Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts

End of Summer work party at Twin Ponds North

Monday, September 9, 2024

End of Summer Work Party

Photo by Meghan Peterka

Community Work Party at Twin Ponds North

Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 9:30am - 12:30pm


As the shadows get longer and the days shorter, we continue our stewardship at Twin Ponds. We Welcome you to join us in caring and tending our Urban Forest!

We meet on the far NW side of the park, along 155th street, west of the parking lot.

All that is needed is a pair of gloves and a water bottle.

We appreciate your sharing this post with others.


~ Many Hands Make Light Work ~


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LFP Garden Club meets September 10, 2024 with speaker Joe Abken

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Joe Abken will speak at LFP Garden Club meeting
On Tuesday Sept 10, 2024 at LFP Town Center, intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way NE, the Lake Forest Park Garden Club is kicking off their new year Sept to May of great speakers. 

  • Upper level, stage area of Town Center
  • Check in at 9:15 to 9:30am
  • 9:30 to 10:30am general meeting and a break for munchies and time to talk and catch up
  • 10:30 to 11:30am our speaker
September 10, 2024, Joe Abken

“Natives Mixing with NON-Natives and the Value Of”

Joe Abken was originally from Kruckeberg as Garden Director, with a great interest in natives. Currently he is the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society Director. Since being very involved with Natives at Kruckeberg Garden, his topic will be his topic will be “Natives and mixing with Non-natives.”

We hope you can join us for this interesting topic. Free to all for your first two meetings and then we ask that you join the club. The fee is $35.00 a yr. We have lots of activities the whole year round. We will be celebrating our 100th year as a Garden Club this year.


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Shoreline Rotary work party at North City Park Saturday, September 7, 2024 - and again on September 20, 2024

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Rotary volunteers at North City Park
Photo by Judy MacCully 2021

Shoreline Rotary Working Together at NORTH CITY PARK

Event Dates:
  • Saturday, September 7, 2024 9:00 to noon
  • Friday, September 20, 2024 10:00 to 1:00

Time to nurture our newly restored areas of North City Park, removing invasive plants and mulching around our newest plantings. 

With the opening of the North Shoreline Light Rail station (only a few blocks from the Park) and the 290-unit Kinect@Shoreline adjacent to the station, North City Park will become a favorite forest/green space for our growing neighborhood! 

The work we do together at this work party and at the others we have planned through the end of the year will assure that the forest grows with the community.

Dress for the weather. Bring your favorite tools and work gloves if you want, but we have all the tools you'll need. Bring a water bottle and snacks if you'd like.

Sign up here

You can start the day at 9am at Rotary Park, just a few blocks down the street from North City Park, at 10th Ave NE and NE 185th.


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Volunteer for Labor Day weekend park restoration projects

Friday, August 30, 2024

Do some restoration work this Labor Day weekend in Shoreline's city parks!

On Saturday, 8/31 we will be in

On Labor Day we will be in Hamlin Park meadow all day long!

Invest in the future of our city’s urban forest! Please join us for upcoming restoration work party events in Shoreline parks with the city-sponsored Green Shoreline Partnership!

No experience necessary! Just bring your enthusiasm.

Contact Joy Wood at stewardship@restorationad.com with any inquiries about the Green Shoreline Partnership.


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Volunteers spread mulch at Echo Lake Park

Thursday, August 29, 2024

Volunteers at Echo Lake Park
Photo by Ann Michel

Many thanks to everyone who came out and spread mulch on Tuesday. 

Special thanks to Wendi Valle and her staff, Zach, Brendan and Chelsea, from State Farm Insurance, as well as Paul, Pat and Edith. 

We got rid of almost all of the mulch pile, and the plants approve. We also seemed to find a spot where a coyote maybe comes to enjoy their prey. Last time it was a dead crow; this time it was what looked like an otter skull and part of its pelt. I'm not sure if there's another animal around here that would do that.

Also a reminder for lakeside dwellers -- as landscapers and home owners begin fall clean up: please do not blow yard debris into the lake. This releases phosphorus, which feeds the algae blooms. Please place into yard waste, so it can be safely taken away and composted.

--Ann Michel


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Restoration work party events in Shoreline this week

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Invest in the future of our city’s urban forest! Please join us for upcoming restoration work party events in Shoreline parks with the city-sponsored Green Shoreline Partnership!

On Tuesday, 8/27 we will be in Echo Lake Park

On Saturday, 8/31 we will be in

· Boeing Creek Park

· Meridian Park

· Shoreline Park

· Richmond Beach Saltwater Park


On Labor Day we will be in Hamlin Park meadow all day long!

9:00-12:00

1:00-4:00


On Saturday, 9/7 we will be in Northcrest Park

No experience necessary! Just bring your enthusiasm.

Contact Joy Wood at stewardship@restorationad.com with any inquiries about the Green Shoreline Partnership.


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Grate garden

Monday, August 26, 2024

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

This grate garden caught my eye the other day...

--Gloria Nagler 


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Grace Cole Nature Park Restoration Volunteers September 21, 2024

Sunday, August 25, 2024

Volunteers at Grace Cole Nature Park
Photo courtesy LFPSF

Grace Cole Nature Park Restoration Volunteers
Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 9am - 12noon

Please join us the third Saturday of the month to improve and maintain Grace Cole Nature Park.

Tasks usually include: removing non-natives like ivy and blackberry, caring for trails and planting native plants.

If you enjoy working outdoors, and the great feeling of giving back to your community, this volunteer event is for you! You may get a glimpse of the resident beavers, too.

Dress for the weather and bring your favorite tools and gloves, or use those provided.

Questions? contact volunteer coordinator Jim Mead at jameslmead@comcast.net

Location: Grace Cole Nature Park 16735 30th Ave NE, Lake Forest Park WA 98155



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Five Acre Woods Volunteer Work Party September 7, 2024

Saturday, August 24, 2024

Volunteers at Five Acre Woods
Photo courtesy LFPSF
Five Acre Woods Volunteer Work Party Saturday September 7, 2024, 9am - 12noon

Join us, rain or shine, on the first Saturday of the month.

Restoration volunteers are busy improving your local forest park, Five Acre Woods.

Volunteers of all ages are welcome, children will need adult supervision and permission. Please sign in when you arrive. Dress for the weather. 

Bring your own gloves & tools if you prefer, we will have some to lend as well. Beverages and treats provided to volunteers.

Come & out and enjoy the forest

Questions? contact volunteer coordinator Polly Saunders at polly@gaiaict.com

Location:


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Restoration work party events in Shoreline parks

Friday, August 23, 2024

Invest in the future of our city’s urban forest! Please join us for upcoming restoration work party events in Shoreline parks:

On Friday, 8/23 join us in Hamlin upper forest.

On Saturday, 8/24 we will be in

No experience necessary! Just bring your enthusiasm.

Contact Joy Wood at stewardship@restorationad.com with any inquiries about the Green Shoreline Partnership.


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Designing the Northwest Garden - free class from North City Water September 18, 2024

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Whether you are starting with a bare yard or trying to give your existing landscape a northwest vibe, this class has all sorts of advice and tips for you.

Designing the Northwest Garden
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
6:30–8:00 pm
at North City Water District
1519 NE 177th Street in Shoreline
FREE

Northwest native plants—ranging from vine maple, flowering currants, oregon grape, and salal, to sword ferns, oxalis, and wild strawberries—require less care and are amazing for attracting wildlife, birds, and pollinators. This class will focus on sustainable landscapes that are people and wildlife friendly, and help you learn how to "plan it before you plant it."

Class is free, but you must register to attend.

Contact in advance by email to customerservice@northcitywater.org or call the office at 206-362-8100.

About The Presenter

Greg Rabourn’s passion for native plants collided with his dislike of mowing many years ago. He has been practicing and promoting native plant and low maintenance landscaping techniques ever since. 

Greg was a weekly guest for the Greendays Gardening Panel, on KUOW, 94.9 FM. He was also co-host of KCTV's natural yard care TV show. 

Greg currently works for King County's Department of Natural Resources and Parks as a Community Stewardship Specialist and Project Program Manager for Watershed Stewardship.

Learn More about Native Gardening


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GardenGuy: Planting an Autumn Vegetable Garden

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

By Bruce Bennett

It’s August already! How did that happen? It seems it was only a few weeks ago that I was watching my spring bulbs emerging to brighten a slate-gray early spring landscape. Now, you may think August is not the best of times to plant anything new in the way of perennials and shrubs, but, what about an autumn veggie garden. 

Let’s reconsider that idea. Think about the positive side of the positive side of this endeavor: the soil is already warm, many vegetables enjoy cooler temperatures and this year’s seed packets are probably on sale, whether online or in the stores. 

When you think about what your piece of real estate costs and the reduced amounts of water you’ll need for irrigation, you can’t afford NOT to use your veggie garden as much as possible and, remember, autumn gardening increases your garden usage by, at least, 30%. The cost of all those new fresh veggies you didn’t need to purchase can go toward paying your October property taxes!

Chard. Photo from creativecommons.org
You are probably seeing bare spots of soil that have already been harvested in your planting beds. But there are any number of veggies that can still be late-planted to fill those gaps and get you through the autumn and winter weather. 

In general, vegetables that grow best in cooler weather are leafy greens, root crops and members of the cabbage (Brassicas/Cruciferous) family. They can all do well in our USDA Zones 7 – 9 late-season gardens. Think about adding beets, carrots, endive, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, peas, radishes, turnips, spinach Swiss chard and oriental vegetables like Chinese cabbage and Bok choy. 

And, there are more. All can be planted in August for autumn and winter harvesting. In addition, garlic can be planted as late as two to four weeks before the first frost and harvested the following summer. 

Shallots can be planted after the first frost. Don't plant earlier because any top growth they may send up will be impacted by early autumn frosts. 

The other great things about an autumn garden include the benefits of fewer plant-damaging pests and diseases around, fewer weeds to challenge your backs and knees and that warm soil surrounds you. Plus, the autumn rains mean you won't need to water as frequently, if at all. Some crops even taste better when subjected to some light frost.

Lettuce and kale.
Photo from Pexels.com
Believe it or not, I think my autumn crops of lettuce, mesclun and Swiss Chard are better tasting than the ones I harvest in spring. 

Also, multicolored stemmed ‘Bright Lights’ Swiss Chard backed by ‘Red Sails’ Kale, makes a decorative planting whether or not you decide to eat them. 

I have had similar good results with fall plantings of Brussel sprouts which tend to be more tender and sweeter. Okay, I understand that Brussel sprouts are not for everyone’s tastes, but, there are plenty of other nutritious alternatives that can grace your plates and stews. 

When shopping those on-sale seed racks, choose veggie varieties that are touted as ‘shorter or fewer days to harvest’, ‘for cooler temperatures’ and ‘cold hardiness and quick maturity’. 

Being a good gardener also means being a good researcher. Read the fine print on the seed packs!

Image from pixabay.com
According to the WSU Extension, the average date for the first fall frost in western Washington is right around November 10. 

So, you have quite a bit of growing time left for vegetables that are planted in August. Spinach and other greens can even be planted in September. 

All the vegetables listed above can easily survive light frost if provided with some kind of protection, and some can even make it through all the way the cold winter weather. 

Remember that the warm Summer weather which often follows the first frost is some of the best growing weather of the year for cool weather plants When you hear about an impending frost, consider tossing a spun floating row cover (AKA Remay) over the new seedlings. Even plastic sheeting or old bed sheets can do the trick.

Frost can make your vegetables taste better.
Image by pexels.com
When planting seeds for your fall garden, keep in mind that growing conditions are different for summer plantings:

*Rains are usually still infrequent but heavier. Provide constant soil moisture for good germination and to get your plants well established.
*Plant seeds deeper than in the spring so they will be in a moister and cooler layer of the soil. It is also a good idea to shade newly emerging seedlings until most have germinated and matured to the point of having true leaves and/or the weather has cooled.
*Expect longer growing times. As temperatures drop, germination and growing times may increase. You might need to add a week or two to the expected time your harvests.
*Think about adding mulch to the growing beds. Mulch is an excellent autumn vegetable bed addition. It helps keep soils cool when falls are unseasonably warm and, then, insulates plant roots when frosts and cold weather do arrive.
*At the end of your extended growing season, or prior to the next traditional spring planting, remember to add your soil amendments. Compost and slow-acting organic fertilizer are beneficial for most planting beds to feed the plants, improve soil texture, feed the soil microbes and better retainment of moisture. Consider loosening the soil a bit if it became compacted over the previous growing season.

These easy steps can add a new gardening experience (and a tasty one at that!) to any gardener’s repertoire of horticultural skills. Could you be the only house or condo on the block who can still say, “Why, yes, this is from my over-producing garden.” in the months of December or January. Show the neighbors that you are ‘the one’ to talk to about their gardening questions and bask in the glory of the autumn sunshine. 

Happy gardening all!

Additional Reading
Forkner, Lorene E. Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Pacific Northwest. 2013. Portland, OR: Timber Press.
Taylor, Lisa (ed). Maritime Northwest Garden Guide. 2014. Seattle, WA: Tilth Alliance.
Thorness, Bill. Cool Season Gardner. 2013. Seattle, WA: Skipstone.

GardenGuy Bruce Bennett
Contributing columnist, Bruce Bennett, is a WSU Certified Master Gardener, Certified Professional Horticulturalist and lecturer. If you have questions concerning this article, have a gardening question or two to ask concerning your own landscape or want to suggest a topic for a future column, contact him at: gardenguy4u@gmail.com.

Previous GardenGuy columns can be seen here.


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July / August Accomplishments at Ching Community Gardens

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

By Londa Jacques

Even though our teams have been smaller lately due to the hot summer, vacations and family visits, significant progress is still being made at the garden every Saturday. 

Here's what our dedicated volunteers have accomplished at the Ching Community Gardens in the last few weeks...

July Highlights

On July 26, 32 14 and 15 year old students in the Lakeside Educational Enrichment Program (LEEP) came out to volunteer. They were a force to be reckoned with! 

The group had been well prepared and knew exactly what to expect when they arrived, thanks to the teachers, counselors, and Kathleen Lumiere's presentation at the school the day before. 

The teens formed six separate groups that tackled various projects. Two crews tackled the blackberries along the south fence, determined not to quit until they broke through to the property line. Maryn Wynne led the tire team on a trek to the northeast corner to pull out several tires and haul them 300 feet to the dumpster. 

Two more crews focused on cutting a wide swath of re-emerging weeds and blackberries for the new path. 

An eight-person crew dubbed the "tarp team" grabbed the tarps full of brambles and branches and hauled them up the driveway, calling out to their fellow team members as they went to avoid trip hazards along the way. It was clear that this was not their first team-building exercise of the summer.

When the crews broke for lunch they made a beeline for the cool, shady shed, planted themselves on their Dunn buckets, and dove into their backpacks and sack lunches. In 20 minutes, recharged, the crews were ready to go again! 

The teams had each set their own goals, and they were determined to achieve them. 

Special thanks to Mike Dunn and Dunn Lumber for donating the 40 new 5-gallon buckets.

After lunch about a dozen kids formed a bucket brigade, laying down the new wood chip path all the way to the clearing just before the bamboo clumps at the back of the property. They took turns carefully pitch-forking chips into their buckets, spreading them, raking, and stomping down the high spots, and filling in the low spots.

They quickly caught onto the "food forest" concept shared with them during their orientation. Branches of ripening blackberries were carried up to the table, the berries picked, washed and shared. 

The hundreds of apples that had fallen from the trees were picked up, put in buckets, and hauled to the dumpster, but not until many kids had sampled them, taken large bites, and declared them good! 

At the end of the day, the last group of teens waiting for transport returned to the back of the garden to the ripening Shiro plum tree, and gathered the golden delicacies to take home to share with their families, stuffing their backpacks or cradling them in slings made from their T-shirts.

Although these teenagers had been together in their summer program for only three weeks, it was clear they had bonded and formed close, inclusive, respectful relationships. With the day's work concluded, several students promised to return to help again.

August Triumphs and Challenges
  • True to their promise, seven of our LEEP student volunteers have returned to volunteer!
  • After months of searching, the water main has been found! 
  • A new hose bib has been installed, and with the help of 250 feet of hose, we were finally able to get water to most of the parched fruit trees.
We also discovered a 9th rose among the brambles, and have the outlines of the original rose garden that we plan to mulch and feed with bone meal to strengthen their root system as they go dormant for winter. 

Although spindly, having reached for sunlight through their weedy prison, all appear to be relatively disease free, and some have put out a bloom or two.

Alas, in early August, we arrived at the garden to find our tool storage unit cut and some of our pruning loppers, a bucket of safety goggles and other hand tools stolen. Disappointed, but undeterred, the work continues... with more security and sturdier locks.
 
Permitting on the house demolition is getting closer to completion, and with fingers crossed for a September - October demolition that is expected to take 3-4 weeks. At that point, fences will go up, and volunteer work will stop until the work is complete and the site is safe. 


Volunteer

Until then, the big push is underway to get as much done as possible every Saturday morning from 9am to Noon.

Our focus this week will be to complete clearing of the rose garden area and finally reach the persimmon tree that is still surrounded by invasives. 

Work parties have a capacity of up to 15 volunteers. Private weekday work parties and tours are also being booked now. Special requests should be made via email to info@digginshoreline.org

Sign up for a work party here  https://volunteersignup.org/T97CF. Parking is available in the nearby Shoreline Community College visitor lot at the south end of the campus.

Donate

Not able to volunteer? Donating to the garden is a great way to participate. 

Donate to Ching Community Gardens here
All donations received are exclusively for the support of Ching, managed by our fiscal sponsor, GROW.

With immense gratitude to our loyal volunteers and supporters,

Londa Jacques
on behalf of Diggin' Shoreline and the Ching Community Gardens Leadership Team

email: info@digginshoreline.org
Website: www.digginshoreline.org
Texts and messages: 206-437-9118


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Restoration work parties in Shoreline parks this week

Monday, August 12, 2024

Invest in the future of our city’s urban forest! Please join us for upcoming restoration work party events in Shoreline parks:

On Wednesday, 8/14 join us in Hamlin Park meadow.

On Saturday, 8/17 we will be in

No experience necessary! Just bring your enthusiasm.

Contact Joy Wood at stewardship@restorationad.com with any inquiries about the Green Shoreline Partnership.


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Come join your neighbors at Midvale Gardens this weekend between 11am - 2pm

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Piles of mulch ready to be distributed
Photo by Derek Creisler

Midvale Gardens Update
Saturday and Sunday, July 20-21, 2024 from 11am - 2pm

Come join your neighbors at Midvale Gardens this weekend between 11am - 2pm

We have been gifted with free wood chips from the Shoreline Parks Department and we still have several piles to distribute. Your volunteer help is requested. We have 5 gallon buckets and cardboard (we can always use more). Dress for uneven ground - no sandals.

Following this weekend we will break for the summer and make plans to rent the Earthcraft Services goat herd again in September to clear away any remaining invasive brush.

Thanks for your support and hopefully you, your family, and friends can stop by and continue the process of turning this once overgrown Seattle City Light parcel into a shady summertime community asset.

--Derek Creisler Midvalegardens@gmail.com


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Restoration work parties in Shoreline parks

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Invest in the future of our city’s urban forest! Please join us for upcoming restoration work party events in Shoreline parks

On Wednesday, 8/7 join us in Hamlin Park meadow.

On Friday, 8/9 join us in Hamlin upper forest.

On Saturday, 8/10 we will be in

· Twin Ponds north end

· Shoreview Park

· Hamlin Park

· Richmond Beach Saltwater Park

No experience necessary! Just bring your enthusiasm.

Contact Joy Wood at stewardship@restorationad.com with any inquiries about the Green Shoreline Partnership.



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Flowers when you have no yard

Monday, August 5, 2024

Flowers and photo by Shana VanSpoor Boe

Mountlake Terrace resident Shana VanSpoor Boe loves flower gardens. However, she lives in a townhouse with no yard.

Flowers and photo by Shana VanSpoor Boe
Not a problem for her. She found a creative solution to bring flowers to her life.



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Upcoming restoration work party events in Shoreline parks

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Invest in the future of our city’s urban forest! Please join us for upcoming restoration work party events in Shoreline parks:

On Saturday, 8/3 we will be in

· Shoreline Park

· Shoreview Park

· Hamlin Park

· Richmond Beach Saltwater Park

No experience necessary! Just bring your enthusiasm.

Contact Joy Wood at stewardship@restorationad.com with any inquiries about the Green Shoreline Partnership.



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Current work parties in Shoreline parks with the Green Shoreline Partnership

Wednesday, July 24, 2024


Upcoming restoration work party events with the Green Shoreline Partnership!

On Wednesday, 7/24 we will be in Richmond Beach Library Community Park.
and

On Friday, 7/26 we will be at Hamlin Upper Forest near 165th St.
and

On Saturday, 7/27 we will be at
Contact Joy Wood at stewardship@restorationad.com with any inquiries about the Green Shoreline Partnership.


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Come join your neighbors at Midvale Gardens this weekend between 11 and 2

Friday, July 19, 2024

Midvale Gardens Update
(N 192nd St. and the Interurban Trail, Shoreline)
July 20-21 weekend work party 11am - 2pm


Pile of mulch at Midvale Gardens waiting for willing volunteeers
Photo by Derek Creisler

Come join your neighbors at Midvale Gardens this weekend between 11am and 2pm.

We have been gifted with free wood chips from the Shoreline Parks Department and we still have several piles to distribute

Your volunteer help is requested. We have 5 gallon buckets and cardboard (we can always use more).

Dress for uneven ground - no sandals.

Photo by Kristine Tsujikawa
Following this weekend we will break for the summer and make plans to once again rent the Earthcraft Services goatherd in September.

They'll make short work of any remaining invasive brush.

Thanks for your support and hopefully you, your family, and friends can stop by and continue the process of turning this once overgrown Seattle City Light parcel into a shady summertime community asset.

Derek Creisler
Midvalegardens@gmail.com


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