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

GardenGuy: A New Year and a Change in the Air

Sunday, January 21, 2024

A frozen Ronald Bog
photo by Martin DeGrazia
A quick prologue to readers: Yes, this month’s column is, more than anything else, about climate change, aka Global Warming. To forestall the time some readers will feel they need to take to email me and note the ‘overly brisk’ temperatures we recently experienced versus the concept of a warmer winter, do realize that there is a difference between the meteorological terms of ‘climate’ and ‘weather.’ 

The very short answer for those readers is “Climate is what you expect and Weather is what you get.” In other words, ‘weather’ refers to short-term changes in the atmosphere; what’s the weather like today or next month and what’s discussed during the 6:00pm Evening News’ weather segment. 

‘Climate’ describes what that weekly weather is like (as described by some 11,000+ weather stations across the country) over the long-term, generally thirty years or more. What are the averages of precipitation, temperature, sunshine, etc. in a particular area? At the moment, there’s a chill in the air, however, long-term………. Now, on to the actual article.


Happy New Year all!
And, welcome to yet another year of the fun and challenges in the Pacific Northwest world of gardening. I’m still trying to decipher the post-Christmas instructions and ramifications for one of our newest presents from the federal government; the report about our part of the state now categorized as being in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a (!). 

My, how we have grown! I can remember back to the early 1980’s when I moved to Seattle and was in Zone 7b (average winter low between 5° and 10 degrees) and, in 2012, was raised to Zone 8b (an average low of between 15 and 20 degrees). How quickly they grow! 

So, what are the ramifications of this climatic news? What does it mean in our roles as home gardeners who may hold all horticultural titles on our respective pieces of earth as designer, landscape maintainer, pest controller, etc. The thirty-year warming trend, which meteorologists talk about during the evening news, continues as the related heat and horticulture issues, increasingly, evolve around us. Let’s take some time to consider where gardeners need to be more aware, more proactive. 

 Let’s start by looking at our current winter weather.

Across the continental USA, the lowest average winter temperature is predicted to be 2.5 degrees (Fahrenheit) warmer than when the last map was published some ten years ago. Winter and nighttime temperatures are rising faster than summer and daytime temperatures. Now, 2.5 degrees might not seem a great deal warmer in ten years, but, the effect has been cumulative over the past century, over the last thirty years and, certainly, over the past three record-breaking years. 

The trend is clear: Earth is warming because of our increasing populations and longstanding reliance on fossil fuels. According to the federal government's latest National Climate Assessment, as our cars, buildings, industries and power plants continue to burn more fossil fuels and emit greenhouse gases, the planet will continue to warm. By 2050, Seattle is expected to average around 27 days per year over 85 degrees and an increasing frequency of heat waves. Start buying your supply of sunblock protection and wide brimmed hats now!

Bronze birch borer
The Pacific Northwest is already experiencing climate change (have you been here for the past few summers?) which will become even more evident in the decades ahead. 

With warmer minimum temperatures, certain insects that would usually die in winter will be able to survive year-round and multiply in greater numbers. 

And, as maximum temperatures rise in the summer, heat-stressed plants can become prime targets for destructive pests such as the bronze birch borer (pictured left) and western pine beetle

A warmer climate will also provide a better environment for mosquitoes, ticks and fleas. Remember that Western Washington had its first case of West Nile Virus just last year. Look for more glaciers and polar ice caps to melt at faster rates, sea levels to rise and weather-related disasters like wildfires and floods to become more common. 

The warmer winter temperatures will also cause precipitation in the Cascades to fall as rain rather than creating the usual snowpack that slowly melts throughout the summer and keeps our region hydrated and green. Certainly, these changes won't happen overnight. You might not notice them every day, every month or even every year. But they are happening. We still may have time to shape our future, for better or for worse. A profit of doom, I’m not. However, the climate is what it is or what we help it to become.

Rock rose
Take a look at Washington’s state plant, the rhododendron. Did you notice some of their leaves drooping and turning brown around the edges these past few summers? 

How about our Acer macrophyllum (Large Leaf Maples) many of whose leaves have been shrinking in size for the past few years or the Tsuga heterophylla (Western Hemlock) that are experiencing brown-out along their branches, all due to the increasingly hotter and drier summers? 

It may be time to think about landscape ‘editing’ which includes more native plants, but native to Zone 9. Plants like Cistus (Rock Rose – pictured right), Chamaecyparis (False Cypress), Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa Pine) and similar warmer zoned plants may be good candidates to fill the garden spaces of their heat-stressed predecessors. Also, start tracking the timing between when your current plants begin to flower earlier in the season and when their feeding pollinators are around. It’s one more cue to determine zone hardier plants and their fitness for changing landscapes.

Mentioning ‘pollinators’ raises another gardener’s issue: new insects and new diseases will become more common to challenge your fortitude and outdoor ingenuity. Watch for the scourge of roses, Japanese Beetles. They haven’t made it all the way from the east coast to western Washington as yet, but, they are closing-in with recent sightings in eastern Washington and south of Portland, OR. Also, watch for larger populations of the brown marmorated stink bugs to disturb your horticultural zen and bronze birch borers attempting to take down your White Himalayan Birch from the inside.

Against these prognosticated weather changes, can gardeners do anything to lessen the intensity of the problem? 

The task may seem akin to one person removing a cup of water from the ocean and expecting to see the water level fall a bit. Unfortunately, it will take more effort than that. It will take a concerted, global effort. 

In response to this challenge, as part of the individual efforts in your own yards, there are plenty of eco-friendly, cost-saving design tasks you can consider to help Seattle, the State and, of course, the world (not a bad result from all of us making simple changes to our landscapes. 

Adding more drought-tolerant plants to the landscape and switching from gas-powered lawn mowers and weed whackers are the first actions that come to mind. How about removing some or even all of that front lawn and adding water-efficient perennials, shrubs, etc.? I’m anticipating having an article and, perhaps, a gardening talk on the topic later this year. Let me know if you are interested in attending such a program.

New growing possibilities for the edible garden
On the positive side of the coin, the revised plant hardiness map may present new growing possibilities for the region’s gardeners, such as winegrape growing in Puget Sound. 

Edible gardens could experience improved harvests of eggplant, melons and other hot weather vegetables. New varieties of flowers may do better than they have any right to in the warmer weather. 

While warmer temperatures are projected to shorten the snow season by half in portions of the Cascades, thus cutting into winter sports, there is also the chance the change might expand access for activities like hiking and camping. 

The demand for warm-weather activities like cycling and boating might also increase. Things are going to change. There are going to be winners and losers in the region’s landscapes. As gardeners, we need to be pro-active and willing to change the way ‘things have always been done.”

When you use plants appropriate for your growing zone, it is not an absolute guarantee that they will be successful, but it is an excellent place to start. Experienced gardeners know there are other factors at play when deciding on which plants to use, including soil type, humidity and the effect of microclimates. 

Start with plants that are recommended for our changing hardiness zones, then research other factors that may have an influence on your plants as well. Local nurseries and garden centers carry native species that are suitable for our changing regions. 

In addition to choosing the right plants which will survive both our winters and summers, be sure to check and follow the planting and care instructions to ensure a healthy garden. Use some of this winter’s wet days to do the research needed to replace longtime familiar but suffering plants and be willing to try new candidates which will make life easier on your parcel of land in this green paradise called the great Pacific Northwest. 

Happy Gardening all!

Further Reading:

Crimmins, A.R., et. al. (eds.) 2023. Fifth U.S. National Climate Assessment Federal Report. U.S. Global Change Research Program. Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.7930/NCA5.2023.CH1

Dalton, M.M., et. al. (eds). 2013. Climate Change in the Northwest: Implications for our Landscapes, Waters and Communities. Island Press: Washington, DC.

Moore, Darryl. 2023. Gardening in a Changing World: Plants, People and the Climate Crisis. Pimpernel Press Ltd: London, UK.

Contributing columnist, Bruce Bennett, is a WSU Master Gardener, garden designer 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.

See Bruce's previous columns here


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Lake Forest Park Garden Club to hear from Debbie Teashon of Rainy Side Gardeners

Saturday, January 6, 2024

Debbie Teashon
Photo from Rainy Side Gardeners
Lake Forest Park Garden Club will start out the new year on January 9, 2024 at 9:15am meeting in Town Center at Bothell and Ballinger Way NE in LFP.  They will gather in Third Place Commons on the upper level, by the stage.

General meeting starts at 9:30am and a short break for goodies and then at 10:30 the speaker starts:

We hope you can join us for this exciting new year with our club. If you wish to join it is only $35.00 a year. We meet from Sept to May. We also have a few events in the summer.

Debbie Teashon is a garden writer, an award-winning co-author of the book – Gardening for the Homebrewer, garden speaker and award-winning photographer. 

Her passion for creating gardens and containers, and cool plants made her turn to write about the subject because she wouldn’t shut up about her plants!

Teashon’s career spans many decades. Her speaking engagements include the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival, Tacoma Home & Garden Show, and garden clubs across the Northwest. She's been a guest on Garden Time television show in Oregon and radio programs such as Gardening with Ciscoe on 97.3 FM KIRO radio and Poppy Tucker's Louisiana Eats on NPR.

Online since 1998, Teashon's website  Rainy Side Gardeners focuses on regional gardening west of the Cascades. Her articles and photographs appear in local, national, and international magazines and newspapers, such as Fine Gardening, Digger Magazine, West Sound Magazine, Oregonian, and more.


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Molbak's is closing in January - going out of business sale on now

Friday, January 5, 2024

Photo courtesy Molbak's
By Diane Hettrick

Molbak's Garden + Home will be going out of business this month after over 65 years in Woodinville.

Green Partners / Cascade had an ambitious plan to create a 'Garden Center' in the heart of Woodinville with Molbak's Garden + Home as the centerpiece. 

To that end, Green Partners bought the Molbak's property and allowed them to stay, rent-free, pending demolition and construction.

Now Green Partners / Cascade has determined that the project doesn't pencil out and is abandoning the project altogether. 

The City of Woodinville urged the two entities to negotiate but said they had limited avenues to influence the outcome.

Molbak's has chosen to go out of business immediately. The Seattle Times reports that their last day open will be January 28, 2024.

Molbak's is running a going out of business sale. The family owned garden store has been in business since 1956 when Egon and Laina Molbak arrived in rural Woodinville from Denmark, bringing with them a passion for gardening, and a dream of creating their own business that took root and grew.



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Houseplants 101 at Dunn Gardens January 10, 2024

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Houseplants 101
Wednesday January 10, 2024
10am-noon
Pricing: 
  • Members $15, 
  • Not-Yet-Members $25
Register here

This class will teach everything you need to know to successfully grow tropical plants indoors in the PNW. 

In this 1.5 hour course we will discuss plant selection; household light zones; proper watering methods; soils and fertilizers; and pests and diseases.

Following the class, attendees will have the knowledge necessary to walk into a well-stocked nursery, select a healthy plant that is suitable for their home, and to re-pot and raise that plant to maturity. 

A selection of tropical plants will also be available for purchase following the class.

A little bit about the instructor: 

Ben Billick is the owner of Bird Berry Nursery in Seattle, WA. 

Bird Berry is a small-scale, local grower of tropical plants that specializes in Hoyas, a diverse genus of mostly vining epiphytes that are native to SE Asia and the Pacific Islands. Ben has degrees in Biology and Environmental Horticulture, and is an avid gardener in addition to being crazy for tropical plants.


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WSU Extension King County Master Gardeners Workshops and Classes for 2024

Saturday, December 30, 2023

The WSU Extension King County Master Gardeners will offer their popular educational series, Growing Groceries classes and Bellevue Demonstration Garden (BDG) workshops, beginning in January 2024. 


Gardeners of all ages and skills can find a topic of interest. WSU Master Gardeners and guest speakers present from their own experience and include up-to-date science-based information from WSU Extension. 

All classes are presented on Zoom and are open to anyone in King County and beyond.


Growing Groceries Gardening Classes for 2024


Classes will be offered in three series: Winter, Spring, and Fall. The Growing Groceries program is ideal for home gardeners with beginner to intermediate skills and is open to all. Participants in the program will become more successful in their home gardening efforts and learn about sustainable and environmentally healthy practices. 

Classes are held on selected Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm to 8:30pm online on the Zoom platform. 

The Winter series kicks off on January 31 with featured speakers David Montgomery and Anne Biklé. Their topic, Healthy Soil, Healthy Plants, Healthy Food, will tell ‘tell the long and tangled story of humanity’s relationship with….the soil beneath our farms and gardens.‘ 

The remaining topics in this first series include Vegetables A to Z, All About Backyard Berries and Small Fruits, and The Cool Season Menu: Peas, Hardy Greens, Carrots and More. 

Visit the Growing Groceries page for all the details, including dates and times, class descriptions, cost, and how to register for the first series of four classes or for an individual class.

Bellevue Demonstration Garden Workshops 2024


The Bellevue Demonstration Garden (BDG) 2024 Workshops begin the new season on Saturday, January 20, 2024. 

Workshops will be presented in three series from January to October by WSU Extension King County Master Gardeners. Home gardeners, from beginning to experienced, can expect to learn about new methods and plants and refresh their knowledge on a variety of topics. 

Workshops are presented on selected Saturdays, from 9:30am to 10:30am online on the Zoom platform. 

The series begins on January 20, with Richie Steffen, Executive Director of the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden. He will share his knowledge of ferns in his presentation, Gardening with Ferns. Other topics in this series include Starting Flower and Vegetable Seeds, Weeds: Friends or Foes, The Complete Talk on Groundcovers, and more.

Visit our BDG Workshops page for all the details, including dates and times, workshop descriptions, cost, and how you can sign up for the series or an individual class.


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Garden Guy: Suggestions for After-Christmas gifts

Monday, December 25, 2023

Somehow this letter to Santa got lost in the mail - but it's not too late to help the gardener in your life get a wonderful gift with these suggestions.

Dear Santa,

I know you’re heading into your busy time of the year. So, seeing as your part of the world is challenged to grow any type of greenery, I’m thinking you and the elves may have a bit of a problem coming up with gift ideas for those good folk who happen to enjoy the experience of gardening in their lives. 


With that being the case, let me make your life a little easier by offering a few suggestions for gardener’s toys which would be appreciated in western Washington. In many cases, all that is wanted for Christmas this year is rain. I know that’s hard to believe, but the summer was dry and the poor gardens took the brunt of the summer weather. And, we still haven’t caught up on our usual annual average of rain.

In the event you can’t put that particular request under the tree (it would be a bit messy, wouldn’t it?), here’s a short list of some other items any gardeners, like me, would enjoy next spring and for years to come. And, which won’t break the gift-giving bank.

Felco F2 pruners
In the world of gardening tools, some of the most helpful items would include: a Japanese Hori-Hori knife/soil knife. They are great little tools for dividing perennials, rooting out weeds from the soil and in between pavers, etc. 

Hand pruners, like a set of Felco F2 (shown), are indispensable to just about any time a gardener steps outdoors. 

If the elves have the time, turn the pruners into a gift a set by including a whetstone and can of honing or mineral oil for blade sharpening. All gardeners will thank you next spring when their pruners cut through branches like butter. 

Finally, I know a garden kneel pad and seat or just a simple rectangular kneeling pad don’t scream ‘Christmas’, but they will keep many a set of knees comfortable during planting, weeding, and all the other low-to-the-ground tasks that are part of gardening.

Sun hats, visors, and apparel at Sky Nursery
Gardeners are not clothes horses by any stretch of the imagination, but there are some apparel items that are more for protection, rather than style. 

For instance, how about gifting a broad brimmed, UV-resistant hat to that fair skinned horticulturist with chlorophyll in their blood. Roll it up, stick it in an empty gift wrap cardboard tube and you have the makings of a fine stocking stuffer. 

The same practical value holds true for an UV-resistant long sleeve shirt as spring turns into summer. Depending on garden conditions, a pair of muck boots will keep feet warm and regular shoes clean (and, perhaps, a boot/shoe tray to keep dirt and compost from being tracked throughout the hose. You know how Mrs. Claus feels about that.).

Speaking of compost, I know it’s an unusual and unexpected sort of present, but, how about leaving a few bags of compost, fertilizer or potting soil at the front door? Putting them under the tree might be a tad too much for your back and the home’s ‘fragrance’. But, they are long-lasting gifts, won’t go stale and you can be assured they will be used during the year.

Bistro table and chairs
If someone has been outstandingly good, maybe a larger item is called for. I’m thinking about a bistro set of a table and two chairs. They can fit just about anywhere in the yard or on a balcony. 

The great thing about bistro furniture is many of them fold into easily storable pieces or could be used as an art display hanging the wall. Function, long life and color? – Santa, they’ll think you nailed this one. 

Getting back to wallet-saving gifts, a bird feeder or hummingbird feeder helps keep over-wintering birds in our yards, keeps them fed and provides the homeowner with smiles-a-plenty from the avian aerobatic antics throughout the year. 

And, if the home has cats, you’ll always know where to find them. A cat seat in front of the window might be totally appropriate as well.

Then, there are topical publications, Santa. I’m pretty sure you don’t run a printing press up at the North Pole, but I’m confident you can make some deals with publishers. Gardeners are lifelong learners and always trying to improve their skills, knowledge and acumen. 

Consequently, a year’s subscription to some type of gardening magazine will extend the thrill of your gift throughout the year. 

Taking about printed matter, let’s not forget books as gifts. They don’t even need to come from full-price bookstores. Places like Amazon and Half-Price Books can provide quality products without costing a small fortune. 

For example, publications I’m eyeing for myself in the very near future include ‘The Whole Seed Catalog,’ which is a catalog of catalogs. For those interested in developing a vegetable garden, think about putting a copy of ‘Square Foot Gardening’ or ‘Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades’ under the tree. For garden design, give them a copy of ‘The Well-Designed Mixed Garden’ or ‘Gardening in Summer-Dry Climates.’ 

For those fairly new to gardening, let me recommend that your elves pick-up copies of ‘Maritime Northwest Garden Guide’ and the ‘Sunset Western Garden Book.’ 

They are all-round excellent information to have on the reference bookshelf. Any of these publications will provide a gardener with a pleasurable way to spend the impending wet and gray wet which will besieging the Northwest for the next six months. 

Make an impact, Santa! Give gardeners knowledge and something to dream about. I’ll do my part by reminding my neighbors that the Elizabeth Miller Library at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture will have books on all types of gardening that may interest the gardener in someone’s life. Those books can, then, be ordered online by one of the elves and be received in time to be put under the Christmas Tree.

Finally, I won’t mention gift cards from a favorite nursery, but, in the same vein, how about a year’s membership to a garden organization like the Northwest Perennial Alliance or the Northwest Horticultural Society or a subscription to a lecture series like the Master Gardeners’ Growing Groceries Program or the Bellevue Botanical Garden’s lecture series? 

That’s really telling the gift recipient that their priorities and interests have been taken into consideration. Santa don’t believe in that old saw that one-size-fits-all. In this case, it’s personal.

So, you see, Santa, there are many different, green-related items you can put under (or near) gardeners’ Christmas trees as you make your rounds on the 25th. Here’s wishing you safe faster-than-sound travels that evening and, of course, my regards to Mrs. Claus. Happy Holidays one and all!

Contributing garden columnist and part-time Christmas Elf, Bruce Bennett, is a WSU Certified Master Gardener, WA Certified Professional Horticulturist, consultant and public speaker. 

If you have questions concerning this article, have a question about your own garden area or care to suggest topics of interest for future columns, please contact Bruce at gardenguy4u@hotmail.com.

Previous articles by Garden Guy and part-time Christmas elf can be seen here


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Molbak's Garden + Home store to permanently close

Friday, December 22, 2023

Molbak's Garden + Home
Molbak's, the beloved garden store in Woodinville, has announced that they will be closing permanently after they were excluded from redevelopment plans for a "Garden District" in Woodinville.

The Seattle Times published a lengthy report

Molbak Family Statement

We know this is incredibly difficult news for our employees and their families and the many other friends of Molbak’s throughout our industry, the Puget Sound, the country and the world.

The Gardens District was an exciting plan for our future and our opportunity to remain in Woodinville for decades to come. A new Molbak’s was supposed to be the heart of the project. To not be able to realize that vision is heartbreaking to us.

Our roots run deep. We can’t say enough about the amazing Molbak’s team, our loyal customers, our supportive vendors and the many community partnerships we’ve made over the years.

Family businesses are special. We’re grateful for the opportunity to share the passion for horticulture, floriculture and community that Egon and Laina began in 1956 and nurtured and grew in Woodinville for 67 years.

Thank you for your place in our family’s business. While Molbak’s may be coming to an end, the work we have all done together will last in the hearts, friendship and professional relationships we all share.

-Egon Molbak, 98 (founder)
-Jens Molbak (owner)
-Ellen Molbak Welsch
-Kirsten Molbak Paterson
-Heidi Molbak

The family promised more information in January.


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Volunteer with the Green Shoreline Partnership in Shoreline parks

Tuesday, December 12, 2023


Volunteer to help do ecological restoration with the Green Shoreline Partnership - Invest in our city's future urban forests! 

Volunteer at a city park near you. Work parties on various days of the week available at parks throughout the city. 

Register online at this link. Email stewardship@restorationad.com for more information.


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Miyawaki Forest cools flora, fauna and folks: Shoreline Historical Museum invites you to Planting Day, Dec 9, 2023

Sunday, December 3, 2023

By Bruce Scholten

Urban trends can be heartwarming. We smile at lovers’ padlocks left on walkways to Seattle’s ferry terminal. Graffiti sometimes turns into murals brightening streets, cafes and businesses.
Nice, you say. But how about a trend that actually cools urban heat islands to fight global warming? 
Enter Miyawaki Forests. The idea was developed by the late Dr Akira Miyawaki, who was hired by Nippon Steel Corporation to landscape its new steelworks. 

For various reasons, the selected plants and trees failed to thrive. The Japanese botanist thought about Nippon’s most durable species, realizing they inhabited ancient temple gardens. Miyawaki researched the flora and fauna that pre-historically preceded the steelworks.

Voila! They flourished. Not only did the right combination of plants grow well, they did so 10-times faster than alternatives. Soil amendments improved fertility, spurred growth and increased water retention – a safety valve against flash floods in an unruly climate.

Thus, the Miyawaki Method was born, with native plants, slugs, bugs and butterflies - cooling cities. 

Densely planted indigenous plants and trees sequester carbon and emit more oxygen for human breathability. Garry oak trees nudge three meters in height in just three years, baffling sound. The roar of diesel buses and clank of garbage trucks is hushed by rustling trees. People enjoy the quiet – even spiritual - solace of an urban green oasis.

Volunteers with dirt for the pollinator hill
Photo by Sally Yamasaki

Shoreline Historical Museum’s Miyawaki Forest project

With a team of volunteers, Shoreline’s Miyawaki Forest project received generous funding from sources including Puget Sound’s Environmental Rotary Club, and Rotary Clubs of Emerald City, Lake Forest Park, Mill Creek, and Shoreline. Also Miyawaki Forest Friends, King County Conservation District (KCD), SUGi Project, 4 Culture, and Diggin’ Shoreline.

Volunteers are developing 4800 square feet adjacent to the Shoreline Historical Museum, just south of the City of Edmonds.

Guiding Shoreline is architect Ethan Bryson, who in 2016 founded ‘Natural Urban Forests.’ The goal is improving habitability for Seattle’s people, plants and creatures. He envisions Miyawaki forests in the Yakama Nation, in Ellensburg, and in Seattle. 
Bryson says, ‘I was contacted by Shoreline Historical Museum Society member Matt Tullio and we discussed various possibilities for creating forests for the community in Shoreline.’

Part of the Miyawaki magic is quick improvement to local air and soil quality. What about status as a climax forest? Bryson said, ‘Dr. Kazue Fujiwara has said these forests can reach maturity in 60 years as opposed to about 200 years.’

Volunteers create pollinator hill
Photo by Sally Yamasaki

MIYAWAKI URBAN FOREST PLANTING DAY - December 9, 2023, Saturday 10am – 2pm.

Shoreline Historical Museum invites the public – people of all ages – to 18501 Linden Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133, on December 9, 2023, Saturday 10am – 2pm.

10:00 Forest Dedication, 11:00 Forest Planting Begins, Refreshments! Kids’ Activities and Tours!

For more information, contact museum volunteers


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Work party in Five Acre Woods on Saturday, December 2, 2023

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Five Acre Woods
Photo courtesy LFP Stewardship Foundation
Five Acre Woods Volunteer Work Party 
in Lake Forest Park
Saturday December 2, 2023 from 9am - 12noon


Restoration volunteers continue at your local forest park, Five Acre Woods. This new hidden gem of a park is really coming along! 

Work includes removal of invasive plants like ivy, blackberry and bamboo, trail building and maintenance, and planting trees and native plants. 

Come dressed for all weather – rain or shine. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for uneven terrain and mountain beaver holes. 

We will have a limited number of tools available so please bring your garden shears, loppers, folding hand saws or metal rakes but leave your power tools at home.  

Don’t forget your gloves — some people are sensitive to ivy sap.


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Green Shoreline Day - volunteer in a Shoreline Park


Green Shoreline Day, Saturday December 2, 2023 in parks throughout the City.

This is the first year for this event. The volunteers who shepherd each park will have up to 100 native plants that need to get into the ground on this day.

One potential problem of having all the events on the same day: there are people who routinely volunteer at more than one park. They will have to choose and some parks will be short-handed. Brugger's Bog is one location that struggles for volunteers. Northcrest could use some help, too.

Map of park locations

Details and sign up at each park link. Most events are 10am - 1pm but may vary by location.

Darnell Park

12/02/2023
Darnell Park

Echo Lake Loves Native Plants
12/02/2023
Echo Lake Park

Shoreline Park
12/02/2023
Shoreline Park

Brugger's Bog
12/02/2023
Bruggers Bog

Help Us Plant Native Trees!
12/02/2023
Richmond Beach Saltwater Park

Northcrest Park
12/02/2023
Northcrest Park

Hamlin Forest Restoration Site 
12/02/2023
Hamlin Park

North City Park
12/02/2023
North City Park

Tree Planting Celebration
12/02/2023
Boeing Creek Park

Winter planting
12/02/2023
Twin Ponds Park

Join us! Weekly Sunday Work Party
12/03/2023
Twin Ponds Park


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Twelve years of Forest Restoration at Hamlin Park and volunteers still welcome

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Volunteers of all ages helped with the 2011 forest restoration project

By Oliver Moffat

November 2023 marks twelve years of volunteer forest-restoration work in Hamlin Park. In 2011 EarthCorps and neighborhood volunteers restored a quarter acre of the forest understory. Volunteer-led forest restoration work continues today with work parties managed by the Green Shoreline Partnership.

In 2007, the city of Shoreline hired Seattle Urban Nature (who would later change their name to EarthCorps) to study the ecology of Hamlin Park. 

The study found that approximately 15 acres throughout the forest of Hamlin Park were devoid of understory vegetation. Experimental test plots found the causes were likely poor soil pH, trampling by visitors, and sandy soils lacking coarse woody debris to retain moisture. 

Twelve years after the EarthCorp restoration project, the understory inside the exclosure is vibrant and alive with a diverse understory of native plants. 
EarthCorps recommended that new restoration efforts be fenced off with an exclosure wherever possible to protect plant installations from trampling and other disturbances.

Based on learnings from these studies, the City of Shoreline hired EarthCorps to restore the quarter-acre site located at the top of the hill above the playground. 

In November of 2011, EarthCorps recruited volunteers from the neighborhood to plant more than 3,400 native species (3,207 ground-covers, 139 shrubs, and 60 trees) in the quarter-acre area. Volunteers of all ages helped with the planting, and a fence was installed around the project area to protect it.

The remnants of the fence still stand at the site above the playground. As you walk the perimeter of the exclosure, you notice the contrast between the green and vibrant understory within the exclosure, and the lack of vegetation in the surrounding areas.

Volunteers can help plant native trees, shrubs and groundcovers
on Green Shoreline Day, Saturday, December 2nd

In 2017, a volunteer-led stewardship team started working to restore the forest at the north end of the park. The eight acre parcel at the north end of the park was donated to King County in 1939 and developed into ballfields with resources from the WPA. 

After the ballfields were abandoned nearly twenty years ago, the site became overrun with noxious weeds such as Scotch broom and Himalayan blackberry. With regular volunteer work parties, the community has restored a half acre of the site and are in the process of restoring another half acre.

Stewards will be hosting work parties at parks across the city on Green Shoreline Day, Saturday, December 2, 2023. 

The Hamlin crew will have more than 300 native trees, shrubs and groundcovers to plant across a half acre site. Neighbors interested in participating can find more information and sign up online HERE


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Garden Guy: Autumn: A Second Chance To Improve Next Year

Monday, November 13, 2023

By Bruce Bennett

Don’t look now, but Autumn is waiting just around the corner to leap out at us. Sun lovers and beachgoers might greet this news with dismay. However, many might extend open arms to the cooler, more settled weather that autumn brings, especially after this summer’s dry and record-breaking (again) hot weather.

Fire Power
Photo by landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu
A growing number of gardeners are looking toward the autumn months as a second chance to bring vibrant colors back into their flower gardens. 

Changing out tired looking flower containers with plants that withstand cooler temperatures and occasional frosts can provide just what’s needed. 

Autumn is a great time to look to leaf foliage or berries for color without the need for flowers. 

Many foliage plants even develop better color when temperatures drop. 

For example, Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica) ‘Fire Power’ (above) never looked better as its fire engine red color develops during the cool autumn temperatures.

Unfortunately, many plants used to renovate autumn garden containers are annuals, plants that do not overwinter in our area (Zone 8). While they sometimes continue growing well into November, they are not frost tolerant. These plants need to be protected when there is some in the frost weather forecast. 

Planting in containers makes this job a little easier. An old sheet, burlap or even bubble-wrap can do a great job of keeping light frost from harming the plants. However, all bets are off if a hard freeze is predicted. At that point, start humming a hymn to the glory of compost.

Swiss Chard.
Photo by plantnebraska.org
Plants slow down as the weather cools and the day-lengths shorten. How full the container looks when planted is pretty much how it will look all season. 

These plants will not grow as vigorously as spring planted ones. Also, watch that you are watering properly. 

Water less in autumn especially as it deepens. Fertilizing in fall is likely unnecessary. Some colorful annuals to choose from include the familiar Mums, Flowering Kale, ‘Bright Lights’ Swiss Chard (at left), Marigolds, Sunflowers, Celosia, Mexican Sunflowers and Zinnias.

Fireworks- Photo by plants.ces.ncsu.edu
Another, more permanent way of adding touches of autumn to the landscape is by planting perennials, shrubs and trees with an eye for fall color and texture. 

Goldenrod/Solidago ‘Fireworks’ (at left), Asters, Black-eyed Susans, Pansies, Caryopteris, Upright Sedum, Coneflowers, Blanket Flowers, Coreopsis, Purple Beauty Berry, Anemones, and Paper-Bark Maple just begin a list of colorful possibilities.

Planting in autumn provides many advantages for gardeners. After the chaos of spring and summer gardening, weather cools and things slow down. Rainfall is more than adequate. 

Pests and disease problems tend to disappear. And, most important, the soil is still warm, allowing roots to grow until the ground freezes or gets as close as it can in the greater Seattle area. These conditions benefit both gardeners and plants.

One major obstacle gardeners face is the acquisition of new plants. Larkspur, Cleome, Bread Poppies and other annuals produce many seeds. Perhaps a friend grows them and would be willing to share some seeds. A friend may have a large drift of Black-eyed Susans and is willing to dig a clump for you to divide and plant. 

Gardeners tend to be a friendly group. So ask for seeds, starts and clumps! Also, check out your local garden clubs. Many are now ‘potting-up’ for autumn plant sales. Finally, don’t forget to check with you County Extension and Master gardener programs as well as community college and high school horticulture programs. You may be surprised at what’s out there.

Sale. Photo by lifehacker.com
Leftover plants found in greenhouses, nurseries and big box stores are looking pretty pathetic by this time of year. 

The upside is that ‘the price is right.’ This past weekend, I’ve seen sales of 25% - 75% off regular prices. 

Regardless of what the top growth looks like now, the root systems of perennials are still vigorous and can come back with a vengeance next spring. Take a chance on some of them.

Anemone. Photo by plants,ces.ncsu.edu.jpg
Last year, I picked-up a few Anemone japonica plants that looked so woeful the clerk didn’t even charge me for them. I planted them in October and one-year later, I can look out my office window and see the pink blossoms of Anemone ‘September Charm.’ 

If spending enough time in their growing beds, gardeners may come to the realization that planting a flower sometimes becomes an act of faith.

Have fun in the garden this autumn. As a former college literature instructor, I can recall that English poet, John Keats, called autumn the "season of mists and mellow fruitfulness". 

For me, it’s also a most excellent time to move outdoors, for possibly the final time this year, smell autumn in the air and do a bit of considered planting, pruning and dreaming of next year glories. Happy gardening all!

Bruce Bennett, Garden Guy
Contributing garden columnist, Bruce Bennett, is a Washington State University WSU Certified Master Gardener, WA Certified Professional Horticulturist and public speaker. 

If you have questions concerning this article or care to suggest topics of interest for future columns, contact Bruce at gardenguy4u@hotmail.com.

Q/A

Question: Hey Garden Guy – tell this new homeowner about dahlias. Do I leave them in the ground or take them out? Thanks!

Answer: Hello, grasshopper. I trust you are enjoying the late summer and autumn displays being put on by dahlias at the moment. In the Northwest, the tubers of these plants can be left in the soil for a years. 

Over-winter them by covering the dead plants with evergreen boughs, bark mulch, etc. If the dahlia variety is one that you really like, lift some of them, brush off any extra soil, dust with a bit of sulfur and store in a container of perlite, vermiculite or simple slightly damp sawdust. 

Check them once a month for rot, desiccation, and other problems. If you have more than one variety, write the name in magic marker on the tubers. Replant when the soil warms a bit, say, May. Protect the new shoots from slugs and snails. Best of luck! G.G.

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The Sweet Smell of Life

Ethan Bryon of Natural Urban Forests assessing
the soil where the Miyawaki forest will be planted
Story and photos by Sally Yamasaki

Ethan Bryson, founder of Natural Urban Forests, dug into the soil at the Shoreline Historical Museum and grabbed a handful of earth and smelled it. 

"Soil smells sweet when there is life,” he said.

Bryson came to begin the process of preparing the soil for the Miyawaki Urban Forest Planting Day Celebration to be held on Saturday, December 9, 2023 starting at 10:00am at the Shoreline Historical Museum 18501 Linden Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133

Over 100 community members of all ages will help plant and begin the life of our forest.
Vacant Field next to the Shoreline Historical Museum. 1/3 of it will be planted on the Dec. 9th Planting Day Celebration

The intended planting area next to the museum has a history of its own. At one time it was an area used by the Duwamish. Much later it was occupied by a chicken farm. 

Today, it has been a vacant field for some time where the soil has degraded such that when I asked, Bryson, “What does our soil smell like?” 

 He said, “There is no scent.”

““Soils rich in organic matter smell sweet and pleasant, while depleted soils don’t smell much at all. That’s because bacteria in soils survive by feeding on organic matter and some of them produce a substance responsible for that sweet smell, known as geosmin. If you can smell geosmin, you know you have a soil that is healthy and full of microscopic life and very likely, the bacteria which makes us feel good will be part of all that life.” (Gardenzine)

With the soil samples Bryson took, he will analyze what the soil needs. He will then bring in amendments to the soil that will allow it to have moisture, oxygen, organic matter, and minerals – things we all need to grow. This will create an environment where bacteria can begin to work its magic that will bring the museum soil back to life and provide a home for the Miyawaki Urban Forest to grow.

Miyawaki Forest Friend Volunteers talking with Ethan Bryson

Some say, that when soil is healthy, its scent can make you happy. I believe it!

If you are interested in Planting or Volunteering at the Museum, contact us

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Community Work Party at Twin Ponds North Saturday, November 11, 2023

Thursday, November 9, 2023


Community Work Party at Twin Ponds North
Saturday, November 11, 2023 from 9:30am - 12:30pm

On November 11th, from 9:30-12:30, the Washington Native Plant Urban Forest Stewards will be hosting a community work party, at Twin Ponds North.

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

Bring gloves, hand pruners, water, and a snack. We will have tools on site to help with the projects.

Please share this invitation with others, and if you have any questions, please contact us at northtwinpondsrestoration@gmail.com

We Welcome Everyone!

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Sacred Seeds Ethnobotanical Trail at Bastyr University Gardens

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Bastyr's Sacred Seeds Trail
Photo courtesy Bastyr University

The Sacred Seeds Ethnobotanical Trail at Bastyr University is part of an international network of Sacred Seed gardens created to address the rapid loss of biodiversity and plant cultural knowledge. 

The vision is to build collaborative gardens all over the world that act as “living libraries” and seed banks for local ethnomedicine plants — bringing together botanists, indigenous peoples, herbalists and schools. 

Visit the website to print and take along your own self lead learning maps for all ages, such as the Plant Quest scavenger hunt map, or explore the trail virtually from home. 

The Sacred Seeds Trail is open to the public, so everyone can enjoy this special outdoor treasure in Kenmore!

Bastyr University 14500 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore WA 98028


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“All About Soils and Fertilizers” at LFP Garden Club November 14, 2023 meeting

Friday, November 3, 2023

Photo by Jerry Pickard

November 14, 2023 Fred Wermer will speak to the LFP Garden Club “All About Soils and Fertilizers”.

This class discusses soil information, how to determine texture and its importance and the best testing methods to use when determining soil properties and for soil testing. 

From there, soil improvement is easier to control. Nutrient advice, fertilizer tips and calculations and manure(s) will all be evaluated in this 90 minute program.

The Key to a successful garden is soil and Fred Wermer has the Key.

Meeting at Town Center Ballinger Way NE and Bothell Way NE, Upper level at Stage area.

9:15 to 9:30am check in
9:30 to 10:00am General Meeting
10:00 to 10:30 refreshments
10:30 to 11:30 Speaker

All are welcome. You may attend two meetings for free and then we ask that you join the club. Yearly dues are $35.00

We are novice and experienced gardeners and have great speakers and learn much for these talks. We also have a great time getting to know our fellow club members.


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Garden Hotline Event: Safe and Healthy Edible Gardening November 15, 2023

Thursday, November 2, 2023


Safe and Healthy Edible Gardening
Wednesday, November 15, 5:30pm

Richmond Beach Library

Edible gardening is increasing in popularity, and it is important to know how to determine if the site, soil and containers you have chosen for growing food are safe to use. In this workshop, learn how to choose safe materials for building raised beds, determine how healthy your soil is and when it is important to test for toxins in the soils.


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Transform clay, compacted or wet ground into a usable planting area with Hugelkultur class November 4, 2023

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Hugelkultur class on Shoreline Community College campus Saturday Nov 4th - register today!

Hugelkultur is a landscape technique constructed that effectively transforms clay, compacted or wet ground into a usable planting area, that also absorbs excess ground water. 

Kathy Anderson is an landscape designer and water ecologist and has extensive experience in site assessments, rain garden design and landscaping through her business, Bountiful Landscapes.

Make raised garden beds or privacy barriers that add beauty and dimension to your landscape.

Using woody debris and other discarded garden materials, you can build habitat and transform clay soils and soaks up excess ground water with this quick and cost-effective method of installation. 

This is a hands-on class that shows you how to identify and gather materials, as well as how to layer for water absorption. Great for that yard that won’t grow anything!
 
Date: Saturday November 4, 2023 from 10:00 - 12:30pm
16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133
Room 1501

Fee: $49.00 - all supplies and take home items included!

Kathy Anderson is an engaging and passionate speaker who empowers homeowners to create a landscape where they love to live! She educates and inspires people through active visioning and hands-on training, which leaves participants excited, energized and ready to get started! Kathy has extensive experience in property assessments and is a hands-on consultant and landscape designer through her business, Bountiful Landscapes.


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