Gardening Vacation Is Lots More Than Pulling Someone Else’S Weeds

“Gardening Getaways” may seem like a themed-vacation taken to the extreme. After all, who would get away from the weeds in his or her own garden, only to spend three days weeding someone else’s?

These cleverly themed getaways, however, go way beyond weeds. They’re “gloves-on” instructional seminars during which participants learn about garden design, plant selection, bed preparation, planting, mulching, building paths and garden maintenance.

The seminars will be at four regional bed and breakfast inns. The lineup:

The Shady Northwest Naturalistic Garden, Sep. 25-27, at the Flying L Ranch in Glenwood, Wash. The rustic inn is at the base of Mount Adams and participants focus on hardy four-season gardening.

Birds, Butterflies and Bouquets, Oct. 2-4, at Anderson’s Boarding House in Seaside, Ore. At this site, gardeners will transform a typical city lot into a strolling garden full of color and aromatic foliage attractive to birds and butterflies.

The Sunny Mediterranean Herb Garden, Oct. 9-12, at The Inn at Swifts Bay on Lopez Island in the San Juans. Participants will learn to utilize herbs for a decorative and culinary garden.

The Shady Northwest Naturalistic Garden, Oct. 18-20, at the Ann Starrett Mansion in Port Townsend, Wash. The Victorian landmark is the backdrop for learning to use existing trees with new shrubs, perennials, groundcovers and bulbs.

Cost ranges from $750 to $950 per person (double occupancy) for each three-day seminar and includes lodging and some meals.

For details about Gardening Getaways, call (206) 285-1143.

Just a reminder

The Burglary Prevention Council offers this timely thought: Burglars generally do not choose their victims; they choose opportunities. More than half of all residential burglaries occur during the day when burglars suspect people are away at work and school. And summer vacation.

Most of the reminders from this group are familiar, but the checklist of precautions warrants repeating:

Stop mail and newspaper deliveries or have a neighbor take them in daily.

Keep some window shades and blinds up and curtains open to maintain a normal appearance.

Turn the phone ringer and answering machine on low volume, and clear your messages daily from the road so a caller can’t determine you are away by simply calling your machine and getting a long beep.

Place timers on indoor lights and on a radio or TV.

Leave an auto parked in the driveway, or arrange for a neighbor to park his or her car there periodically. A vehicle also prevents easy access to the garage.

When traveling through airports, don’t use your home address on luggage tags (use a business address instead). Burglars hang out in airports and they’ll know when you check your baggage to Katmandu, your house is probably empty for awhile, and if they can get the address off the luggage tag, they know where to go.

Interested in more tips for preventing burglaries? The Council offers a free “Safe and Secure” booklet; for a copy send a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope plus $1 handling to the Burglary Prevention Council, 221 North LaSalle St., Suite 3500, Chicago, IL 60601-1502.

High-elevation tunes

Those music fans bound for Vancouver, British Columbia, in early August can catch the Whistler Summit Concert Series if they’re in southeast B.C. on Aug. 8, 9 or 15.

The music lineup includes Jann Arden and Colin James and The Little Big Band on Aug. 8 ($25 advance/$30 day of show), Fred Penner on Aug. 9 ($12 advance/$40 for family of four) and Chantal Kreviazuk, The Philosopher Kings, The Cowboy Junkies and Blue Rodeo on Aug. 15 ($30 advance/$35 day of show).

Prices listed are in Canadian funds. Tickets are available through B.C. Ticketmaster, (604) 280-4444, or through the Whister Activity Centre (604) 932-2394. All concerts are at Blackcomb Mountain at Whistler Resort near Vancouver.

A glimpse of times past

The 18th annual Camlann Medieval Faire has opened for the season and will continue weekends through August in Carnation, Wash.

The Faire includes tournaments, medieval villagers in daily life, crafters, minstrels and, of course, food appropriate for the period.

The Faire is open 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; admission is $8, $6 for seniors and students, free for kids 5 and younger. The Faire admission and a banquet is $37. For details and directions, call (425) 788-1353 or on the Web at www.camlann.com.