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

Lake Forest Park Garden Club October meeting with Daphne Legg of Wild Birds Unlimited

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Daphne Legg of Wild Birds Unlimited
Lake Forest Park Garden Club
October 10, 2023 Daphne Legg with "Wild Birds Unlimited"

Daphne will be speaking to us about "Attracting Songbirds with Native Plants, Water, and Nesting Boxes (For those who don't like to use feeders)". 

Daphne has done a lot of speaking on the topic of birds to the NW Flower and Garden Show, the Puget Sound Bird Fest, plus schools, garden clubs and other organizations. 

She has worked at Wild Birds Unlimited as a Certified Birdfeeding Specialist for 28 years. In 2017 she was voted "Manager of the Year" for the Lake Forest Park store, out of 350 Wild Birds Unlimited stores nationwide.

General meeting is at 9:30 to 10:15am
10:15 to 10:30 refreshment/social time
10:30 to 11:30 guest speaker

We meet on the second Tuesday of the month at the LFP Town Center located at Ballinger and Bothell Ways NE. Upper stage area. 

Novice and experienced gardeners are welcome. You may attend two meetings for free and then we ask that you join the club for the $35 a year membership fee. This helps pay for the great speakers we hire. We have a December Christmas potluck and also a summer Garden Party along with other activities throughout the year.


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Seattle residents: SPU recycling event in Lake City Saturday, September 30, 2023

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Beyond the Cart Recycling and compost giveaway event

Have stuff to recycle that doesn't go in your cart? Bring it to a Recycling and Reuse Collection event! 

SPU hosts six events a year to collect items for recycling and reuse that can't go in your home recycle carts or dumpsters. Events are free and open to all Seattle residents.

2023 recycling and reuse collection events

Saturday, September 30, 2023 from 9am to 1pm *or until space is full*

NOTE: No Early Birds! Customers cannot drop off items before the start time

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Osprey - leaving soon for Mexico

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Migration coming soon
Photo by Jan Hansen
By Jan Hansen

The osprey will soon migrate to South America or Mexico. The females have left after the fledging of their young. Males stay to provide food and training. Then they leave followed shortly after by the offspring. 

Wild Scandinavia on PBS has a wonderful presentation of the osprey in Norway that winter in Africa. 

These are such strong birds flying so many miles and able to dive at 75mph with expert aim to catch fish like this one. Another reason to cheer, "Go Hawks!



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Gloria's Birds: Bufflehead gliding close to the water's surface, even touching it,

Friday, September 15, 2023

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

and not because it makes for a good image:).

It's the "ground effect", which, to the best of my understanding, is: air funnels between the bird's wings and the water's surface, creating a cushion that increases the lift and reduces the drag.

Go, Bufflehead!

--Gloria Z. Nagler


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Avian influenza outbreak impacting seabirds and seals near Fort Flagler State Park, Port of Everett, Port of Tacoma

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) caution the public to avoid contact with wild birds and other wild animals, especially sick or dead wild animals or their young.

An outbreak of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is impacting wild birds and several seals near Fort Flagler State Park. This outbreak started in early July 2023.

WDFW staff are monitoring and responding to the situation and have removed more than 1,700 dead Caspian terns and gulls from Rat Island and adjacent shores near Fort Flagler State Park. Preliminary results indicate three harbor seals from the same area were also infected with avian influenza. Confirmation testing is pending.

Additionally, recent detections of infected Caspian terns have been documented near the Port of Everett, Port of Tacoma, and along the lower Columbia River.

People and their pets should avoid all contact with sick or dead wildlife. While avian influenza infections among people are rare, human infections can happen when the virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth, or is inhaled. 

People may be at greater risk of bird flu virus infection during close or lengthy unprotected contact (not wearing respiratory protection or eye protection) with infected animals or surfaces contaminated with saliva, or feces of infected animals. 

Dogs and other animals can become sick with avian influenza, and care should be taken to avoid contact between pets and sick or dead animals. The United States Department of Agriculture monitors infections in wild mammals across the U.S.

Do not attempt to move sick wild animals to a veterinarian or rehabilitation center, or to your home, as this can spread the disease. WDFW continues to ask members of the public who find sick or dead birds to report them immediately using this online form.

As resources are available, biologists may respond to remove carcasses and, if in an area or species where avian influenza has not been confirmed, test for the virus. 

Due to the magnitude of this outbreak, WDFW staff will not be able to respond to all reported cases. More detailed information about avian influenza is available on this WDFW webpage. To report a dead, injured, or stranded marine mammal along the West Coast (i.e., off California, Oregon, and Washington) call the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region Stranding Hotline: 1-866-767-6114.

Reports of suspected avian influenza in domestic poultry flocks should be sent to the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Call 1-800-606-3056 or visit their webpage for more information about how to protect poultry and other domestic birds.

For additional information on avian influenza please visit: wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/diseases/bird-flu and https://doh.wa.gov/avian-influenza


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Come learn about the advantages of gardening with native plants in this free class

Monday, September 4, 2023

Thursday September 14, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00pm at North City Water District 1519 NE 177th St in Shoreline

Come discover just how beautiful, sustainable, and low-maintenance gardening can be with native plants. 

Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions where they naturally occur... which means they can often solve many landscape woes. 

Gardening with native plants typically means less watering, less need for pesticides and fertilizers, and less chance of introduction and spread of invasive species. 

Plus these important plant species provide nectar, pollen, and seeds for native butterflies, insects, birds, and other animals native to your area.

This class will provide you with an appreciation for giving your yard a Northwest aesthetic— complete with design techniques, plant combinations, and many plant choices for different conditions— all in perfect time for fall plant sales!

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

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

Greg has worked with King County in native habitat restoration, was the past co-host of KCTV’s Yard Talk, and a weekly guest for the Greendays Gardening Panel, on KUOW, 94.9 FM. 

Read more about him in this article

Learn More About Native Plant Gardening:
From the Washington Native Plant Society, Puget Sound Chapter:

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Apples for apple cider - and applesauce

Monday, August 28, 2023

Photo by Patrick Deagen
I have never seen an apple tree that produces as prodigiously as this old tree in Echo Lake Park at N 200th and Ashworth Ave N. 

The apples all fall to the ground every year and lie there until someone cleans them up. Birds, squirrels, and raccoons ignore them, which supports the idea that they are not very good eating apples.

However, I have been told that apples like this make very good apple cider. If you own a cider press or know where there's one you can use, help yourself. Windfalls are good for cider or you can pick the fruit from the tree.

--Diane Hettrick


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For the Birds: Seasonal Changes a Happening Thing

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Dark-eyed Junco female feeding juvie
Photo by Craig Kerns
By Christine Southwick

The Merlins nesting in Shoreline are now flying about and making lots of noise. 

The Kenmore Heronry is empty until next spring. 

The Osprey nests in Shoreline will soon be abandoned until next April, with the adults leaving for Central or South America. 

The juveniles will follow soon thereafter, finding their own way and meals.

And right now, environmentally-friendly yards have lots of hard-to-identify juvenile birds. Most juvenile birds look different from adults due to camouflage to help ensure their survival.

Here are three birds that I can offer tips to help you identify them.

Dark-eyed Junco showing white tail feathers
Photo by Craig Kerns
Many people had Dark-eyed Juncos nesting in their flower pots, or hiding underneath ferns and in tall weeds (their nests are very well made, pretty even). 

The youngsters of these Oregon Juncos, our local subspecies, are striped brown and don’t have their distinctive head-coloring yet. 

The best way to tell these flittering ground birds is to look for their outer white tail feathers. 

When you see one of these confusing brown-jobbies watch for a flash of white in their tail as they fly away.

It is usually obvious, and is what birders call a “diagnostic clue”. 

If you see that flash of white, then it is a junco.

Juncos usually have two-three broods a year, and our local birds should be on their last brood. Both parents feed their offspring. I have found that males usually are feeding the youngsters from the first brood or two while the female is on the next clutch of eggs.

Spotted Towhee - first stage

Spotted Towhee second stage
Photo by Craig Kerns

Spotted Towhees
are hard to identify their first six months. When Spotted Towhees first leave the nest, they look like over-sized Song Sparrows with tail feathers and wings that are too dark, with some spots instead of varying shades of brown on their backs. 

About three-four weeks after they have fledged, their breast and lower body feathers start molting into that distinctive orange-red color of adult Spotted Towhees, but their dark-brownish flight feathers will not change until they do their first full-feather-replacing molt next spring.

Juvie Song Sparrow
Photo by Craig Kerns
That brings me to the next confusing brown ground bird—the Song Sparrow

Juvenile Song Sparrows don’t have distinctive streaking on their heads, nor do they have their distinctive breast spot. 

They are mostly just variations of brown with shading. If you have ruled out the other two juveniles, and a bird scurries on the ground through bushes, it is probably a Song Sparrow.

Offer food and water. Both the parents and the youngsters can use that extra protein and hydration.

Previous For the Birds columns can be seen here.


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City of Shoreline: Don't feed ducks and geese

Friday, August 4, 2023

Feeding ducks and geese can lead to larger than normal population sizes, overfed animals, and animals waiting near the beach for humans to feed them - in short it leads to more ducks and geese pooping at the beach! 

This makes beach waters unsafe for people, pets, and wildlife. It also makes for gross beaches. Let the birds be wild - please don't feed the ducks and geese!

--City of Shoreline


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Climate Action Shoreline: Water Use Wednesdays (Freshwater)

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

By Diane Lobaugh

When our small group of Shoreline neighbors developed a brochure of daily actions to address the climate crisis, we included a day to think about how we use water.

Freshwater is vital for all life and ecosystems. We use freshwater in many aspects of daily life including health, food production, power generation, manufacturing, and sanitation. The source of freshwater is precipitation from the atmosphere.

Although the earth's surface is two thirds water, less than 3% is freshwater, and much of that is ice, glaciers, permafrost, and polar ice caps. Most of accessible fresh water is used for agriculture (70%), then industrial (19%) and domestic uses (11%), including for drinking.

We are very lucky in our area to have access to an abundance of clean water, and an infrastructure that brings it into our homes, ready to use. Billions of people (29%) around the world lack this access to clean water, either due to ecological conditions, worsening because of climate change, or inadequate water infrastructure. Even more lack access to safely managed sanitation services, which causes illness and death.

Water pollution can happen on our streets and of course globally. It occurs when harmful chemicals or microorganisms contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, making it toxic to humans, wildlife, and the environment.

Agriculture is one of the biggest polluters from fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste, washed into bodies of water as it rains. Water is polluted by sewage and wastewater, oil from roads and from oil spills in or near bodies of water, and industrial waste. Another polluter that can stay in our water for thousands of years is radioactive waste generated by uranium mining, nuclear power plants, the production and testing of military weapons, and from research and medicine.

Most of us in this corner of the world can turn on the faucet in our homes and there is clean, fresh water that comes out. It runs and runs if we let it.

Washington’s drinking water comes from three sources: groundwater (wells and springs), surface water (lakes and rivers) and snowpack/snowmelt (supply for rivers, lakes and aquifers). Managed and protected by Seattle Public Utilities, drinking water in Shoreline usually comes from the protected watershed of the South Fork Tolt River in the Cascade Mountains.

Rain not absorbed into the earth flows into storm drains. Since it is not filtered or treated, everything on the street that washes into the storm drains goes directly to streams, lakes, and the Puget Sound. From my Echo Lake neighborhood the stormwater goes to Ballinger Lake, then to Lake Washington via McAleer Creek, then to Puget Sound.

Wastewater from flushing the toilet and drains in the house are piped to a wastewater treatment plant before going into Puget Sound. Only human waste and toilet paper go into toilets, and no grease, oil or food, medicines or chemicals should go into the drains.

Great blue heron on Lake Washington
What we can do locally about water seems pretty simple: don't pollute it and don't waste it. But many of our actions, although unintentional, do pollute, and most of us use more than we need.

I love to tell a story about carving a pumpkin with my then two-year-old daughter. I was using a little pumpkin carving knife which my daughter clearly wanted to try her hand at it. I hesitated, and she firmly said: "Mama, SHARE!"

Every morning I want to keep hearing her voice, reminding me to share. Water is a precious resource. The water we have access to must be shared, with all of life, with neighbors, between cities, and countries.

What can we do daily?

Talk to friends, neighbors, family about water. Where does it come from? How can you keep it clean? There is always something new to learn about conservation and pollution.

  • Take time to read the wonderful brochures from our utilities, cities, and water districts. Learn about what happens to the water on your street. And how neighbors can and must protect this resource.
  • Do notice how much water you use and need. In the Shoreline Climate Action plan residents are being asked in Shoreline to decrease our consumption by 27%. Do turn off the faucet, wash full loads of dishes/clothes, take short showers. Find and repair leaks.
  • Don’t use pesticides, or let oil, chemicals, or soap wash into the storm drains. Anything but rain that goes into the storm drains pollutes and hurts fish and wildlife. In Shoreline there is an adopt a storm drain program, where neighbors help drains stay clear of vegetation and everything except rainwater.

Do you buy cases of bottled water? Why? It is expensive, and comes in single use plastic bottles, covered with plastic. Marketing suggests it is better than our local tap water, failing to mention chemicals from the plastic possibly getting into the water, or how much fossil fuel was used to make the plastic, produce, fill, and transport the bottles to stores. Most plastic is not recycled, and ends up in landfills, in the ocean or transported then dumped in other countries.

Rain gardens and native landscaping help water soak into the earth. There is lots to learn about using plants, trees, and permeable surfaces in our yards. There are many ways to collect and use rainwater for watering. My mom’s family used old whiskey barrels back in the 30’s!

Many clothes are made with plastic, and when washed these fibers get into the water system and eventually the bodies of the fish, other birds, animals, and us. Microplastic pollution and ingestion in our water is a huge health and environmental problem.

Tell a neighbor you love their brown grass… and not encourage more watering and fertilizing! And never pesticides.

What would it mean to decrease freshwater use in agriculture and industry? And pollution? Where can you have impact or influence?

Ducks on Lake Washington
admiring their reflections
There is so much to learn about water, and many issues to further explore. We can listen and learn from each other. 

Thank you to the many workers in our communities that think about surface water, wastewater and of course our drinking water. And keep us educated about preserving this incredible resource.

Thanks to folks from City of Shoreline Surface and Wastewater, North City Water District, Seattle Public Utilities, Julie (environmental educator) and my husband, Sid (civil engineer) for sharing what they know and answering many questions.

Next month’s climate article will focus on saltwater and life in and near the ocean.

I hope to see you in the neighborhood… and don’t forget, “Share!”

--Diane Lobaugh

Past Shoreline Area News articles based on the pamphlet from Climate Action Shoreline: 

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Dunn Gardens class: Native Plants for Pollinators and Birds

Thursday, July 13, 2023

Native plants at Dunn Gardens. Photo courtesy DG

"Native Plants for Pollinators and Birds"
Members: $15 | Not-Yet-Members: $20
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 1pm

"What’s with the buzz about native plants?
  • Native plants sequester, or remove, carbon from the air.
  • Native plants provide shelter and food for wildlife.
  • Native plants promote biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.
  • Native plants are beautiful and increase scenic values!

Join our horticulture team to learn about native plants and how to use them in your garden. 

Sample some treats made from plants native to our area while we talk about why native plants are so important for the birds and the bees. Then we’ll head out to the garden to see examples. 

Class fee includes a native plant to take home.

Dunn Gardens 13533 Northshire Rd NW, Seattle WA 98177

Register here


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For the Birds: Our State Bird — the American Goldfinch

Saturday, July 8, 2023

 

Male feeding adult female note plumage difference - probable mating bonding.
Photo by Doug Parrott

By Christine Southwick

The American Goldfinch with its vibrant yellow plumage, black cap worn jauntily low over its forehead, black tail, and wings edged with white, is always a welcome sight at local feeders.

Goldfinches arrive in small flocks, first heard calling while flying in an up-down rollercoaster fashion.

Winter use of birdbath. Note bird in middle is a Pine Siskin flanked by two goldfinches.
Photo by Christine Southwick

The American Goldfinch is the only finch that molts its body feathers twice a year: in early spring the male changes into the lemon-yellow breeding plumage that so many of us expect when we think of goldfinches; in late fall their body feathers are exchanged for yellow olive-brown ones, minus the cap. 

The females stay a dullish olive-yellow with yellow highlights that are bright yellow in the summer, and pale in the winter. Females have two light wing bars on their black wings, versus the single white wing bar that the male displays. Both have pink conical bills in the summer which turn dark in the winter.

Two males eating sunflower seeds at my feeder. There
were eight plus goldfinches including females-delightful!
Photo by Christine Southwick
Most goldfinches arrive in our area mid-April and leave mid-October, but there are always a few hardy flocks that stay and grace our presence, roaming from weed-patch to open fields, staying for a while in yards with seed-heads and seed feeders, and then nomadically moving on to the next source of seeds.

American Goldfinches are happiest in abandoned fields and roadsides where they consume vast amounts of thistle¸ dandelion, tree (especially maple), and other wild seeds.

By using their feet extensively while feeding, American Goldfinches are able to pluck seeds that other birds can’t access. 

They are classified as “granivores”, meaning that they are almost totally vegetation, eating only seeds, or maybe a few aphids. 

They even feed their four-to six nestlings regurgitated seeds, not insects.

Their breeding season starts in July, later than any other finch, timed to use seed fibers, especially thistle down, for their nests, and to have ripe weed and flower seeds for eating.

Close up of male.
Photo by Christine Southwick
Bring American Goldfinches into your yard with nyjer thistle seed, black-oil sunflower seeds, and bird baths. 

Place your feeders in an open area away from overhanging tree branches. (Note if you use black-oil sunflower seeds with shells, starlings can’t eat those seeds.)

Do not use any pesticides or weed killers.

Plant zinnias, cosmos, bee balm and perennial flowering plants, and leave the flower heads until spring for winter feeding. 

You may be rewarded with a fly-in by these cheerful Wild Canaries.

Previous For the Birds columns can be viewed here.



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For the Birds: Nestling crows leave home before they can fly

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Maaaaaaa!
Carl the Crow calls for his mother

By Christine Southwick
Photos by Peggy Bartleson

Do you have a crow on the ground, making a loud noise? Unless you see blood, or a hanging wing, it is probably not injured. It is most likely a nestling crow which has left its nest before it can fly. Most crows leave the nest early for safety reasons. Nests, with their “feed ME” sounds, are lures for predators — raccoons, hawks, owls, eagles. The sooner nestlings are strong enough to leave their nests and hide, the more likely that they will survive.

Feed me!
Carl the crow begging parent for food

And do not fear; the parents are watching, dive-bombing cats and other dangers, and feeding their youngsters on a regular basis. Sometimes a couple of youngsters will hang together, but more often they will go their separate ways, thus increasing their probability of survival. The parents know where each is, and are feeding them appropriately.

Don’t let the nestlings’ size fool you. When they leave the nest, they are 80% or more of their adult weight. Their legs are already adult size, and their wing feathers are nearly full grown. But they are still babies. They will often tip side to side as they walk, making them look a trifle drunken. Part of the problem is that they don’t have their tail feathers yet to act as their rudders.

Carl being fed by his parent

The pictures are of a neighborhood nestling. I first saw it five afternoons ago. The first neighbor didn’t know what to do, but had put out some tuna fish. Baby crows have to have the food stuffed down their throats—so putting out food won’t help nestlings.

The next morning that baby had moved across the street, near a house with a known hunter cat. The parents dive-bombed that cat until it started lying elsewhere. Now the little crow is staying at a house where the owner watches daily, but doesn’t crowd it. The parents feel comfortable in the yard, and Carl the crow (that’s what the neighbor calls it), struts around more steadily every day, and hides in the flowers at night.

Still no tail feathers - Carl is grounded

It still doesn’t have tail feathers yet, but will soon.

Remember, most birds found walking about on the ground are not abandoned, and don’t need human “help”. Keep your pet away from the area that the bird is staying, and wait about a week. It will fly away then.

More info about baby crows and what/what not to do, here.

Find more For the Birds columns HERE

Reprinted from 2014 and 2019


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Garden Guy: The Garden Guy Appreciates His Plants for Dry Summer Days

Monday, June 19, 2023

Top the list: the Rock Rose
takaonursery.com
By Bruce Bennett

Even for a garden designer, there's no such thing as a ‘maintenance-free’ yard and the beginning of the summer season will find this Garden Guy watering his west-facing front yard. 

I enjoy this early morning task because the air is cool, the birds provide a joyful chorus and, even during the later ‘Dog Days of Summer’ I usually only need to irrigate once a month. 

“How’s that possible? you ask. It’s simple; choose the right plants. Look for beauty as well as toughness, drought-tolerance and little-to- no-pruning. 

Let’s take a look at a few of the choice summer candidates that can hold their own and will brighten-up my yard this summer……

On the top of my list this year is the simple rockrose. This particular one, Cistus ‘Mickie, has the added interest of large, white crepe-paper-like flowers in spring. But, it’s the golden variegated foliage that provides the colorful punch throughout the year. Back it with a purple barberry for a great color combination. 

Don’t believe the 2’ x 3’ size noted on the plant tags. Mine have been in for six years and are about 4’ x 5’ and gorgeous for the four seasons of the year. Other great cistus include ‘Purpurea,’ ‘Sunset’, the dwarf Skanbergii and ‘Snow Fire.’

Barberries
https-//landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu
There's a reason you see Barberries in many corporate landscaping vignettes. 

They are extremely low maintenance, yet can still stun with seasonal colors ranging from purple to orange to gold. 

It’s ideal for foundation plantings or hedges. 

Depending on the cultivar, these deciduous plants can grow from one- to seven-feet tall. 

They may need the occasional pruning, but not much. 

My favorites include ‘Rose Glow’ (shown), ‘Crimson Pygmy’ (a dwarf) ‘Orange Rocket’ (columnar), and ‘Sunjoy’ (golden).

Nandina ‘Fire Power.’
extension.msstate.edu
For a smaller-than-usual evergreen shrub, I’d vote for Nandina ‘Fire Power.’ 

At about 2’ x 2’, this is among the smallest varieties in this family of shrubs. 

Yes, its common name is ‘Heavenly Bamboo,’ but, it is not a bamboo (the reason it is so heavenly). 

The new bamboo-shaped leaves emerge a nice chartreuse shade and, as the weather cools in autumn, they can turn a full-on fire engine red and remain that way throughout the winter months. 

It’s a great spot of color in the midst of our gray winter blahs.

Fescue 'Elijah Blue'
missouribotanicalgarden.org
I particularly like Fescue ‘Elijah Blue.’ 

The color of this perennial tells you right up front that it is accustomed to heat and sunshine. 

Its gray leaves evolved to handle harsh sun. 

Depending on the fescue cultivar, the blades of this grass can range from gray to a powder-blue and you can rely on the color holding throughout the year.

Plant heights can range from 9” to 18” tall, with the seed heads floating at up to three-feet tall. 

Similar favorites include ‘Boulder Blue’ and the larger ‘Blue Oat Grass.’

Coreopsis aka 'Tickseed'
greatplantpicks.org
Coreopsis. Also known as ‘Tickseed,’ this native of the Great Plains is a perennial bloomer (although there are some annual varieties) which will provide you with a nice color spot from early summer through autumn. 

In tones like yellow, orange, pink, purple and red, Coreopsis make nice cut flowers that can be enjoyed in home flower arrangements.

It’s an easy grower, tolerates most any soil condition and pollinators love it. 

Favorites include ‘Moonbeam’ (shown), ‘Zagreb’ and ‘Blushing Pink.’

To me, at least, it makes sense that I should treat myself as well as I treat my landscape and that includes simply enjoying the warm, sunny days of summer. 

Garden Guy Bruce Bennett
By doing some initial research prior to purchasing and planting, I can ensure that the right plants have been added to the garden and I’m spending more time enjoying the beauty of the landscape and less time maintaining it. Happy gardening all!

Gardening columnist, Bruce Bennett, is a WSU Master Gardener, lecturer and Seattle-area garden designer. 

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



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Gloria's Birds: Pigeon Guillemot after a successful dive

Friday, June 16, 2023

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

They swim underwater using their wings! Yes, I do have compassion for the prey, but a seabird's gotta eat, and there were no vegan cafes in sight.

--Gloria Z. Nagler



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For the Birds: Baby Bird Season

Monday, June 5, 2023

American Robin fledgling by Elaine Chuang
note stubby tail and gape at base of bill
By Christine Southwick

Do you have a young, helpless-looking bird hopping or flitting in your yard? 

Great! That means your yard is habitat-friendly enough that birds are nesting in your domain.

If the youngster is basically featherless, it probably fell out of a nest, and needs to be put back, if you can. 

It is probably not a ground nester, so look up. You could make a fake nest where a parent can find it if you can’t reach the nest.

Oregon Junco fledgling being feed by father
(mother is probably on second brood)
photo by Chris Southwick
Does a baby bird really need your help?

If it is already feathered, but can’t really fly, it is called a fledgling, and its parents are nearby. It doesn’t need human interference, unless it is bleeding, or has an obviously injured wing or foot.

Because nests can be a death trap from predators, ground nesting babies have evolved to leave the nest soon after they grow their feathers, and scatter in different directions. The parents bring food to each and every one of their offspring. No wonder the parents look so frazzled.

I was following a White-crowned Sparrow nest for an article and four days after they hatched – one day after they grew their feathers, they were out scurrying through the garden aisles to disappear into the adjacent empty lot, with the parents monitoring from above.

Bewick's Wren nestlings by Peggy Bartleson
They became fledglings later that day
Fledglings may have stubby tails that haven’t grown in yet which makes them flit rather than fly, and their mouths are still brightly colored, a temporary condition called gapes. Fledgling crows also fit this description.

Some of our most common ground nesters are Oregon Juncos, Song, White-crowned, and Orange-crowned Sparrows, and Spotted Towhees. Bewick’s Wrens, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped and Chestnut-backed chickadees, and American Robins, and American Crows are our other most common nesters.

Keep dogs and cats away from the areas. As much as I love my cat, once I found out that cats are the second leading cause of bird deaths in the US (habitat loss being number one), I started keeping mine from roaming. I even built a small indoor-outdoor area for them.

Oregon Junco nest hidden in raised
flower bed photo by Craig Kerns
Most local birds have two or more broods each year, so expect to see fledglings into late July/August. So, leave some tall ground-nesting areas when you are weeding.

You can help nourish birds by planting native fruiting plants, offering good quality food, keeping your yard pesticides free, and keeping pets away from these delightful bundles of fluff.

See previous For the Birds columns here



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Get Ready for the LFP Garden Tour on June 17, 2023

Friday, June 2, 2023

Sequoias in the Secret Garden Tour June 17

By Beth Weir

Now the calendar is featuring June, be sure to check you have the 17th marked for the Secret Garden Tour of Lake Forest Park. The six gardens on the tour are testament to the Pacific Northwest’s ability to host to a variety of landscapes, not to mention towering trees. For those we can thank Ole Hanson who platted the first lots around 1910 and so established the town of Lake Forest Park and its culture of trees.

Some of these now giant sequoias and sequoiadendrons border one of the ‘tour’ gardens. They envelope you in a warm Pacific Northwest welcome as you walk the long drive and appear to be protecting the plants, the landscape within and you as a visitor.

Its owners have taken upon themselves the care and further development of a classic Northwest Garden with a significant history. It was becoming overgrown when they took it over from folks who had lovingly invested themselves in the property over an extended period. If the enthusiasm of the gardeners for their self-assigned task could be bottled the world would cease to need power plants.

The garden is natural, large and moves effortlessly around a stream and lawn from small rooms and vignettes to larger views. It has touches of the personal, as in little art pieces left by children, new plantings to enhance the existing and areas of wilderness that have their own charm.

The trout will probably be hiding in the stream and the birds will have ceased their dawn chorus when the average visitor will be there. Rest assured, neither will be hard to imagine in such a peaceful and contemplative space.

Discount tickets are available on line at LfpGardenTour.com and in person at Wild Birds LFP, Third Place Books LFP and Sky Nursery Shoreline.


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June 2023 Events Calendar at Third Place Books - Ken Jennings on June 18

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Third Place Books photo by
Steven H. Robinson
Third Place Books - Lake Forest Park

June 2023 EVENTS

Please note: all times below are Pacific Time.
 
Both virtual and in-person events require registration in advance. Unless ticketed, events are free and open to the public. See thirdplacebooks.com for details.
 
() – denotes ticketed event
() – denotes event for children or middle grade readers
  
Monday, June 5 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Ann Putnam with Beverly Conner
I Will Leave You Never
Putnam’s new novel is set in our community of Lake Forest Park. In the middle of a perilous drought in the Northwest, an arsonist begins setting fires all around. “An often moving story of uncertainty and loss.” (Kirkus Reviews)
 
Tuesday, June 6 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
[SOLD OUT] Ocean Vuong with Angela Garbes // introduction by Sah Pham
Time is A Mother
The beloved MacArthur "Genius," poet, and novelist celebrates the paperback release of his deeply intimate second collection. Vuong searches for life among the aftershocks of his mother’s death, embodying the paradox of sitting within grief while being determined to survive beyond it. Angela Garbes, author of Essential Labor, joins in conversation.
   
Thursday, June 8 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Elizabeth Clark-Stern with Nisi Shawl
The Language of Water
Science-fiction writer and TV screenwriter Clark-Stern presents her new book from local Aqueduct Press. The dawn of the twenty-second century finds women in a new world where water—the lack of it, or the over-abundance of it—shapes their inner and outer lives.
    
Thursday, June 15 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Steve Turner with Jonathan Evison
Mud Ride: A Messy Trip Through the Grunge Explosion
A down-and-dirty chronicle of the birth and evolution of the Seattle grunge scene—from backyard skateboard ramps and underground hardcore clubs to worldwide phenomenon—as told by one of its founding fathers and lead guitarist of the legendary alternative rock band, Mudhoney.
  
Sunday, June 18 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Ken Jennings with Tom Nissley
100 Places to See After You Die : A Travel Guide to the Afterlife
Celebrate Father's Day with the legendary Jeopardy! champion and host. Jennings will be discussing his new book, a hilarious travel guide to the afterlife, exploring destinations to die for from literature, mythology, and pop culture ranging from Dante’s Inferno to Hadestown to NBC’s The Good Place. Tom Nissley, owner of Phinney and Madison Books, joins in conversation. Tickets required. See thirdplacebooks.com for details.
 
Tuesday, June 20 at 6:30pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Local Author Open Mic
Due to a scheduling conflict, this month’s Open Mic will take place on a Tuesday in place of its normal Monday slot. Come share your work and develop your craft with other local authors. For consignment requests, see thirdplacebooks.com for details.
 
Wednesday, June 21 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Jennifer Ackerman
What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way, a brilliant scientific investigation into owls—the most elusive of birds—and why they exert such a hold on human imagination. Tickets required. See thirdplacebooks.com for details.
 
Thursday, June 22 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Susan Mallery
The Happiness Plan
Susan Mallery’s first in-person appearance at Lake Forest Park! Three women search for joy in the #1 New York Times bestselling author’s new novel of hope, heartache, and the power of friendship.
  
Monday, June 26 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Martha Holmberg
Simply Tomato: 100 Recipes for Enjoying Your Favorite Ingredient All Year Long
Take your love for tomatoes to the next level with this delectable collection of 100 incredible recipes from the coauthor of the bestselling, staff-favorite cookbooks Six Seasons and Grains for Every Season.
 
Tuesday, June 27 at 12pm PDT / 3pm EDT (Virtual)
Maureen Freely, Aysegül Savas, and Merve Emre
discuss Cold Nights of Childhood by Tezer Özlü, tr. Maureen Freely
in partnership with Community Bookstore and the Transnational Literature Series at Brookline Booksmith
This phenomenal panel discusses a newly translated classic that deserves to stand alongside The Bell Jar and Jean Rhys's Good Morning, Midnight. Özlü’s novel is a powerfully vivid, disorienting, and bittersweet novel about the determined embrace of life in all its complexity and confusion.
  
Tuesday, June 27 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Lily Meade with Kendare Blake
The Shadow Sister
A gripping, speculative thriller from a dazzling new voice about a teen who disappears... and returns, changed in ways that trauma alone can’t explain.
 
Thursday, June 29 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Samantha Ferraro
One-Pot Mediterranean: 70+ Simple Recipes for Healthy and Flavorful Weeknight Cooking 
From the author of The Weeknight Mediterranean Kitchen, a new book on how to eat healthy every night with simple and delicious Mediterranean meals that come together effortlessly using just one pot, pan or skillet.
 
Third Place Books is located on the upper level of Town Center, intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way NE.



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Gloria's Birds: Wow, signed Capri the Black-capped Chickadee,

Sunday, May 14, 2023

photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

 if I'm not out hunting for food stuffs, I'm out hunting for nesting stuff!
 
(I'm always impressed by the hard-working lives of our fellow creatures.)

--Gloria Z. Nagler



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Washington now has a state dinosaur - the Suciasaurus rex

Saturday, May 6, 2023

Gov. Jay Inslee signs a bill proclaiming Suciasaurus rex as Washington’s official state dinosaur.

A large, two-legged, meat-eating therapod once roamed Washington state, as paleontologists discovered in 2012.

Paleontologists at the Burke with dinosaur bone found in Washington state
Photo courtesy Burke Museum

They found a partial thigh bone for a dinosaur similar to but smaller than a Tyrannosaurus on the shores of Sucia Island State Park.

The Burke Museum reported that "The fossil is a partial left thigh bone of a theropod dinosaur, the group of two-legged, meat-eating dinosaurs that includes Velociraptor, Tyrannosaurus rex and modern birds. It was found along the shores of Sucia Island State Park in the San Juan Islands.

"The fossil is approximately 80 million years old and is from the Late Cretaceous period. During that time, the rocks that today form Sucia Island were likely further south. How much further south is a topic of scientific debate, with locations ranging between present day Baja California, Mexico, and northern California. Earthquakes and other geologic forces that constantly reshape our planet moved the rocks north to their present-day location."

A decade later, a class project to teach kids how a bill becomes a law led to Gov. Jay Inslee signing a bill to proclaim the Suciasaurus rex as Washington’s official state dinosaur

Students from Elmhurst Elementary in Tacoma engaged their legislator Rep. Melanie Morgan to introduce the bill - both the students and Rep. Morgan were present for the signing.


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