With the spring season upon us, gardening classes and clinics for people who are beginning to master gardeners are popping up like tulips all over the county. 

Some of the classes include one session and others include several sessions for one small fee. 

A place to start might be the Natural Yard Care Workshop series offered by the Pierce County Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department.  These workshops are set up in three sessions offered once a week.  Topics covered in the workshops include: basic garden design, building healthy soil, and natural lawn care. 

Scheduled sessions:

April 15-29, on Thursdays from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. at Meridian Habitat Park

May 4-18, on Tuesdays from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. at Frontier Park

For more information: www.co.pierce.wa.us. 

Another initiative called the Washington State University Extension Master Gardener Program trains volunteers to provide information on horticulture and gardening practices.  The program includes free garden talks and free youth programs that are held at the Demo Garden located at 2607 W. Pioneer, in Puyallup. 

Through this program about 20 clinics are offered throughout the growing year.  These clinics are taught by the volunteer educators.   

Below is a list of clinic locations and dates offered:

Pierce County Clinics:  

Lowe's, 35205 16 St. S, Federal Way, April to August, Saturday 10:00-2:00 

Fort Lewis Post Exchange, March to August, Saturday 9:00-2:00

Ace Hardware, 4816 Pt Fosdick Dr., Gig Harbor, April to August, Friday 10:00-2:00 

Farmer's Market, Kimball Dr Park & Ride, Gig Harbor, April to September, Saturday 8:00-2:00

Home Depot, 5120 Borgen Blvd, Gig Harbor, April to August, Saturday 10:00-2:00

Farmer's Market, Key Center, Key Peninsula, June to September, 3, Sunday 12:00-4:00 

McChord Base Exchange, March to August, Saturday 9:00-2:00

Farmer's Market, 310 S. Meridian St., Puyallup, May to August, Saturday 9:00-2:00

S. Hill Home Depot, 303 35 SE, Puyallup, March to August, 1st & 3rd Saturday 10:00-2:00 

MG Demo Garden, 7711 E Pioneer Way, May to August, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 8:00-1:00

S End Hardware, 18707 Pacific Ave, Spanaway, March to July, Saturday 10:00-2:00

Windmill Nursery, 5816 162 Ave. E., Sumner, April to July, Saturday 10:00-2:00

Farmer's Market, S 9 & Broadway, Tacoma, Mid-May to September, Thursday 9:00-2:00

Lowe's, 2701 S Orchard St., Tacoma, March 22 to June, Saturday 10:00-2:00

Proctor Farmer's Market, N 24 St & Proctor, Tacoma, April to October, Saturday 9:00-2:00

Seymour Conservatory, 316 S G St., Tacoma, February to June, Saturday 11:00-2:00

Thurston County Clinics:  

Olympia Farmer's Market, Thursday - Sunday (during market season which opens April 7, 2006), 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.

Dirt Works Clinic - Yauger Park,Alta Drive, West Olympia, Opens on May 20 with Annual Master Gardener Plant Sale, Tuesday - 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., Wednesday - 6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M., and Saturdays 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.

Closed Loop Park at the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center,(formerly known as the Hawks Prairie Landfill) Hogum Bay Road, Lacey, Friday Only 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.

For more info: www.pierce.wsu.edu/mg.