Showing posts sorted by relevance for query for the birds. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query for the birds. Sort by date Show all posts

For the Birds: Feed your local wintering birds

Friday, December 21, 2012

By Christine Southwick

Bushtits in Vancouver-- photo by Lyn Topinka

Wintering birds may mostly be able to endure our cold and wet winters, but you can make their little lives easier by supplying seeds, fruits, and suet. Additionally they need drinking water, which can be hard to find during freezing temperatures.

Fox Sparrow using heated bath in my yard
Photo by Christine Southwick

Sudden drops in temperature or windy winter storms can challenge the survival of a bird without a good fat layer. At times like these, it is especially helpful to have feeders so that birds can find food quickly and easily. Black oil sunflower seeds and suet are great high-energy heat-producing calories.

See a bird all fluffed up? It’s trying to stay warm by creating air pockets with its feathers. You can help keep them warm by creating brush piles, and having evergreen bushes for them to hunker down away from the chilling winds and some of that Northwest dampness.

Sparrow eating yard Snowberry fruits
Photo by Scott Carpenter

Feeders should be filled throughout the winter, since constant rain can be just as chilling as cold. Watch for clumping, which means the seed is starting to spoil. Throw that seed out since mold can make birds sick, then wash the feeder with a 10% solution of bleach. Don’t want to wash feeders? One option is to buy cheap tube feeders, and put out less each day, so that most of it is eaten every day, or if you are too busy to fuss with daily refilling, put a squirrel baffle over the top of the feeder. That will keep most of the rain from getting into the feeders, and slow down the squirrels too. Then when the feeder starts getting dirty, throw it away, and replace with another cheapie,

Bewick's Wren nestled in porch shelter created by Christine Southwick
Photo by Christine Southwick

Remember your hummer friends too: In cold weather, full hummingbird feeders don’t freeze above 28°F. Colder than 28F, bring feeders in after dark, and put out again at first light. If it stays cold during the day, tape a hand-warmer against the bottom of the feeder, or use non-LED Christmas lights. Anna’s hummingbirds feed well into dusk, and come back at early dawn. They need to fill up to survive winter over-night, and tank up in the morning to replenish their energy levels.

So, when the days are short, and the nights are long, the wild food has been mostly consumed, and insects are scarce. Heat your bird bath, give your yard birds food, and provide shelter from winter weather, and more of your birds will live to see their next Spring.


Christine Southwick is on the Board of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory and is their Winter Urban Color-banding Project Manager. She is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Steward, having completed their forty hour class. We're happy that she is sharing her expertise with us about the birds in our backyards.

For previous For the Birds columns, click the link under the Features section on the main webpage.


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Garden Guy: Autumn tasks in the garden

Monday, November 14, 2022

Photo courtesy simplysmartgardening.com
By Bruce Bennett

I don’t usually write Tasks-of-the-Month type articles. But, with this year’s unusual weather, more questions concerning tasks for the end of our most recent gardening season have been asked of me and we shall follow that path of discussion this month. 

My short answer to most inquiries for the last two months has been, “Yes, gardening for this season is nearly over AND there are still several tasks which can be completed now in order to make your initial spring gardening efforts easier to manage.

First, clean-up garden debris. This is especially true for a vegetable garden. The remnants of herbaceous plants, leaves, stalks, etc., should be removed and added to the compost pile. If the plant was diseased or infested, put it in the yard waste container for removal. Our home compost piles simply do not generate enough of their own heat to destroy all overwintering insects and pathogens. After cleaning the beds, spread some (1”-3”) of compost on the area and let it fuel next spring’s growth. Time permitting, digging-in this amendment will help to loosen the soil for next planting cycle.

Leave the seed heads for the birds
Photo courtesy extension.unh.edu
In the perennial beds, leave the stems of flowers in the garden as well as some leaf litter on the ground. The stems and leaves provide habitat for overwintering beneficial insects, amphibians and reptiles. Again, if there were issues with disease, this plant debris should be thrown away. 

Also, remember to leave the seed heads of grasses and perennials for your winter birds (think Echinacea and berry-bearing plants). Sanitation is always the best and least costly way to reduce next year’s disease problems.

For soil-level planting beds, now would be good time to edge beds. The rain will have softened the soil to make the job easier. Doing it now, in the slow-season, will alleviate the chore from the busy springtime. When the weather warms again, all that will need to be done is a final bed early-season clean-up and, if needed, the addition of a fresh layer of mulch and, I suppose, the addition of some new plantings you saw at the NW Flower and Garden Show. When edging, use a square tipped shovel. This will give you a nice, clean cut.

Bulbs can still be planted
Photo courtesy americanmeadows.com
Remember to take advantage of end-of-season sales that may still be going on in favorite garden centers. Seeds may have a lower germination rate, but will still grow quite nicely. 

In our USDA Zone 8, bulbs can still be planted. Inspect them for firmness before planting. Do not allow them to touch when in the ground. Crocus, alliums, tulips and hyacinths are especially easy to survive a late fall planting. Same spring color impacts with a smaller outlay of cash.

Because our ground hardly ever freezes or does so to a very shallow depth, shrubs and trees can still be planted and actually do better than if planted in spring. Roots have a longer bit of time to develop before stressful weather affects them. Remember not to install the plant any deeper in the ground than it was in its growing container. 

If planting an individual specimen, backfill with the native soil that you took out of the hole. However, if you are planting an entire bed with multiple plants, adding a couple of inches of topdressing compost to the bed and working it in as plants are installed is an easy initial slow-release fertilizer process. 

Keep these newly planted perennials, shrubs and trees watered until the winter rains take over the skies. Often, the death of an autumn- planted shrub or tree is due to our lack of watering, not problems with the plant itself. A general rule of thumb is that the plant needs one inch of water per week, either through rainfall, or garden hose.

Cover your fish pond with netting
Photo courtesy pondexperts.ca
If you have a garden pond that contains fish and water plants, covering the area with netting may be a good task autumn. 

The netting will keep leaves out of the water as well as also keeping blue herons and raccoons from a robust smorgasbord. Once the pond lilies and other plant cover is gone, there is little to protect the fish. Think about adding a tarp over just a portion of the pond.

Hopefully, all your tender plants have been dug up. If not, elephant ears, cannas, callas, etc. should be dug up and stored in a cool, dry location for the winter. 

Tropical plants, like hibiscus, citrus, Norfolk Island pine, and other houseplants should be inside by the end September. 

When bringing them in for the winter, check them for insects. Mealy bugs, aphids and scale like to come in where it’s warm. Particularly check in the leaf axils, stems of the plants and surface of the planting mix. Use an insecticidal soap or an all-seasons oil spray for houseplants before bringing them in. Once they are inside, check them, at least, monthly.

Keep a garden journal
Photo by thisismygarden.com
And in your down time this November, make notes as to what was successful in the garden and what was a failure. Determine whether the failures were due to weather, bad placement, or just improper care. 

Question the successes – did the plants do well because of the rain? Or the sun? Or the attention given to those particular plants? This will help in planning for next year’s garden, whether it’s the vegetable garden, perennial garden, containers, or shrubs and trees. 

Keeping a garden journal becomes a great tool throughout the gardening season in those successes and failures. It is the first reference book used when ordering seeds and choosing plants for next season’s garden.∂∂∂ƒSo there’s lots that still needs to be done before calling the garden season over. 

Outside chores abound, from planting, edging, cutting back and turning compost, to preparing for indoor gardening – growing holiday plants and forcing bulbs. 

Preparing for the holiday decorations becomes a "top of the list" as we approach the end of the month. Enjoy all things gardening, grow plants and enjoy the month of Thanksgiving! Happy gardening all!

Garden Guy Bruce Bennett
Contributing columnist, Bruce Bennett, is a Master Gardener, garden designer and lecturer. 

If you have questions concerning this article and your own landscape or care to suggest a gardening topic for a future column, contact Bruce at gardenguy4u@gmail.com.



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Piano Time hits the right notes with visitors and home town players

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

NW Melodies by Marcia Lippert
in place at Goodwill

Once again Piano Time was a big hit! The third year of this “street piano” adventure brought artists, musicians and community together for an interactive experience. Eleven artist-decorated pianos were placed around Shoreline, cared for by adjoining businesses and neighbors and enthusiastically played by thousands of Shoreline residents and visitors throughout the month of August.

Pianos were generously donated to the cause, artists were selected from a Call for Artists, a collaborative committee of City staff, musicians, artists, Prosser Piano staff and community set the plan in motion, and numerous local businesses enthusiastically agreed to participate to make this all-August project a success. In addition Piano Time was supported in part by Prosser Piano, GBC International Bank and a generous 4Culture Group Arts Award.

If you didn’t get to see all the pianos you can find images on the Public Art page of the City’s website. 

Sports and Tunes on Backyard Birds
By Susan Pope at Paramount Park


Each piano had a “note book” attached and collected comments from both pianists and performers – children, teens, adults, seniors, beginners to professionals. The comments were wildly enthusiastic with many wishing the pianos could remain in place indefinitely and definitely supported their return in 2015.

Piano Time 2014 celebrated with bookend concerts at Arts al Fresco on August 7 with three pianos in play, and the Michael Stegner and Friends trio in the City Hall courtyard concert on August 27. Along with noon and evening concerts in the parks, musical theater outdoors at City Hall, new Gallery and Sculpture Stroll exhibit openings, plus chalk art on the trail, this was definitely an art-filled summer to remember.

Piano Time 2014 Notebook Quotes:

  • We’re so glad you do this every year!
  • I love this piano idea. Thank you Shoreline!
  • I love the fact you can just be walking by and see someone playing a piano on the street at any time of day/night! This is such an amazing idea!
  • Love tangrams. Such cool art.
  • What a great way to make our neighborhoods fun & vibrant! Thank you for doing this!
  • Thank you to everyone who made public music possible!
  • My friend is moving to college tomorrow and this is our last hurrah.
  • I love that you provide a piano for those who are without.
  • This piano is awesome. I don’t have a piano at home, or get to practice very often. Thanks a lot!
  • What a great idea to bring the piano out, help influence kids to do something good.
  • My 3-year-old loves this piano.
  • These pianos are fantastic and I love seeing them all around Shoreline.
  •  I look forward to seeing these pianos again sometime. Then I can share my pieces with the world and fill the parks with wonderful songs by Beethoven, Bach, Chopin and Mozart. Please keep doing this and thank you for giving others who don’t have an opportunity to play the chance to play.
Infinite Arrangements by Elise Koncsek
at Gateway Plaza

  • Great to hear Mason play in the sunshine on a bike ride!!!
  • Thank you for doing this art project. I look forward to this sunny month with pianos all year long.  I love not having to pack gear around. The pianos are just there already. Thank you for all the effort moving, setup, creation lots of work. I go find a new piano each day and do some morning music for all to hear. These pianos add beauty to the gray drab suburban landscape. I cover any pianos I see when it rains trying to help them last for years to come. Thank you.
  • Love this idea! Had a woman sit on a bench and play her harmonica along with the piano! Art rules!
  • Back to re-live our first date.
  • To be honest I gave this up a long time ago. I wish I hadn’t done that. I wish I could play Canon in D major again, one more time.
  • This is great. Maybe attach a beginner song book so visitors can play.
  • We came all the way from San Ramon, CA to play this piano.
  • Thanks Shoreline! From a composer
  • Played two jazz standards. Love this idea!
  • Came from Portland to Seattle for fun, but got a lot more than we hoped. Wonderful idea!
  • We love this interactive art installation!
  • We drove out from Buckley for these!
  • Thank you for a moment of grace and pleasure in music.
  • Yay! Happy to find this piano at my favorite grocery store. Stopping here on my route for a treat. It’s great to find it in the early morning so I could play part of the Impossible Dream that I remember (when no one is listening). Kinda shy player.
  • It felt peaceful playing piano by the “ocean”.
  • Whoever dolled up the piano did a great job. Thanks, Shoreline.
  • We played and played. We loved it so much! We had so much fun!
Backyard Birds
By Susan Pope

  • A very nice lady taught me “doe a dear” and she is going to teach me lessons! Can you believe it! I cannot believe what a piano can do to a person! Thank you ever so much!
  • I am 41 and enjoy this piano every time I come to the park The piano is so sweet and pretty that must be played with love. Thanks for bringing it here so we can share it.
  • Thank you so much, we enjoyed this late-night musical performance opportunity.
  • Love this piano. The backyard birds are beautiful. We have found 5 so far. Such fun  - like a treasure hunt. Enjoy playing outside.
  • Thank you for making our vacation special.
  • Thank you for providing this piano. My daughter absolutely loved it. Best thing ever.
  • The birds on this piano make me wanna fly.
  • Thanks so much for sharing this piano. It makes for a long line of happy kids and endless music, a great addition to a sunny day.
  • We love this project. Keep up the great community work!
  • I love the birds and flowers. The tone of the piano is amazingly good considering it lives outside. I have played piano for 68 years and am glad to see people still enjoy it.
  • I want the piano here forever!!!
  • My daughter loved playing the piano! I think lessons will be in her future! Thanks for inspiring a young musician. Piano is absolutely gorgeous!
  • I like the imaginative decoupage effects! I’ll come back to play this one.
Fancy Footwork by Kelly Lyles
The Park at Town Center

  • I’ve really enjoyed the pianos around the area. At first I didn’t play at the library park too often because of the seven or eight missing keys, but it was great at the end of the month to have the keys fixed. But anyway, I hope this program continues for many more years. I love playing these pianos and listening to the different styles of music that comes with each musical passerby. So again, thank you Shoreline.
  • Loved being here – very healing for some old fears and made new happy memories in their place. Wonderful 55th birthday gift.
  • I’ve been playing piano since I was 3 years old. It’s brought me around the US, to Germany with Macklemore and even earned a Grammy nomination with Macklemore from playing “Same Love” on The Heist. It’s amazing what music can do for people and where it can bring you. I encourage people to follow their joy in music and let it inspire, heal and uplift you!! Josh Rawlings 
  • Music is, at the best of times, an expression of heartfelt emotion to be used as an extension of oneself. At the worst of times it is a plague – nothing more and nothing less. Perhaps actions such as these will allow us to cleanse from ourselves the impurity of insincere music. I truly hope so. Good luck, music lovers.
  • Had so much fun playing a duet with Mom.
  • Possibly my favorite piano ever!! I played 2 jazz standards. Four missing keys made it tough.
  • Thank you so much for Piano Time. I was so excited Sky gets to host this beautiful flower piano this year! The action on the keys feels really nice. I am cashier at Sky and also a pianist on the side. Love to play the music that makes people happy!
  • Yea! Mom and I enjoyed finding and playing on all the colorful pianos last year—so happy to see them again! Thank you!
  • So happy to see the piano on display! So good to take part in this fun event.
Wonderland by Heather Carr

  • This is a great idea! I hope that if they are not already in Seattle they can get them too.
  • I played these jazz standards for a flowery piano: Days of Wine and Roses, Poinciana, Red Roses for a Blue Lady
  • Thank you 1000 times plus. This is amazing!
  • What a wonderful idea—becoming a tradition, perhaps Goldberg variations are beyond me, but casual chord changes sound good on … does this piano have a name? Alice?
  • Beautiful tonal quality!...I wish they had something like this in San Diego, California!... visiting family here!
  • I’m jealous of everyone for playing so well. I Just tapped some keys, remembering old tunes. (6 days later) Back again! I’ll play a little more, try to get better. It’s cooler out here than in my house!
  • This piano is beautiful and it’s sunny out and August in Seattle, right here writing in this silly piano book, right now is perfect.
  • My granddaughter loves to sit down and play her nice pieces before entering the store. Nice thing!
  • We just love the pianos! Thank you Shoreline for such a fun and interactive art project! We always meet the nicest and most interesting people at the pianos. Kudos to you!
  • We drove up from Bonney Lake WA. What a wonderful way to bring such creative minds together for something that looks and sounds so great!


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Shoreline Area Wildlife: Gulls

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

PAWS provides regular posts about wild animals commonly found in the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park area. Each post gives facts on the species’ natural behavior, as well as how to avoid and resolve common problems with the animals.

Photo courtesy PAWS
Natural behavior

Gulls, often referred to as "seagulls," are a group of birds belonging to the family Laridae. According to Seattle Audubon's Bird Web, "The family Laridae is made up of birds closely associated with water. Distributed throughout the world, representatives of this family nest on every continent, including Antarctica.

Clutch size is generally small, varying from one to four eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs and help feed the young. The young typically hatch covered with down and stay in the nest for a few days, after which they leave the nest but stay nearby. Most, especially in Washington, raise a single brood a year. This group is known for its elaborate displays in the air and on the ground."

There are more than a dozen gull species in Washington State. They are especially numerous on the outer coast and on the shores of Puget Sound, but many can be found further inland on lakes, ponds and along rivers.

Gull diets vary, but fish, crustaceans, mollusks, other aquatic invertebrates and dead animals comprise a large part of the diet of most species. Many gull species are very tolerant of human activity and congregate in large numbers on pilings, breakwaters, roofs of buildings, and other human-created structures near water.

Solving and preventing conflicts

Photo by Shane Adams
Most conflicts with gulls involve their roosting where they are not wanted. Gulls are relatively large birds and their droppings are not insignificant. Even a few gulls perching regularly on the roof of a house can add a layer of undesirable whitewash to the roof in a fairly short period of time.

Gulls are also very vocal, and when gathered in large numbers they are capable of disturbing the sleep, or general peace and quiet for humans.

Eliminate roosting sites

Photo by Chas Redmond
The most effective way to avoid conflicts with gulls is to eliminate roosting sites, or make your property unappealing to the birds. If your property is near the water, this can be a challenge.

  • If the birds are simply using the peak of a roof, deterrents such as bird spikes can be installed to make the perch less desirable.
  • If they are utilizing an area that is too extensive to be covered by spikes, try visual deterrents, sonic emitters or other annoyance tactics such as spraying the birds with a hose when they try to land.
  • CAUTION: Avoid using gels or other sticky and tacky products that are advertised as bird repellents. More often than not, the birds do not see these greasy substances until they land on them. PAWS receives birds every year who suffer tremendously because their feathers have become coated after landing in these substances.
Do not attract gulls

Photo from Creative Commons
In addition to eliminating roosting sites, don't intentionally or unintentionally attract gulls.
  • Never purposely feed gulls. Putting out bread, French fries or other human foods for gulls is not only unhealthy for the birds, but it attracts them in large numbers. Birds who get used to being fed in an area will frequent that area, likely roosting on nearby roofs or structures.
  • Deny gulls access to unnatural food sources on your property, such as your garbage. Gulls do not generally knock over garbage cans, but they may pick through an uncovered can or take advantage of a can that has been knocked over by a dog or other animal.
  • Secure trash can lids further with a bungee cord or chain, or store in a locked shed.
  • Do not put food of any kind in open compost piles.
  • Bury food in an underground composter or put it into a lidded worm box (read more about composting from Seattle Tilth).
If you or a neighbor have questions or a current problem with wildlife, please call the staff at PAWS Wildlife Center at 425-412-4040. PAWS helps resolve conflicts with wild animals and also rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife found by the public.

--PAWS Wildlife Center Staff | wildlife@paws.org

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Shorewood boys’ basketball season ends with 59-54 tournament loss to Meadowdale

Friday, February 18, 2011

The Shorewood boys’ basketball season came to an end Wednesday with a 59-54 loss to Meadowdale in a Northwest District 3A tournament game on the Mavericks’ home court.
 
The Thunderbirds finished their season with an 11-12 record after going 7-7 in Wesco 3A play.
 
Our NewsPartner, The Seattle Times lists 6-8 sophomore center Josh Hawkinson as the team’s leading scorer with an average of 12.0 points per game for 22 reported games.
 
Meadowdale (12-11 overall, 8-6 Wesco 3A) will meet Mountlake Terrace (12-11 overall, 9-5 Wesco 3A) for the District’s No. 3 berth in State-3A-tournament play in a 6 p.m. Saturday game at Mountlake Terrace High School.
 
Meadowdale and Mountlake Terrace will meet for third place in the District tournament Saturday just before the District championship game between Glacier Peak (20-3, 14-0 Wesco 3A) and Mount Vernon (13-9, 6-7 Northwest 3A-2A-1A). Glacier Peak, Mount Vernon and the winner of the third-place game will advance to the regional round of State-3A-tournament play Feb 25-26.
 
In Shorewood’s 59-54 loss to Meadowdale, the Thunderbirds led 29-28 at halftime, but the Mavericks outscored them by three points in the third quarter and three more in the fourth. Semir Kadiric led the T-birds with 15 points; Hawkinson scored 14; and Taylor Freeman added 10. 

Our NewsPartner, MyEdmonds News said this:

“Great penetration in the second half was critical to the Meadowdale Mavericks’ success vs. a tough Shorewood Thunderbirds team in a loser-out 3A District 1 playoff game Wednesday. The last time the two teams met, Shorewood scored a buzzer beater to win 53-52.
“The first quarter set the tone for the very back-and-forth game. Though there were turnovers, there weren’t many breakaways – or easy layups — for either side, and the players had to fight tooth-and-nail to get baskets. Taylor Freeman of the T-Birds was putting on a display early, scoring eight of Shorewood’s 16 first-quarter points, including two three-pointers. Thanks to Freeman, the T-Birds jumped out to a 16-9 lead on a 9-0 run. Then the Mavs had a 7-0 run of their own to tie the game at 16 at the end of the quarter. Three of those points came on a buzzer-beating three.
   

“The Mavs couldn’t sustain the momentum through the second period. After the T-Birds missed three shots, they got four offensive rebounds in a row until Peter Berquist finally hit a layin. While the Mavs got breakaways, they weren’t often able to finish. Meadowdale also shot just 20 percent (5 for 25) from the three-point line. They were down 29-28 at halftime.
 

“After being down 29-28 at halftime, Meadowdale started heating up in the third quarter. Dooley began scoring consistently after only getting two points in the first, and the entire offense followed suit. The Mavs would take a 41-39 lead to the fourth though. 
"In the fourth, the Mavs continued to apply pressure to the T-Birds, who weren’t hitting the big shots. With 1:06 left, Meadowdale was up by one and Dooley took it to the hoop, getting fouled and converting a three-point play. Earlier in the season, the Mavs would have problems with free throw shots, but not in this game. Linton would make three of four late in the game to help seal the victory.”
At Meadowdale 59, Shorewood 54
Shorewood      16 13 10 15 — 54
 
Meadowdale   16 12 13 18 — 59

Shorewood Scoring
Points
Ben Andrews
6
Peter Berquist
6
Duncan Hendrickson
2
Semir Kadiric
15
Josh Hawkinson
14
Taylor Freeman
10
Anxhelous Pere
1
Gage Carroll
0

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Shorewood defense shuts down Shorecrest’s vaunted passing attack - claims Rotary Cup and a 3-1 record

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Shorewood celebrates their Rotary Cup win
Photo by Lisa Hirohata


2018 Rotary Cup
Shorewood District Stadium, Friday, September 21, 2018
As of Game Final - record for next week:
Shorecrest (3-1 Overall / 2-1 WesCo South)
Shorewood (3-1 Overall / 2-1 WesCo South)


Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
F
Shorecrest
0
0
0
0
0
Shorewood
0
7
7
10
24

By Aaron Bert

It proved to be everything a rivalry game should be. The cheers of the crowds. The thumping of the bass drums. Parents in school gear and students with faces painted.

As the savory smell of popcorn wafted through the crowd - it all came together into a culmination of excitement and anticipation of what the night would hold. And the night turned out to be everything the Shorewood Thunderbirds had worked for and hoped it would be - a huge ‘W’ when the final whistle was blown and grasping the Shoreline Rotary Cup for the first time in three years.

The game was closer than the final score would seem - with a tight defensive battle seesawing back and forth through the end of the first half until it began to break for Shorewood.

Shorecrest entered the game at 3-0 led by junior quarterback Eladio Fountain (6’2/240) who had administered an accurate and potent passing attack through the first 3 games of the year. The feeling seemed to be Shorewood would be an obstacle, but would not stand in the way from the Scots starting 4-0.

King 5 Games of the Week cameras
Photo by Rob Oxford


The Thunderbirds of Shorewood had other plans for the evening and powered by the bright Friday night lights, and the cameras of King 5’s Game of the Week - sought to prove their 2-1 record was not a fluke. (See the Game of the Week segment here)

Shorewood and Shorecrest both showed strength in defense during the first half. Each team struggled to find an offensive rhythm and to move the ball down the field. Shorecrest had a few promising drives with the help of short runs by #22 senior running back Cyris Filoteo (5’3/147) but the Shorewood defense made him pay for each yard.

Shorecrest began to put together a promising drive at the end of the first half - with Fountain finding his receivers within the Shorewood zone and a score looked imminent. Dropping back with 6 seconds left on the game clock, Fountain faced pressure from the Shorewood defensive line, stepped to his left and lofted a bomb down the field.

#2 Jaro Rouse streaks up the sideline
Photo by Lisa Hirohata


As the ball sailed - #2 senior strong safety Jaro Rouse (6’2/185) streaked out of center field and snatched the ball from the outstretched arms of the Shorecrest receiver and he was off for a 60 yard scamper down the right sideline, easily outpacing the Shorecrest offense, who looked stunned by the speed of the Shorewood free safety. Time expired and Shorewood was up 7-0 at half and took a tremendous momentum boost into the locker room. 

The Shorewood defense holds against the Shorecrest run
Photo by Lisa Hirohata


The Shorewood defense came up big again in the 3rd quarter, at the 2:34 mark, as senior #53 Tres Zeigler, (5’10/215) who anchors the offensive line at center and moved to outside linebacker on defense, came up with a huge interception of a Fountain pass on the Shorewood 15, returning the ball to the 27.

#4 David Snell looks downfield for a receiver
Photo by Lisa Hirohata


Zeigler and his teammates were ecstatic - and the defense denied Shorecrest again in the red zone. Two plays later, senior #4 David Snell (6’3/175) hit a streaking senior, #5, Joseph Williamson (5’9/165) for a 73 yard touchdown pass, and Williamson went untouched into the end zone and Shorewood went up 14-0.

After holding Shorecrest on downs at the end of the 3rd quarter, Shorewood took over on their own 26 and began to move down the field. Facing a 4th and 12 - Shorewood lined up for a punt, but Coach Brandon Torrey went to his bag of tricks and senior #22 Kaden Graves (6’3/225) took the direct snap and hit junior #12 Spencer Osborn (6’1/165) in the right flat and a first down, keeping the Shorewood drive alive.

#7 Senior Skyler Hammer trips up the Shorecrest runner
Photo by Lisa Hirohata


Shorecrest held and Shorewood lined up for a 35 yard field goal on the Shorecrest 21. And, due to the fact Shorewood has found an absolute gem in first year kicker, junior #18 Alex Lim (5’8/140) easily booted a 35 yard field goal and Shorewood began to pound the final nails into this game, 17-0. 

And the Shorewood fans went wild!
Photo by Lisa Hirohata


With 1:37 left to play, Shorewood sacked Fountain on 4th and 18 and took over on the Shorecrest 45. Senior #3 Robert Banks (5’8/160), who had been bottled up for most of the night, took his 15th handoff and broke over right guard for a 45 yard touchdown. A fitting end to a well fought and well played game by both teams.

A few observations:
  • Shorewood’s secondary is a definite strength. Cornerback Spencer Osborn is an absolute monster on the corner, using sound technique and strength to shut down passing lanes and leveling hard hits on run support. Coupled with senior cornerback Skyler Hammer, Jaro Rouse, and junior Kody Carpenter - Shorewood might just have its own Legion of Boom.
  • After getting shredded last week by the running attack of Snohomish, the Shorewood front 7 showed a better nose for the ball this week. On most run plays, Shorecrest runners were hit within 1 to 2 yards of the line of scrimmage and often in the backfield.
  • Senior quarterback David Snell is coming into his own - once again, although not lighting up the passing attack this week, he demonstrated a sound maturity and did not try to force the ball when a play was not there.
  • Shorewood had no turnovers.
  • Shorewood played a complete game, on all three fronts. Playing all four quarters has often provided difficult in the past for the T-birds - but Coach Torrey has been preaching completeness in effort and it definitely showed this week.
  • The last time Shorewood started 3-1 was in 2002 when the team finished 6-4 and made its last trip to the play-offs. 
  • 2002 was also the last time Shorewood recorded two shutouts in a season.
  • In four games, Shorewood has now scored more points than it did in all of the 2016 season.
King 5's Chris Egan revs up the crowd for the BIG GAME
segment broadcast Friday night. Voting determines which
game is featured - and it's usually the Rotary Cup.
Photo by Lisa Hirohata


Shorewood plays next Friday night in Everett against the Everett Seagulls (1-3 Overall / 1-2 WesCo South) and Shorecrest squares off against Snohomish (2-2 Overall / 2-0 WesCo South). This season is shaping up to be an interesting one, as the league's eminent powers find the standings reversed with Edmonds-Woodway and Meadowdale looking up at Shorewood and Shorecrest sitting atop the standings.



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Garden Guy: Climate Ready landscape plants

Monday, October 16, 2023

By Bruce Bennett

Gardeners who have read this column for a while have seen me write about the proper watering of their gardens and landscapes. Yet, the right irrigation schedule can be a bit costly with the arrival of each public utility bill. The last three years have given us some of the increasingly hottest weather on record and forecasts for the next decade really don’t provide us much hope for the cooler, ‘normal’ weather cycles. 


There must be a better way, right? How about we take the next logical step in landscape development for a present and future that includes the issue of global warming in our part of the world? Let’s look at some existing plants that are being trialed as horticultural candidates which are up to the challenges of heat and drought.

For the past two years your Garden Guy has been part of an evaluation process of some fifteen different types of plants which may benefit our area’s gardens. 

The UW Botanical Gardens joined a multi-year endeavor initially begun by the University of California-Davis California Center for Urban Horticulture and is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

The expanded trials now include garden plots at the UC-Davis, the University of Washington Botanical Gardens, the South Coast Research and Extension Center, the University of Arizona, Utah State University, Oregon State University and the North Willamette Research and Extension Center.

These Landscape Irrigation Trials are a longitudinal research project will help identify some of the best water-wise plants for our region. The findings will help the live-goods trade and gardeners in the Puget Sound make smart plant choices for the hotter, drier summers climate scientists predict for the years ahead. 

From the ranks of the wholesale nursery industry, garden centers, Certified Master Gardeners from King County, etc. evaluators will rate some 350 plants in terms of their foliage, flowering, pest tolerance/disease resistance, vigor and overall appearance (AKA, the “WOW factor”). 

The plants which thrive best with the lowest amount of irrigation will be classified as the “winners”, so to speak. And, those that do best under low-water conditions will be recommended to the green industry and northwest gardeners, similar to the suggestions from the Great Plant Picks program through the UW’s Center for Urban Horticulture.

As this is only the UW’s second year participating in these trials, there is not, as yet, a list of drought-tolerant plants for the Northwest to recommend. You can, however, visit the UC-Davis website 

Remember to select plants to research for your landscapes which grow well in our US Hardiness Zones (Zones 7 and 8). From these past two years of trials (and 20-years of hands-on experience), the Garden Guy has come away with a short list of his own favorites from the trials. Among these full-sun (6+ hours/day) loving candidates for your consideration are:

Chaste Tree
Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) ‘Blue Diddley’ is a dwarf (6’ x 5’) version of the straight species which can grow quite large (18’ x 15’). 

As a Mediterranean native, Vitex has proven to be extremely drought tolerant. This compact, intensely colored, freely blooming shrub could become a very popular landscape plant in many different spaces.

‘Blue Diddley’ could find a space in a mixed border or on a sunny condo deck. It would also be a great alternative to those who want the ‘look’ of the invasive Buddleia (Butterfly Bush) in their yards.

Crape Myrtle
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) ‘Center Stage Red’ is another great color counterpoint in the landscape. In late summer this 12’ x 10’ small tree/large shrub commands the spotlight with its deep burgundy -to-black leaves and red flowers.

It naturally grows with a narrow, space-saving habit and needs minimal pruning. 

If you find the leaves on your Redbud or Japanese Snowbell crisping during our increasing heat domes, a Crape Myrtle just might be the new urban setting tree for your yard. 

An added bonus these plants offer is their disease and deer resistance. They should be used more often.

Maiden grass
Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis) ‘Bandwith’ is the new gold (banded) standard in a dwarf (3’ x 3’) Miscanthus. 

This compact Maiden Grass has green foliage with pronounced yellow banding. The habit is solidly upright like 'Zebrinus’ but stands half the height. Bandwidth flowers late in the season and adds extra interest to fading gardens. It makes a great landscape accent or a ‘thriller’ in containers. 

Miscanthus is versatile from a design standpoint; it can be used as a single specimen, for mass plantings or screening or in large containers. 

Even though it dies back in early winter, it will provide a buff-colored presence of winter interest which birds will enjoy for the seeds provided the homeowner for the vertical visual show.

Nine bark
Nine Bark (Physocarpus opulifolius) ‘Little Devil’, (4’ x 3’) with its upright spreading habit, fine-texture and really dark foliage sets it apart from the many greens of the landscape and provide a nice contrast and can replace thorny barberries in the yard. 

This less-than-thirsty shrub is definitely easy-care and requires little, if any, pruning. 

Additionally, it is virtually free from pest and disease issues and adapts well to wet or dry soil. Clusters of small purplish-white flowers bloom in June that contrast nicely with the burgundy foliage.

Rosa
Rose (Rosa x) ‘Oso Easy ‘Urban Legend’ is a true-red excellent carpet rose (2’ x 3’) that blooms from early summer until hard frost and without trimming and deadheading, no less. 

The glossy green leaves seem to be pretty resistant and usually have no need for fungicides. This plant’s size and rigor make it an excellent candidate as a ground cover, edging or sunny spot that could use a bit more summer color. 

As with all of the plants on my list, once established, they require far less water than others in their taxa. I’d recommend an application of a granular fertilizer in spring and pruning in early spring.

Nine Bark blooms
A few other trial recommendations for you to consider include Bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensi), Buxus ‘Little Missy’, California Lilac (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus) ‘Victoria’, Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) ‘Summertime Blue’, Cotoneaster x suesicus ‘Emerald Beauty’, Nine Bark (Physocarpus opulifolius ) ‘Diablo’, Rose ‘Blushing Drift’ and Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) ‘Pink Chiffon’. 

Check out some of these drought-tolerant plants and win on several fronts; hold onto a bit more of your public utilities dollars, have a better looking yard and save some time watering your yards (I try to help out where I can). 

 Happy gardening all!

Bruce Bennett, Garden Guy
Contributing garden columnist, Bruce Bennett, is a Washington State University Certified Master Gardener, public speaker and Seattle-area garden designer. 

If you have questions concerning this article, have questions concerning your garden or want to suggest a topic for a future column, contact Bruce at gardenguy4u@gmail.com.

See his previous columns here

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