Increase In Traffic Saturday Near CUH Due To Marathons

 

The annual Seattle Cherry Blossom Run is happening on Saturday and Sunday at the UW.

The event coordinator would like to let the community know that traffic around the
UW Center for Urban Horticulture could get busy on Saturday between 1-7pm as it is being used as the packet pick up location.

The cherry blossoms in the Quad at the UW are supposed to reach peak bloom this weekend. According to this UW article, "peak bloom is when at least 70 percent of the blossoms have emerged."

The UW information says:

The 29 large cherry trees in the Quad are about 86 years old and healthy. A number of other cherry trees live across campus, but the species in the Quad, “Somei-yoshino,” usually blooms before the others each season. Each species has its own typical bloom time.

The amount of daylight and favorable temperatures are the two most important factors that determine bloom timing, said Sara Shores, UW arborist. If it stays cool, with little rain or wind, the blossoms could stay on the trees for as long as two or three weeks.

For more information about the race go here.

Tomorrow Restoration Work Party at Union Bay Natural Area

Tomorrow from10-1pm, there is a Restoration Work Party at Union Bay Natural Area.

The information says:

Spring has caused an explosion of growth in the Union Bay Natural Area, and of course, that includes the invasive species at our restoration project sites! Come help to remove new sprouts and maintain our restoration efforts.   Everyone is welcome and no experience is needed. Gloves, and tools are provided for all volunteers! Remember to bring water and wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get dirty. We will work, rain or shine.  Meet at the tool cage behind Merrill Hall at the Center for Urban Horticulture.  The Union Bay Natural Area is managed by UW Botanic Gardens to maintain and enhance plants, wildlife and landscape values while serving as an outdoor laboratory for research, teaching and public service.

Saturday "Art of Nature" Class

On Saturday morning, UW Botanic Gardens is having a class called "Art of Nature" at nearby Center for Urban Horticulture (3501 NE 41st Street).  The cost is $30.

The information says:

Join Certified Forest Therapy Guide, artist, and writer Julie Hepp as they facilitate nature and art experiences. Participants will be invited to slow down and connect with both human and more-than-human beings through sensory-based activities. Then, participants will be invited to create works by writing, illustration, painting, and working with nature to create patterns and art. Instructor Julie Hepp is a life-long lover of nature. Julie shares their love of nature and science by teaching and leading connections between people and the world around them. Julie is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs and a graduate of IslandWood’s Education for Environment and Community Program. When Julie is not poking around in the outdoors or working on a Master's Degree in Education, you can find them writing, illustrating, and gardening. Register Online or by phone (206-685-8033) Go here for more information.

Saturday Nearby Miller Library Storytime

Miller Library, located in Laurelhurst at the Center for Urban Horticulture (3501 NE 41st Street), is holding a story time on Saturday with a garden friends ower theme from 10:30-11:15am. The information says: When you meet a friend, family member, or animal in the garden, what can you learn? Three very different answers to this question come from our books today. After the stories, everyone is welcome to make a card for someone. Books to be read are: IN THE GARDEN: WHO’S BEEN HERE? by Lindsay Barrett George A MORNING WITH GRANDPA by Sylvia Liu PICTURE A TREE by Barbara Reid Story time is geared towards children ages 3 to 8 and celebrates gardens, plants and nature. All ages and their families are invited.

UW Gardens May Plant Profile: Rhododendron

Each month the UW Botanic Gardens' Newsletter, E-Flora, posts in detail about a specific plant, among many other interesting posts about events and general information.

This month's feature is about the rhododendron, which can be found at nearby Center For Urban Horticulture. 
   

Here is the posting:

Rhododendron edgeworthii

Rhododendron edgeworthii is a showstopper year round. The blooms are borne on trusses of three to four flowers. The flowers are large, funnel shaped, and delightfully fragrant. Flowers range from white to white tinged red to white tinged pink. The mature bark is smooth, glossy, and peeling. The underside of the leaves and young stems have a tawny colored woolly indumentum making them feel very soft. For UW Botanic Gardens Horticulturist Annie Bilotta, the indumentum and dark green puckered leaves are what set this species apart from many rhododendrons.   This species was discovered by J.D. Hooker in the Himalayas in 1849. It was named for M.P. Edgeworth who was a commissioner with the Bengal Civil Service. It is native to NE India, Tibet, Bhutan, Myanmar, and SW China. It grows in a wide range of habitats including cliffs, rocky fields, deciduous and mixed forests and is typically found at elevations of 6000 to 13,000 feet.  Rhododendron edgeworthii is also an epiphyte, which means that it is a plant that grows on another plant without taking any nutrients from that plant. The thing that blows my mind is that these rhodies are often found growing at the tops of tall trees or in snags! I have personally never seen anything like that. R. edgeworthii is a good candidate for the Pacific Northwest garden. It prefers a partially shaded site as it can get leggy in full shade and burn in full sun. In its native habitat it can grow to 12 feet but in cultivation it is typically three to four feet tall. It also works well as a container plant. Come by in the early weeks of May to see this lovely gem in bloom! Three plants are located at the Center for Urban Horticulture in the Fragrance Garden, next to the little stone fountain. Family: Ericaceae Genus: Rhododendron Species: edgeworthii Origin: Himalayas, NE India, Bhutan, Myanmar, SW China Height and spread: 3-4 feet Bloom time: Mid spring Location: Seattle Garden Club Fragrance Garden at the Center for Urban Horticulture

Sunday Native Plant Sale At Nearby Center For Urban Horticulture

The UW student chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration's (SER-UW) native plant nursery is having a Native Plant Sale on Sunday from 10-1pm at the Center for Urban Horticulture. 

Here is more information: The SER-UW Native Plant Nursery is a student run operation that provides plants to the on-campus restoration projects that SER-UW manages.   The nursery has an inventory of over 2400 plants native to the forests and prairies of Lower Puget Sound. We have over 70 different species.     The SER UW Native Plant Nursery will be selling native trees, shrubs, forbs, and graminoids that have been growing in the nursery's hoop house. There will be over 50 native species available, including shrubs with edible fruit, plants that attract beneficial insects and pollinators, and forbs with showy flowers. Our plants are sourced from plant salvages, donations from local business, campus research projects and classes, and from collected seeds.    All proceeds go towards funding the SER-UW restoration projects on campus and providing horticulture learning opportunities for UW students. More information can be found on Facebook and here.

Why So Many Rabbits In The Neighborhood?

The Laurelhurst Blog has received many reports of rabbit sightings recently, especially in the last few weeks, across the neighborhood. 

Neighbors comments received included:

We are very concerned with what seems to be a recent population growth of rabbits in the neighborhood. They are chewing our plantings down to the root, and some have died unfortunately.   

Our dogs have been sick lately, from what we were told, was eating rabbit waste on a neighbor's lawn.  

When we take our dogs out in the evening there are always about five rabbits running around on various streets. Has there been an increase lately in the population? 

Why are there so many rabbits lately?  They are everywhere it seems like and all over the neighborhood. They are eating my garden,  I appreciate the coyotes for predation but they have exploded far outside the Center for Urban Horticulture. It seems the rabbits are coming over from there then up from the lake and moving into the neighborhood.   

We generally walk our dogs late in the evening. The rabbits are out almost every night darting across the street into neighbor's yards.   

I have had a series of dead rabbits in my yard from being poisoned. How can we tell our neighbors to not use rat poison if they are not experiencing a rat problem? If another animal gets a hold of the dead rabbit, they will die as well. 

I don’t mind having wild rabbits in my yard. They are harmless.  

I don't believe that the coyotes should be exterminated at Yesler swamp or at Talaris. I have a lot of rabbits in my yard and they are one of the small animals that coyotes eat. I am a big proponent of letting nature balance the cycle of life and the ecosystem exactly as it is designed to do. 

Since the killing of coyotes in 2016 in the neighborhood, we have been inundated with rabbits and rats, never a problem before. Please bring back the coyotes.

The USDA said there has been an upswing in the rabbit population throughout western Washington.  This is a good reason to have the coyotes around.  

Larry Hubbell, who published his own local birding blog, Union Bay Watch, documenting wildlife at Union Bay told the Laurelhurst Blog Staff:

I would guess that they are reproducing well because there are lots of healthy plants in private yards and also perhaps maybe some get released, accidentally or on purpose.  

The creatures that I think might keep their population under control are the bald eagles, red-tailed hawks and coyotes, the biggest factor in the city.  The eagles prefer fish and the hawks like to work over open grass,  beside the freeways, or fields.

Botanical Sketchings In Ink And Watercolor Class Starting Today At Center For Urban Horticulture

UW Botanic Gardens’ Center for Urban Horticulture  (3501 NE 41^st Street) is having a class today, from 10-noon, called Botanical Sketching In Ink and Watercolor in the Isaacson Boardroom for the next four Tuesday mornings through August 30th.  .

The information says:

Capture the essence of flowers and foliage in this 4-part class with simple, quick techniques and portable materials! While using the beautiful perennial beds and borders at the Center for Urban Horticulture as a backdrop, you will be guided in an intuitive approach to sketching with pen, layering watercolor washes, and gathering tips that can be applied to everyday sketching.  

A simple supply list will be provided. All levels welcome.  

Instructor is Lisa Snow Lady, BFA in painting from University of Washington and Certificate in Ornamental Horticulture from Edmonds Community College

Cost: $95

Register Online, or by phone: 206-685-8033

iPhone and iPad Botanical Photography Class Tomorrow At Center For Urban Horticulture

UW Botanic Gardens’ Center for Urban Horticulture  (3501 NE 41^st Street) is having a class called "iPhone and iPad Botanical Photography" tomorrow and the following two Wednesdays from 1-4pm.    

The information says:

Become the master of your photographic domain. Learn to use the cameras you already have on your smartphone or tablet and the best photography apps to make pictures that can populate your website, portfolio, Instagram and Facebook pages. Learn from master photographer/storyteller 

David Perry, who has four covers for Fine Gardening magazine in the past two years, the most recent of which was shot with his pocket-sized point and shoot camera.

The cost is $165.

Register Online, or by phone at  206-685-8033.

Master Gardener Plant Sale at Center for Urban Horticulture This Week-end

The annual King County Master Gardener Plant Sale and Learning Fair is happening this week-end. Saturday, May 1, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, May 2, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st Street.

The event is a fundraiser for the King County Master Gardener Foundation  and all the proceeds are used to support Master Gardener clinics, demonstration gardens, the Youth Education Program, and other Master Gardener programs.

And tonight from 5:30-7:30 is the Preview Party where you can pre-shop before the sale opens to the public tomorrow. There will be  appetizers from local chefs and wine from local producers. Tickets are $35, and all proceeds benefit the Master Gardener Foundation.

Tickets are available here. And for more information, go here.

Here is what will be offered this week-end at the sale:

*Healthy, beautiful plants at great prices
*Plants of all kinds offered by vendors as well as plants grown by Master Gardeners themselves
*Highly popular Master Gardener tomato starts
*Advice on your purchases provided by King County Master Gardeners
*Free parking and 1 minute shuttle service to the sale
*Free classes
*Master Gardener Diagnosticians to examine plant samples you bring from your garden
*Education room with booths and information from related organizations
*Children's Center with activities, Garden art
*Zoo Doo
*Garden art and furniture
*Edibles and ornamental plants marketplace*
*Gardening tips during 10-minute show and tell demonstrations.

photo and logo courtesy of MGF website

Talk on Invasive Plants Tonight at Center for Urban Horticulture

Jennifer from the UW Botanic Gardens sent us email about another interesting gardening talk at the Center for Urban Horticutlure:

Plant This Instead!


Planted any invasives lately? Many invasive species start out in our gardens. UW Conservation Biology Professor Sarah Reichard will discuss several problem plants and their impacts to native plant and animal communities.

She will also present non-invasive alternatives.

Also, copies of the GardenWise booklet that suggests alternatives will be distributed.

Dr. Reichard co-edited Invasive Species in the Pacific Northwest.

Wednesday, 4/7, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Douglas Classroom
Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st St, Laurelhurst - Seattle

Instructor: Sarah Reichard, Ph.D.

Cost: $20 - preregistration required

Call 206-685-8033 or email jrobins@uw.edu to reserve your spot

More info here

Gardening Talk Tonight at Urban Horticulture Center

A reader sent this information on to us from an email invite she received from the National Wildlife Federation Pacific Northwest Chapter.

Sounds like a very interesting talk.



With Spring just around the corner, here's a great opportunity to learn more about what global warming means for gardeners and what we can do to be part of the solution.


Join Dunn Gardens for Patty Glick's presentation of the "Gardener's Guide to Global Warming" on April 6th at the Center for Urban Horticulture.

Patty Glick, Senior Global Warming Specialist for National Wildlife Federation, has years of experience teaching gardeners simple and thoughtful ways to reduce their carbon and water footprints and help wildlife.
 
 
WHAT: "Gardener's Guide to Global Warming" lecture by Patty Glick


WHERE: Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st St., Seattle, WA 98150

WHEN: Tuesday, April 6, 2010

TIME: 6:45 p.m.

COST: $10 donation. Purchase tickets here.

MORE INFO: Dunn Gardens is hosting with cosponsors Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden, the Pendleton & Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation, and Pacific Horticulture

Some Interesting Women's Workshops on Saturday at Center for Urban Horticulture

One of our readers from NE Seattle Moms Yahoo Group sent us this information about an event for women, happening in the neighborhood from 9:30-4:30 tomorrow.

It's called Realize You Radiance and the website says "it's a day of workshops for women to explore their unique expressions of beauty."

Kim Trimmer, the organizer of the event told us that "Realize Your Radiance is an annual event created to challenge our culture's limited and limiting definitions of beauty.

Our intent is to empower women to recognize that true beauty, radiance has everything to do with knowing who you are and living from your heart. It's our mission that every woman leave the event knowing the world truly is more beautiful with her in it.

Piper, one of the presenters said, "I've attended and spoken at this event before. It is a great chance to fill up with the good things in life... inspiring, enlightening and just plain fun."

Some of the workshops include:
"Drawing on Your Inner Beauty" Katy Callaghan Huston
"Increase Your Energy with Delicious Nutrition" Jennifer Adler
"Healthy Steps -- Moving You to Better Health " Sherry Lebed Davis
"Empower Yourself: Beauty, Joy and the Power of Your Home" Piper Lauri Salogga

Kim said she chose the Center for Urban Horticulture because it's so conveniently located and "yet with the lovely gardens, it is a nice peaceful step away from the busy-ness of the city."
 
After the event, the group makes an annual donation to New Beginnings, a shelter for battered women and their children.

Yesler Swamp Blackberry Wrangle Tomorrow Morning and LCC Support of Swamp Trail

Wendy, a Laurelhurst resident and also involed with the Center for Urban Horticulture located in the neighborhood, wants  the community to know that tomorrow, Saturday, March 20th, from 10 a.m. to noon, Friends of Yesler Swamp is having another Blackberry Wrangle at Yesler Swamp, located at NE 41st and Surber Drive.

Yesler Swamp is a 6 acre swamp area that is part of UW Botanic Garden’s Center for Urban Horticulture.

"In our last work party, we made quite a bit of progress on those pesky blackberry canes, but a ton more needs to be done by human hands to liberate the swamp from these invasive plants. Please come out and help us. You’ll get acquainted with some of your neighbors and help with the habitat restoration of one of Seattle’s unique areas," Wendy writes to us.


If you have questions or comments or would like to get involved with the project, please email Laurelhurt resident Jean Colley at colleyj@comcast.net.  .

Also as mentioned in the latest issue of the Laurelhurst Newsletter, the Laurelhurst Community Club endorsed at its December meeting, the Small and Simple Neighborhood Matching Fund grant proposal for design of the Yesler Swamp Trail. LCC sent a letter to the Department of Neighborhoods urging approval of the grant.

There will be at least three public meetings for community input, ideas, and concerns. We will send out dates as soon as they are published.

Laurelhurst neighbors Fred Hoffer, Art Feinglass, Jean Colley, and Carol Arnold are talking with the City of Seattle, LCC, the Audubon Society and the immediate bordering neighbors for advice and support for im­proving a trail through nearby wetlands.

Also below is a photo Wendy sent us taken on Sunday, March 14, as the eagle launches from one of the poplar trees in Yesler Swamp. She said the eagles are very active right now.