Oh, what fun we will have!
Our 2025 West District Gathering will start on Friday evening, September 12 with a welcome reception. We have a great speaker line-up for Saturday and two special events for Sunday - forest bathing (not sure what this is? Click here) and a visit to a local botanical garden. Here is the schedule of activities.
Friday, September 12, 5:30-7:00pm - Gathering Welcome Reception
Held in the Cascade Suite at Cedarbrook Lodge
Light appetizers, beverages (water, soda, beer, and wine), and time to meet and chat with other gathering attendees
Dinner on your own
Saturday, September 13, 8:00am-5:00pm - Tamarack Hall at Cedarbrook Lodge
8:00 - 8:45am - Breakfast
9:00-910:00am - National Presentation
10:15-11:45am - Herbal Lotions, Scrubs, and Skincare Recipes from the Garden with Sue Goetz - Grow healing and aromatic herbs to create hand blended spa products. Easy tips and ideas to make fresh potions for spa treatments. Peppermint foot scrub, sensual sugar scrubs, powders, fragrant mists, and more. Learn the nurturing attributes of herbs, how to grow and use them. Come for a show and smell! . Make and take skin care samples for head and toes! - we will be making a peppermint foot soak and a facial blend to take home.
12:00 - 1:00pm - Buffet Lunch
1:15 - 2:15pm - Creating Beautiful Containers with Molly Van derBurch, King County Master Gardener - Learn container basics, design ideas, and planting tips to create containers that have year-round pizazz. Specific plant ideas for both shade and sun containers as well as soil and watering recommendations will be provided.
2:15-3:15pm - Introduction to Fire Resistant Landscape and Sustainable Gardening with Dawn Rubstello, King County Master Gardener - Learn how wildfire danger is increasing because of climate change and the human risk. Topic will include how to get started using fire resistant landscape sustainable gardening at your home.
3:15-3:30pm - break and snacks
3:30-4:45pm - Herb Bingo
Dinner on your own
Sunday, September 14 - 11:00am - 3:30pm - Activities
11:00am-12:30pm - Forest Bathing Walkwith Dr. Kathy Holley - Dr. Holley will be your guide, gently leading you through the forest with thoughtful invitations designed to heighten your awareness and deepen your sacred connection to the natural world. Holding a PhD in Contemplative Practices, Well-Being, and Embodiment from her studies in Oxford, England, she brings a profound understanding of holistic well-being to the practice of Forest Therapy. We’ll conclude our time together with Tea among the Trees—a peaceful moment of reflection and gratitude, where you can savor the stillness and the lasting impressions of your journey.
12:30-1:30pm - Lunch on your own
1:30-3:30pm - Bellevue Botanical Garden , self paced visit - The garden is 53 acres of cultivated gardens, restored woodlands, and natural wetlands. The Garden is open dawn until dusk, every day of the year. Admission is free. The Trillium Store and Copper Kettle Coffee are on site. The garden offers 3,000 varieties of plants that thrive in the Pacific Northwest. We will need gathering attendees with vehicles to help drive people between Cedarbrook Lodge and the garden. Please let Cynthia Sable (cynthia.s@herbsociety.org) know if you are willing and able to drive.