Check Out Sworn Fern Fiddleheads Emerging At Neighborhood SUN Park

The Sun Park (Saving Urban Nature) Native Plant Park neighbors, who maintain the park, located at the corner of NE 47th Street and 47th Avenue NE, invite the community to check out the sword fern fiddleheads which are just starting to emerge.
Janice, one of the volunteer Sun Park gardeners wrote to the Blog:

The sword fern fiddleheads are just starting to emerge at SUN Park, is home to several sword ferns.  Watching the ‘King of Pacific Northwest Ferns’ put out new growth is a great indication that Spring is on the way.   

Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum) is indigenous to the Pacific Northwest and even can be found as far East as Pennsylvania. The Indian tribes of the region ate the roots or rhizome that were peeled and baked or boiled in pits lined with hot rocks. Others chewed the young leaves to cure sore throats or to put on burns. They also washed their hair in the water of boiled roots to cure dandruff. The leaves were frequently used to line baking pits and as mattresses.

The creation of SUN Park in 2008 was totally funded by private donations. The Friends of SUN Park partnered with Cascade Land Conservancy (now called Forterra) for long-term maintenance; Forterra is a nonprofit 501.c.3 organization whose mission is to conserve great lands and create great communities.

The corner property use to house a large 1920's Bungalow style house.  A developer divided the lot in three parcels and two houses were built on the subdivided lots. The Sun Park folks, along with many in the community, attended a meeting along with City representatives, to save the third parcel from being developed and then created a pocket park.

The plot of land was purchased in March 2007 by a group of Laurelhurst neighbors and friends, through donations to the Cascade Land Conservancy, in order to preserve the small open space from development. 

To support SUN Park, contact Dixie Porter (dixiejoporter@hotmail.com or 206-383- 0147) or Janice Camp (206-849- 5778).

SUN’s Weed and Sweep Brigade work parties are held the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. "Stop by with your favorite garden tool to keep the park in shape, meet old friends, and make new ones, " Janice said.

Go here for more information.