is it?
Friday, June 18 through Monday, June 21, 2010
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Program Questions
Solstice Celebration
On Saturday evening enjoy two things everyone loves – chocolate and laughter! Our dessert decadence party includes selections of fruits and lady fingers for dipping in rich chocolate fondue, and petite French pastries, assorted cookies, fruit-filled cookie bars, and low sugar sweets too. Sip fine wine or a smooth coffee drink and enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow hortiholics.
Our acclaimed speaker, Steve Lorton, will regale you with all new tales from his nationally celebrated monolog, “My Life in Other People’s Gardens – Part 2.”
Registration is required. One drink ticket is included along with no-host bar. Registration fee is $35.
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Coffee Breaks
Morning lectures include a coffee break with an assortment of pastries and wholesome breads, along with coffee, decaf and tea.
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Box Lunches
Gourmet box lunches for Saturday and/or Sunday are available when you register. Lunches will be distributed after the lectures, before you head out to tour the gardens. We will have an assortment of box lunches, including vegetarian meals. All lunches include a bottle of water and are $15 each.
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Author Book Signings
Many of our speakers are authors, and will be doing an author book singing during Book Nook hours before and after their lectures. Their books, along with a selection of other popular titles, will be available for sale during the study weekend.
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Plant Sales
As always, we will have a selection of the region’s finest specialty nurseries tempting you with rare and distinctive plants. Phytosanitary inspection is offered to our Canadian guests for a $15 fee for each inspection certificate, payable as the plants are stored. Inspection will be Sunday morning, and inspected plants can be picked up after the lectures.
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Creative Workshops
We are offering two concurrent workshops for those who might like to get in touch with their inner creative muse. If you enjoy writing about gardening themes and want to improve your writing, don’t miss Steve Lorton’s “Introduction to Garden Writing.” Steve has over 30 years experience as editor at Sunset magazine, and his garden writing classes are in popular demand at local community college horticulture programs.
Or if you have ever tried your hand at illustrating some of your flowers and plants and feel your art needs a bit of polish, award-winning botanical illustrator Louise Smith will take you step-by-step on how to get started on the mechanics of botanical illustration, how to view the plant and how to use scale and texture.
All materials are provided for both workshops. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited so don’t wait to register. Registration is $40.
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Open Gardens
The open gardens are a highlight of Study Weekend. The gardens have been specially selected for the discerning eyes of our attendees, and are making their Study Weekend debut. The gardens are grouped for driving convenience.
Friday, as you travel to the Bellevue Hilton, we have a group in the North Seattle area (Edmonds, Shoreline, north Seattle) as well as in the South Sound area (Olympia, Tacoma) open from 10:00 – 4:00 pm.
Saturday the gardens in Bellevue and Redmond are open from 1:00 – 5:00 pm, so you can get back in time to have dinner and head to the Solstice Celebration. Also on Saturday is our ‘Tea at the Border,’ at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. The BBG is one of the region’s finest botanical gardens and home of the newly renovated NPA Border.
On Sunday we head to West Seattle gardens, open from 1:00 – 5:00 pm. Then on Monday, as you head home, both the North Seattle and South Sound gardens are open again from 10:00 – 4:00 pm, in case you missed any of them.
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Hotel Accommodations
The conference returns to the Bellevue Hilton, praised by many attendees for their spacious rooms, attractively priced with convenient access to I-405 to get you off to the garden tours with ease. We have a special group rate of only $99 (double occupancy) if you reserve your room no later than June 1. (As of April 23, very few rooms remain at the group rate price.) Parking is free.
The Hilton has convenient access to I-405, high-speed internet access, coffee makers, Hilton’s signature “Serenity Beds,” Basil’s Restaurant, Basil’s Bar & Lounge, and a Tully’s coffee lounge. Nonsmoking and accessible rooms are available.
To reserve your room use the link directly from the NPA web site to our own Hilton reservation page, or call 425-455-1300, or reserve your room online at www.bellevuehilton.com . (Hotel registrations not cancelled 72 hours prior to arrival date will be charged for one night’s stay.) Learn more about Hotel Accomodations.
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Getting There
The Bellevue Hilton is located just off I-405 in Bellevue, at 300 112th Avenue, Bellevue, Washington. From the south, take I-5 North to I-405 North to Bellevue. Take the SE 8th St. exit. Turn right onto SE 8th St. and go to 112th. Turn right onto 112th and the Hilton is just ahead on your right. From the north take I-5 South to I-405 South to Bellevue. Exit at SE 8th St. and follow directions above.
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Sponsored by:
Still have Questions? Contact Amy Forsberg, Registrar at info@northwestperennialalliance.org.
