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

Come and Work and/or Walkabout at Twin Ponds Saturday, April 27, 2024

Tuesday, April 23, 2024


Story and photos by Meghan Peterka

About 5 years ago, 30 King County residents went through the Urban Forest Restoration Program. As a part of the program, the City of Shoreline provided the restoration sites for these stewards to work. Twin Ponds Park, on the intersection of 155th and 1st Ave NE was one of the parks chosen.

I wish we had taken pictures of the site before we began to do our restoration work. Since we do not have beforehand pictures, I will use my words to give you a visual.


Here is the NW entrance of Twin Ponds Park. It looks pretty good. Though, I want you to imagine a wall of Himalayan blackberries and creeping around and under, English Ivy. These have been removed since and have been replaced with NW native plants as well as a gravel path for the community to walk along.

Throughout this part of the park, our wonderful steward Marj Gillespy has created signage that educates the community about the different plant species that are growing in the site.

A couple of years into our work, we uncovered this gorgeous patch of native bleeding hearts. It has been exciting to find some preexisting native species that were covered by blackberries and ivy.

The canopy in the part of the park is mostly deciduous trees, speckled with evergreen trees, both established and newly planted.

The floor of this urban forest is littered with cones and leaves, waiting for decomposition to add nutrients to the soil.


Twin Ponds is teeming with life, in its soil, plants, trees, and waterways. 

Whether you've been there before or not, I invite you to join our stewardship team, at our next work party, on Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 9:30-12:30. Please bring gloves and a water bottle. We meet at the NW corner of the park. 

Everyone is welcome!

Come, come out to our work party, and/or come to walkabout.


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The Garden Guy chooses new plants for 2024

Monday, April 22, 2024

By Bruce Bennett

As a home gardener, one of the satisfying rituals of spring is finding new garden treasures; those plants that are making their debut in the retail marketplaces. They are generally sports or hybrids of plants that have been on the market for years, with the new ones having a different sense of style and usage to them. Or, they can be new hybrids. 


Whether larger or smaller in size; darker, lighter or variegated leaves or larger flowers; etc., all have the ability to add something ‘extra’ to the humble part of your landscape that cries out to be noticed. A little dramatic? Perhaps. But, you get the gist of what I’m saying. 

 No part of a landscape needs to be boring. It is worth too much in the way of underutilized garden space, monetary value and in satisfying your aesthetic senses to be just ‘Okay.’ A new vignette may be just the thing to enliven the space and create a smile on your face on your face when gazing at the site.

This year, growers and hybridizers seem to have outdone themselves and have brought a bumper crop of hundreds of new (and, of course, improved) plants to garden center shelves and tables. Although I have not actually viewed all of the new candidates, what I have seen at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, area plant trials and wholesale growers’ beds, have provided me with several contenders for your attention. 

My prime considerations for Western Washington new plants-of-note include drought and heat tolerance (after root systems are established), disease resistance, low maintenance and, of course, presence in the garden. This year, my candidates for your horticultural scrutiny include perennials, grasses, shrubs and trees (sorry folks, I don’t do annuals). Seek them out, do your own research and evaluate their worthiness for that needy spot in your own yard…….

Artemisia x ‘Silver Lining”
(White Sagebrush/Wormwood)
Artemisia x ‘Silver Lining” White Sagebrush/Wormwood

My top perennial choice doesn’t have much in the way of flowers, but, the foliage is a solid winner. A hybrid of two North American natives (the clumping Alaskan artemisia and the Western US artemisia) uses the best of its parentage to create a spectacular, durable foliage perennial. 

The broadly dissected silver leaves are showy from spring to fall. The mounded, low-wide habit maintains excellent form all season and resists opening up, like ‘Silver Mound’. 

Use this new perennial as a filler, color transition divider or backdrop in a landscape of flashy colors and or as spiller in mixed containers. Its yellow flowers are held on tall scapes and I would cut them off.

In addition to its durability and excellent summer heat and drought tolerance, this artemisia will not rambunctiously spread through the garden as does its cousin, ‘Valerie Finnis.’ 'Silver Lining' forms a non-stoloniferous 15" tall x 36” wide, winter deciduous groundcover with cutleaf silver foliage. Best results will be in average to dry soils, either sandy or clay. If those resilience attributes weren’t enough, this plant is also both deer and rabbit resistant.

Perennial runners-up include Agapanthus africanus ‘Bridal Veil’ (Lily-of-the-Nile), Brunnera macrophylla ‘Frostbite’ (Siberian Bugloss),Heliopsis helianthoides 'Bit of Honey' (Ox-eye Sunflower), Heuchera x ‘Forever Midnight’ (Coral Bells), and Teucrium fruticans ‘Harlequin’s Silver’ (Creeping Germander).

Panicum virgatum 'Niagara Falls'
(Switch Grass)
Panicum virgatum 'Niagara Falls' (Switch Grass)

This native from the Great Plains is an excellent grass in just about any landscape. With its late season seedheads and arching habit, ‘Niagara Falls’ is a good replacement for Miscanthus senesis. 

The powder blue leaf blades arch gracefully in the landscape, creating a soft cascading look. In early autumn, seed head plumes rise above the foliage creating a cream-colored cloud that gives the area texture and interest which will last through winter. 

Because of its foliage interest, this four-foot-tall grass is a multi-purpose plant that can be used in borders, containers, as specimen or in mass plantings. It is versatile and great looking, just what a plant should be!

It is an easy ornamental grass to grow in full sun to part shade and it will do well in just about any soil type in our part of the State. Remember to water it and cut it back in spring before the new growth appears and you have covered all of your maintenance bases. 

That’s right, save yourself some work and leave the buff-colored stalks to over-winter. In early fall, the seed head plumes that rise above the foliage will create a cream-colored cloud above the plant and will provide visual interest and bird habitat that will last through the winter doldrums.

Grass runners-up in this category include Amsonia hubrichtii ‘String Theory’ (Bluestar), Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Lemon Squeeze’ (Fountain Grass) and Schizachyrium scoparium 'Brush Strokes' (Little Bluestem).

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Eclipse’ 
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Eclipse’ (Big Leaf Hydrangea) is a shrub that has been receiving rave reviews from garden centers this spring. 

Probably because the shrub retains its dark foliage, rather than fading back to green, during the summer heat. The combination of the intense dark foliage and stand-out cranberry-red and white blooms makes for an excellent color counterpoint in just about any yard and, hopefully, a great dried-flower arrangement in a vase.

‘Eclipse’ is purported to have great disease resistance and low maintenance requirements. At three to five feet tall and wide, ‘Eclipse’ is size-appropriate for just about all smaller urban gardens. For its first three to five years, this hydrangea is a prime candidate for a porch or balcony container. After that, it will need annual pruning to keep it within bounds. 

As with most hydrangeas, this plant does best in morning sun and some afternoon shade. However, it can thrive in more sun in Western Washington if additional moisture is provided. ‘Eclipse’ is cold hardy down to Zone 5a and can take both our summer heat and winter cold snaps. If you are purchasing only one new plant this year, definitely consider the multi-faceted ‘Eclipse’ (and let me know how it does for you).

Shrub runners-up include Abelia x grandiflora ‘Angel’s Blush’ (Glossy Abelia), Calycanthus floridus, ‘Simply Sensational’ (EasternSweetshrub), Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Hottie’ (Panicle Hydrangea), Ilex x meserveae ‘Little One’ (Blue Holly), Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Midnight Cascade’ (Hanging) Blueberry and Vitex agnus-castus ‘Queen Bee’ (Chastetree).

Cercis canadensis ‘Garden Gems
Amethyst’ (Redbud)
Cercis canadensis ‘Garden Gems Amethyst’ (Redbud) is a new dwarf tree which also features dark leaves and is compact enough to grow in a pot. It’s a slow grower that can reach eight to ten feet tall and wide, which is about half the size of a standard redbud. 

It flowers in early spring, sparkling with pink blooms before the foliage appears. In summer, the leaves will hold their amethyst color through our heat domes.

‘Amethyst’ is one of those plants I’d call a ‘nativar’ (a cultivar of a native plant, a Redbud in this case) that is pollinator-friendly, making it increasingly popular with the bee-lovers of our area. 

This new hybrid attracts pollinators and creates the perfect conversation piece in a small landscape or on a condo patio in full sun to part shade.

If you don’t happen to care for the look of dark foliage, a sister (cousin?) Redbud will be coming out that has leaves which emerge red and then turn green. It’s called ‘Garden Gems Emerald.’

Tree runners-up include Heptacodium miconioides ‘Temple of Bloom’ (Seven-son Flower), Hesperocyparis arizonica ‘Crystal Frost’ (Arizona Cypress) and Thuja standishii × plicata ‘Leprechaun’(Leprechaun Arborvitae).

Readers should remember that this list is totally subjective. It is based on the plants I have seen and liked for their hardiness, versatility and’ WOW’ appeal that the neighbors don’t have. Use this list to kick-off your own horticultural sleuthing of those new additions at your favorite garden center. 

The downside of new-plant shopping is to remember the qualities of patience and perseverance. As new introductions, these little treasures may not appear in your area for a while. Do ask the garden center staff if the plant in question can be ordered or your name added to a Waitlist. That tactic has worked for me many times over. Best of luck with this annual rite of Springtime and the newfound joy in your little patch of heaven. Happy gardening all!

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

See previous columns by Bruce Bennett here


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Lakeshore Garden Club Plant Sale

Lakeshore Garden Club Plant Sale
Saturday, April 27, 2024
10am to 3pm
Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church
Lake Forest Park WA 98155
See our website at www.lakeshoregardenclub.com

The Lakeshore Garden Club Plant Sale will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in the parking lot of the Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church from 10am to 3pm.

We've got great prices on sun, part-sun, and shade perennials, ground covers, grasses, bulbs and rhizomes, natives, shrubs, trees, edible plants, and more!


A large variety of perennials to add color to your garden as well as annuals, ground covers, grasses, bulbs and rhizomes, shrubs, trees and native plants. 

Proceeds support our programming, community projects, charitable donations and a horticulture scholarship for the Horticulture Program at Edmonds Community College.


Lakeshore Garden Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more than 20 years we have held this annual plant sale to support our programming, community projects, charitable donations, and a scholarship for the Horticulture Program at Edmonds College.


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Growth of the Miyawaki Forest at the Shoreline Historical Museum

Sunday, April 21, 2024

A Miyawaki Forest was born on Saturday 9 December 2023 in a 3000 square foot space on a vacant lot next to the Shoreline Historical Museum at 18501 Linden Ave North. Over 300 volunteers and others helped place into the cold, wet ground 1,200 plants, representing 43 different native species.


Volunteers at February work party

Since that rainy December day, community involvement has continued in the frost, drizzle, rain and sun of winter into spring. Work parties are weeding and mulching, using arborist chips. The first Forest sprouts are growing.

Lupine has poked through the mulch, camas flower shoots and huckleberry leaves have emerged and saplings are starting to leaf out. Passersby can’t resist a look-in. Most recent was a group of kids from eastern Washington in Shoreline for band practice who joined in the mulch toss.

A 3000-gallon cistern installed in February is capturing rainwater from the roof of the Historical Museum’s archive building. Drip irrigation hoses will draw water from the cistern during the dry summer months. Three years from now the forest will be vigorous enough to survive on its own.

Roger Fernandes with volunteers February 2024
Photo by Martha Sholen

The Forest has been welcoming more than flora. Indigenous storyteller and artist Roger Fernandes spent an afternoon in February with Forest volunteers on interactive story creation for spiritual support of the forest. In March volunteers spent the day on the first steps of fashioning clay signs in English and Lushootseed to be placed in the Forest in May.

Writing the bilingual signs
Photo by Martha Sholten

The first of three focal events, Language of the Forest
, will be held at the Forest on Saturday, May 4, 2024 10 am - 12 pm, Professor Dana Campbell will pose the question: Do trees communicate with other trees? Among the activities for all ages will be placing the bilingual signs where they belong in the Forest. There will be refreshments.

Other upcoming events:

Summer Forest Celebration, Saturday, June 29th, 5:30 pm - 8 pm. Bring a picnic to the Forest and listen to drumming from various cultures.

Fall Life of the Forest, Saturday, Sept. 28th, 10 am - 12 pm. Roger Fernandes, Native artist, storyteller and educator, shares stories of the local Coast Salish tribes.

For more information click ­here.


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Earth Day trail work in Hillwood April 20, 2024 - bring cardboard

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Help with the ongoing trail maintenance at Greenwood Ave N and 200th in Hillwood

Volunteers have worked for the past two years to reclaim the footpath connecting Greenwood Ave N and N 200th Street from overgrown blackberries, install artwork and a bench, and plant native plants to stabilize the hillside.

Please join us from 10am-12pm on Saturday April 20, 2024 in honor of Earth Day, to begin work on a new section of the hillside. We look forward to planting additional plants in this area later this year!

Questions? Contact Rachel at rachelmiller811@gmail.com


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Invasive plant removal at Richmond Beach Community Park April 19 and May 14, 2024

Invasive plant removal at Richmond Beach Community Park (adjacent to the Richmond Beach Library) on Friday, April 19, 2024 from 10am to 12pm.

This event is the first of its kind at Richmond Beach Community Park, and coordinated through the City of Shoreline Forest Steward Program. 

We are seeking volunteers to help us at our inaugural work party from 10am to 12pm on Friday, April 19th. We will begin clearing the ivy that runs alongside the stairway up to the park. 

Visitors will see work ongoing throughout the year, as we aim to remove invasive plants, mulch the area, and plant new native plants this fall! 

If you can't make it on April 19th, you will have a second opportunity at 10am on Tuesday May 14th.

Please RSVP to Rachel at rachelmiller811@gmail.com so we can provide tools for all volunteers.


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Ivy removal and gardening party in Woodway Saturday

Friday, April 12, 2024


Ivy Removal & Gardening Party!
Saturday April 13, 2024 from 8:30-11:30am
Woodway

Join your neighbors to help Woodway’s parks thrive! Volunteers will be removing ivy from Woodway parks on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Supplies & equipment will be provided. Please wear closed-toed shoes!

Volunteers will also be maintaining the flower beds at Town Hall.

Meet at Town Hall @ 8:30am. Volunteers will be working until 11:30am. Families welcome!

Please email us with any questions: tcashman@townofwoodway.com or awestover@townofwoodway.com.


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How to Plant a Prune-less Garden April 9, 2024 at Lake Forest Park

Friday, April 5, 2024

Christina Pfeiffer will speak on April 9
April 9, 2024 with guest speaker Christina Pfeiffer at the Lake Forest Park Garden Club

How much and what kind of pruning a garden will need is often determined while shopping a nursery or at the design drawing board. 

As gardeners mature along with their gardens, the level of pruning may no longer match one's time or energy for the task. 

This talk will help identify how plant choices, placement and cultivation practices along with those famous last words. "I can always prune it to keep it smaller" contributing to a prune-a-lot garden. 

Whether you are starting a whole new landscape or making changes within an established garden, learn how to optimize plant selection and design elements to help set the stage for less pruning over the long term.

We meet at LFP Town Center located at Bothell and Ballinger Way NE. General meeting starts at 9:30am, then a short break for treats and the speaker starts at 10:30am to 11:30am.

We welcome new members and experienced gardeners. We meet from Sept to May for our regular meetings and then we also have A Christmas party, A Garden Party and a small tour of three or so members yards followed by a brown bag lunch.

Dues are $35.00 a year. You may attend two meeting for free to see if you like the club and then we ask that you join.

Thanks and hope to see you there.

Oh and on May 18th is our annual plant sale.


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The Water-Friendly Garden - class April 10, 2024

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Come learn how to grow healthy living soils for drought resistance and happy plants!

Wednesday, April 10, 2024
6:30–8:00 pm
at North City Water District
1519 NE 177th Street in Shoreline
Click for directions >

Water plays a critical role in how our gardens grow, particularly in the dry summers. Water is also critical for living soil organisms to stay active and abundant, the true foundation of healthy gardens and a living planet. 

The steps we take to grow healthy living soils are the same steps we take to mitigate and even help our gardens thrive during dry conditions. By starting with growing healthy soil, any gardener can drought-proof their garden to grow more with less water.

Learn how to plant a water friendly garden, catch and keep the water that’s available, and maximize the benefits of organic matter to grow healthy living soil and plants all year round.

Class is free, but you must register to attend.
Ea Murphy
About The Presenter


Ea (Elizabeth) Murphy is a soil scientist and author of Building Soil: A Down-to-Earth Approach (Cool Springs Press, 2015). 

Her passion for growing food led to a master’s degree from University of California, Davis, where she researched the fundamentals of soil organic matter and sustainable ways to improve it. 

She has worked on farms, with urban gardens, in environmental restoration, in agro-ecological research, and for Oregon State University Extension Small Farms Program. 

With twenty years of hands-on practical experience and the latest research in soil health to back her up, she shares the simple truth that to grow more, we need to do less. 

Based in Tacoma, Washington, Ea spends her time digging in community gardens, enjoying the year-round harvest of a living soil, and empowering others to bring soil to life, wherever they are.


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Work Parties begin at Ching Community Gardens

Ching front yard. Photo courtesy Diggin' Shoreline

Diggin’ Shoreline is thrilled to be part of the leadership on the development / restoration of this amazing garden in Shoreline. Diggin’s role in the project for the coming months is coordinating volunteers and volunteer work parties. 

We are honored to be part of the amazing team of community leaders, and GROW Northwest, which is the fiscal sponsor for the project.

For background and history of this project please check out this article that was published in Shoreline Area News.

Work parties are scheduled weekly on Saturdays from 9am – 11am through May. Sign up HERE

The initial work parties will mostly involve cutting back blackberries canes and removing debris.

Work Parties for the garden will be held onsite at 16034 Greenwood Avenue N. At this time work parties are limited to ADULTS and HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS needing community service credit.

You must be able to walk on unlevel ground, use pruning tools, and haul weeds and brush to a container bin. Long sleeves, leather gloves, and sturdy work shoes are required.

Parking space is tight, so parties are limited to 8 people outside of the leadership team. Carpooling is encouraged. There are no bathrooms on site.

As the garden work progresses, there will be other opportunities for families to engage. At no time should volunteers access the site on their own without the pre-arranged permission of Diggin' Shoreline or Grow NW.

If you want to be involved in this project in additional ways, visit the Digginshoreline.org website and click on the Ching Garden Project page.

If you wish to donate you may do so here!


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In the Garden Now: Winter Daphne

Monday, April 1, 2024

Winter Daphne
Photo by Victoria Gilleland
By Victoria Gilleland

This amazing Daphne is loaded with super fragrant pink and white flowers. There was some foliage damage because of our deep freeze temperatures in January this year but blossoms opened successfully and are numerous and hyper scented. All the better to attract eager pollinators!

It's true that daphne shrubs can be difficult to grow. One of the easier varieties to grow is Winter Daphne. They often do okay in the home garden if they are not transplanted or disturbed in any way. What might disturb this or any other daphne is the mystery!

I have one Winter Daphne that is well over 15 years old and thriving. It's located in a garden bed on the north side of the house, gets very little sun, and little water beyond what nature provides. The soil is a sandy loam. This plant has been a beautiful trouble-free addition to the garden from day one!

On the other hand, I've added other Winter Daphne to a garden bed or large pot and had them looking healthy for a season or two and then watched them gradually shrivel up and die for no apparent reason. I know that at least one Daphne that had been growing cheerfully in a container for many years died shortly after being transplanted to a nearby garden bed. I figured it was probably very rootbound, which it was. I should have left this Daphne alone. It was happy! I'm sure that transplanting sent it to an early grave.

In spite of its finicky nature Winter Daphne is a very popular shrub. Many have shared that Winter Daphne was a loved one's favorite flower and one they are growing or would like to grow as a memorial plant in their garden. With that heady fragrance, colorful flowers early in the year, and lovely evergreen foliage Winter Daphne surely deserves a chance!

(Daphne odora)


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The Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour and Market returns on Saturday, June 15, 2024

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Six beautiful, local gardens will open to visitors for the Secret Gardens of LFP tours

Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour and Market Saturday, June 15, 2024, 9am to 3pm

Buy Tickets now

Amid the shade of old-growth trees and the sunny ridges of its watershed, Lake Forest Park residents incorporate all-weather sculptures, and create havens for chickens, honey bees, children's fairy gardens, native salmon alevin and campfire musicians.

Six private LFP gardens will be open to public view on June 15, 2024 at the 20th Annual Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour. These properties provide solace and recreation and are cultivated by gifted amateurs and professionals. 

They have much to teach novice and seasoned gardeners -- "I love going to the Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park," says local resident, Sadie, "“I always get inspiration for new ideas that I want to incorporate into my own yard.”

Detail from one of the Secret Gardens
Maps to the gardens may be bought in exchange for a tour ticket and picked up at the Garden Market, in the LFP Town Center, on the same date. 

Show up at the lower level of the main building from 9am - 3pm, get your map and answers to nettlesome questions from attending WSU Master Gardeners. 

Also available are folks from the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation, who’ll explain how the neighborhood has managed to preserve the foundational aspects of the city: its forest, parks, and water. 

Consult and purchase garden-related services and goods: landscape professionals, specialty nursery stock, floral bouquets, and handcrafted all-weather art, including glass, stone, and metal work. Then, go explore those gardens!

Gardens can be viewed in any order you choose. Parking will be adjacent and free, and you may hear the sound of live music as you approach. 

Consult the garden owner, or you might overhear the sage observations of members of the Lake Forest Park Garden Club, the 100-yr. old association of neighborhood horticulturists. 

While exact details of these gardens are still a mystery, they’re reputed to vary in size (up to a shy acre), and include open meadows, trees of national registry significance, stone work, kitchen gardens, and of course, the native creeks that define the city.

Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour and Garden Market, Saturday, June 15, 2024, 9am - 3pm

Benefitting:
  • Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation
  • Third Place Commons
  • ShoreLake Arts
  • Lake Forest Park Garden Club
Buy Tickets online starting early May ($20 in advance, $25 day of) or at:

The free LFP Garden Market is located in the lower lobby of LFP Town Center

LFP Garden Market

Tour maps to the garden tour can be picked up at the check-in table at LFP Garden Market
Admission to the Garden Market is free
Saturday, June 15, 2024, 9am to 3pm

Lower level of the Lake Forest Park Town Center 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, 98155 (intersection of Bothell Way NE/SR-522 & Ballinger Way NE/SR-104)

Find: professional advice, local environmental and natural resource agencies

Purchase: Secret Garden Tour maps, potted native and cultivated plants, cut flowers, garden art, garden-related crafts,

New and prospective vendors at Garden Market encouraged to email for information here.


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Seed Starting with Michelle Rau at Dunn Gardens April 13, 2024

Tuesday, March 26, 2024


"Propagation 101: Seed Starting with Michelle Rau"

Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 1 - 3pm at Dunn Gardens 13533 Northshire RD NW Seattle, WA 98177

In this class we will discuss what needs to be considered when starting your own plants from seed. From vegetables and flowers to woody plants, we will cover the basics to get growing on your own. Learn about the materials best used, how to source seeds and time sowing to get the best results.

There will be a variety of seeds to choose from, with basic materials that you’ll need to step out and grow a beautiful garden. In this class you will have the chance to sow your own seeds, take them home and watch them grow!

Our instructor for this class is Michelle Rau. She is a horticultural educator, plant nerd, and all-around hoot. With 10 years of experience in horticulture, she offers a unique perspective on plants, and how to identify and care for them. She is a Certified Professional Horticulturist, ISA Certified Arborist, and Associate Faculty Member at Edmonds College."

Register here
Members $35 | Not-Yet-Members $45


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LFP Celebrates Arbor Day with Ivy Removal Demonstration and Tree Canopy Preservation Event Saturday, April 27, 2024

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Ivy climbing trees
Photo courtesy LFP Stewardship Foundation

The City of Lake Forest Park Tree Board invites the community to celebrate Arbor Day on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 11:00am. The event will take place at 19055 35th Avenue NE and focus on preserving our precious tree canopy by tackling invasive English Ivy.

This family friendly event will kick off with an educational demonstration on the safe and effective removal of English Ivy. Experts will share essential techniques to protect our trees from this damaging vine. 

Following the demonstration, volunteers will have the opportunity to join Tree Board members to put those techniques to work directly, helping to maintain a healthy and diverse urban forest.

Schedule of Events
  • 11:00 – 11:30am - Ivy Removal Demonstration
  • 11:30am – 1:00pm - Community Ivy Removal Work Party

If you are interested in joining the post-demonstration work party, please bring your work gloves and tools. Refreshments will be provided.

 What’s wrong with Ivy? 

Originally brought to our area as a ground cover, English Ivy can be highly destructive to trees and overall forest health. It competes for sunlight and nutrients, can choke out young trees entirely, and makes mature trees more susceptible to collapse in storms due to added weight. 

Removing English Ivy is a critical step in safeguarding our urban forest for years to come. For more information visit the website of the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.

“Lake Forest Park’s beautiful tree canopy is one of our greatest assets. This Arbor Day, let's join forces to protect it." – Tom French, Mayor 


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In the Garden Now: Snowdrops

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Galanthus nivalis "Snowdrop"
Photo by Victoria Gilleland
By Victoria Gilleland

You may have seen the nodding white flowers of this late winter blooming bulb or one that looks a lot like it. There are over 500 named varieties of snowdrops so it's a little tricky to identify a specific one. 

They usually bloom sometime between January and April. The species originated in Europe and the Middle East, but has naturalized in many places around the world.

Snowdrops are often grown in rock gardens, under flowering shrubs, naturalized in woodland settings or even in containers. 

On sunny days the flowers give off a sweet scent which attracts pollinators. They will grow in shade to full sun and need well drained soil and a moderate amount of moisture. Snowdrops are toxic to animals, so rabbit and deer seldom bother them. Keep pets and children away from plants.

This charming plant is delicate looking but surprisingly versatile and easy to grow. It makes a wonderful addition to the late winter or early spring garden.

(Galanthus nivalis)


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Garden Guy: Dahlias for a late season experience

Saturday, March 16, 2024

By Bruce Bennett

Yes, it is March and still too early to plant many gardeners’ favorite flowering tuber, the Dahlia, despite what may currently be on sale at Costco and our area box stores. 

It is a ‘Look at ME!’ perennial that can stand as a specimen plant or be massed around taller shrubs and serve as a bright spot in a mixed border. 

What it can’t stand is the cold of our winters when the plant reduces down to a brown heap in the garden. So, why discuss it now – in late winter? 

The reply is an easy one: Tubers showed up in multiple booths at the recent NW Flower and Garden Show and will be on sale at the annual Puget Sound Dahlia Association Sale later this month. More about this event at the end of the column.

What is there not to love about dahlias?
Photo by PugetSoundDahlias.com

What is there not to love about dahlias?

These blousy beauties are easy to grow and provide great color spots in the landscape. They have many eye-catching flower sizes, shapes and colors. 

 After all, there are some 40 species and over 20,000 varieties of these blooming sweethearts in the horticultural world. 

Consequently, a gardener should have no problem finding the right combination of height, color and shape for the garden focal point that needs a bit of pizzazz. 

Dahlias are an attractive floral statement whether planted in the garden or in a patio container that will bloom from mid-summer through the first heavy frost. Also, as cut flower arrangements, they will brighten a kitchen table in early autumn.

First decide where you want to grow your dahlias – in a dedicated bed, along a fence or building, as a border, a mixed or dedicated garden or in containers? The location will determine what cultivars to select as they vary greatly in size. It is not recommended to plant the larger cultivars forms as borders or in containers. Low growing dwarf size cultivars such as the Collarette dahlias will be excellent in porch and balcony containers.

When selecting tubers, look for firm and large ones with multiple eyes. If you buy early, like at the Flower and Garden Show, box stores or the Puget Sound Dahlia Association’s tuber sale, store them in a cool (50-60 degrees F.), dry and dark place. The basement or near the house-adjacent wall of the garage should do nicely.

Tubers. Photo by PugetSoundDahlias.com
Dig a planting hole larger than the tuber. 

Incorporate compost and a sprinkle of bone meal. Plant the tubers four to six inches deep and laid horizontally with the ‘eyes’ pointing up (as much as is possible). 

When planting your dahlias, place large cultivars two feet apart in holes that are four to six inches deep. Around one foot apart is good for the smaller varieties. 

Doing this will provide good airflow and reduce fungal issues (like Powdery Mildew). 

Dahlias prefer loamy, well-drained soil and adding compost and a bit of bone meal will improve drainage and feed the tuber roots. If the area is too wet, the tubers will rot. A sunny location that will provide at least 5 to 8 hours of sun per day is required to grow healthy dahlias. Soil temperature should be pushing 50 degrees F before planting. 

Expect the plants to reach maturity and bloom in about eight to ten weeks. 

I tend to plant the tubers outdoors at the end of May in a sunny south exposure garden. For each tuber, dig a hole 4 – 6 inches deep and plant the eyes 2 inches below the soil. This is also a good time to add support stakes. You can see the tubers and won’t pierce them with the stakes. 

Water-in thoroughly after planting. Your dahlia foliage will emerge from the eyes at the top of tuber crown. They will appreciate supplemental water and an organic fertilizer, something like 5-10-10 or 10-20-20 once a month. Depending on air temperatures, your plants may need to be watered three or so times a week. Container-grown plants may need to be watered daily. Think about pinching plant tips after 2 to 3 sets of leaves have developed and two weeks later to encourage fullness. Removing spent flowers will encourage more blooms over a longer period of time.

Dahlias’ worst enemies tend to be slugs and aphids. Slugs can decimate young plants overnight. Sprinkle your favorite slug and snail treatment in the planting bed or, get really organic, and simply hand-pick them off the plants. To control aphids, direct a strong stream of water at the infected leaves where the aphids are doing their dastardly deeds.

Photo by PugetSoundDahlias.com
Dahlia tubers are USDA Zone 8 – 10 hardy plants and, in our part of the world, there is a perennial end-of-season discussion about them: leave or dig. 

If you are an optimistic gardener, leave the tubers in the ground and cover the area with tree or fern leaves or mulch. If there are dahlias that you really love, then digging some or all of them makes the most sense. 

Carefully dig up your tubers after the first frost kills the leaves. Cut the stalk down to around 3”, shake of any extra soil and, if dealing with multiple varieties, label your tubers. Then, lay them in the sun (or protected spot if frost is in the offing) to dry. Store them in a container with a bedding medium of your choice. 

For a number of ecological reasons, don’t use peat moss. Instead, opt for vermiculite, wood chips (wood shavings used for small pets), or sand. Other options include wrapping the tubers in newspaper or plastic wrap. There is no single answer for the medium. Experiment and find what works for you. During winter storage, inspect the tubers periodically to be sure they remain in good condition. If they appear to be drying out, spritz the medium with a spray bottle. If a tuber feels mushy, discard it before it infects the rest of the tubers.

Photo by PugetSoundDahlias.com
Store the complete crown, if possible, or divide it into smaller groupings. The eyes on the top of the crown will be more noticeable after storage. So. It’s probably easier to divide in spring. Come planting time, check the tubers one last time. Put aside the healthy and discard the wrinkled or rotten ones. 

You are now ready to start planting around May. You can plant the whole crown or divide it into 2-3 tuber plants. Do enjoy these brilliant color spots throughout your summer/autumn planting beds. They are soooooo easy to grow and worth bringing color to the yard and into your home. Happy gardening!

The Puget Sound Dahlia Association Tuber Sale will be held this March 22 - 23, 2024 from 10:00am – 2:00pm, at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, 12001 Main Street, Bellevue, WA

Annual show at Sky Nursery
Photo by PugetSoundDahlias.com

The annual regional Dahlia Exhibition is the largest such dahlia program in the country and is scheduled to be held August 10 - 11, 2024 at Sky Nursery, 18528 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline WA. Look at the Exhibition’s flowers this August and purchase the tubers next March.

Further Reading:
  • Albrecht, Kristine & Sprinsock. Brion, DAHLIAS: Seed to Bloom. 2023. Independent Publications: Santa Cruz, CA.
  • McClaren, Bill. Encyclopedia of Dahlias. 2009. Timber Press: Portland, OR,
  • Rowlands, Gareth. The Gardener’s Guide To Growing Dahlias. 2003. Timber Press: Portland, OR.
Garden Guy Bruce Bennett
Contributing columnist, Bruce Bennett, is a WSU Certified Master Gardener, Certified Professional Horticulturist, garden designer and lecturer. 

If you have questions concerning this article, have a gardening question to ask concerning your own landscape or want to suggest a topic for a future column, contact him at gardenguy4u@gmail.com

Read his previous columns here


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Drought-proofing starts with soil - free class in The Savvy Gardener series April 10, 2024

Friday, March 15, 2024

THE WATER-FRIENDLY GARDEN: Drought-proofing starts with soil

Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 6:30–8:00pm at North City Water District 1519 NE 177th St in Shoreline

Water plays a critical role in how our gardens grow, particularly in the dry summers. Water is also critical for living soil organisms to stay active and abundant, the true foundation of healthy gardens and a living planet. 

The steps we take to grow healthy living soils are the same steps we take to mitigate and even help our gardens thrive during dry conditions. By starting with growing healthy soil, any gardener can drought-proof their garden to grow more with less water.

Learn how to plant a water friendly garden, catch and keep the water that’s available, and maximize the benefits of organic matter to grow healthy living soil and plants all year round.

Class is free, but you must register to attend.
About the presenter:

Ea (Elizabeth) Murphy is a soil scientist and author of Building Soil: A Down-to-Earth Approach (Cool Springs Press, 2015). Her passion for growing food led to a master’s degree from University of California, Davis, where she researched the fundamentals of soil organic matter and sustainable ways to improve it. 

She has worked on farms, with urban gardens, in environmental restoration, in agro-ecological research, and for Oregon State University Extension Small Farms Program. 

With twenty years of hands-on practical experience and the latest research in soil health to back her up, she shares the simple truth that to grow more, we need to do less. Based in Tacoma, Washington, Ea spends her time digging in community gardens, enjoying the year-round harvest of a living soil, and empowering others to bring soil to life, wherever they are.

Follow Ea:

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Forest Stewards wanted with the Green Shoreline Partnership

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Neighborhood volunteers working to get hundreds of plants in the ground at the Hamlin Park forest restoration site in December of 2023. Photo by Oliver Moffat

By Oliver Moffat

Working outside to restore forests in our public spaces is dirty work and when the rain is pouring it can be muddy work too.

This volunteer work is not for everyone, but for me, forest restoration work is my kind of party.

I’ve been a Forest Steward at Hamlin Park for a year now and I am incredibly grateful. I’m grateful for all the new friends I’ve made while working side-by-side with my neighbors at the restoration site. 

The sun shines as steam rises from a pile of wood chip mulch before a volunteer work party at Hamlin Park. Photo by Oliver Moffat

I’m grateful to the city staff who delivering mulch, plants, and tools to support our work. And I’m grateful to the Green Shoreline Partnership which makes this forest restoration possible.

With a goal to restore 240 acres of Shoreline’s forested parks and natural areas by 2039, the Green Shoreline Partnership is a collaboration between the city, nonprofits, schools, businesses and neighbors.

And now, the Green Shoreline Partnership is seeking more Forest Stewards to lead restoration projects in parks across the city.

Volunteer Forest Restoration Steward opportunities are available at parks across Shoreline 

You can adopt a park in your neighborhood and be a forest steward too.

On Friday, March 29, 2024 from 3:00 - 6:30pm, the Green Shoreline Partnership will be hosting a class for anyone interested in learning more about what volunteer forest stewards do.

pace is limited, and the next training won’t be until spring of 2025. Learn more and register at the Green Shoreline Partnership website.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or I’d love to have you stop by the Hamlin Park restoration site and chat. We work most Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings.


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In the Garden Now: Giant Butterbur

Saturday, March 9, 2024

Giant Butterbur (Petasites japonicus)
Photo by Victoria Gilleland
By Victoria Gilleland

We're always eager to see that first perennial flower appear in our gardens at the start of the new year. One of our earliest bloomers is Butterbur. 

Flowers are 10-16 inch high and appear as early as the first of January depending on weather. This year the first blossoms were emerging by mid-January in spite of the cold streak we were experiencing. Flowers often last for 10 weeks or more.

Giant Butterbur and friends
Photo by Victoria Gilleland
Our Butterbur is growing among sword ferns, native bleeding heart and other shade loving perennials, shrubs and trees on the shady perimeter of our garden. 

The soil has been amended with composted arborists chips which helps with moisture retention.

The daisy flower spikes are short but fragrant. Leaves follow the flowers and are huge... often 3 feet or more in diameter.

This plant is a showstopper! If you're looking for a unique addition to a shady spot in your garden this could be it.

(Petasites japonicus)


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LFP Garden Club March 12, 2024 meeting - Rabbits in the Garden

Friday, March 8, 2024

Photo by Wayne Pridemore
Lake Forest Park Garden Club March 12, 2024 meeting. General meeting 9:30am, small break for cookies, 10:30 speaker: Trevor Cameron from Sunnyside Nursery.

Rabbits in the Garden


Silly rabbits – those plants are for me! These cute little creatures are both multiplying rapidly and damaging many landscapes in our area. 

We will review some options to protect gardens from damage including natural repellents, plant protection techniques and utilizing plants are less prone to rabbits. Hoping we will have some fun and share ideas on how to send these pests to your neighbor’s yard

LFP Town Center Upper level at the stage area. Location Ballinger Way NE & Bothell Way NE.

All are welcome to attend for two times for free and then we would like you to join the club. It's $35.00 a year, May to September.


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