Read this facinating history to find out.
Photo by Jean Colley
Friends write history of Yesler Swamp at CUH
April 30th, 2013 by UWBG Communication Staff
Many of us know of Henry Yesler, one of Seattle’s forefathers, but what is Yesler Swamp on the east side of the Center for Urban Horticulture? And why are the Friends of Yesler Swamp trying to restore this natural area on the edge of the Laurelhurst neighborhood?
Read this facinating history to find out.
Read this facinating history to find out.
WSDOT installing monitoring equipment in Union Bay Natural Area
April 8th, 2013 by UWBG Communication Staff
Beginning as soon as the week of April 15, WSDOT will perform geotechnical investigations in the Union Bay Natural Area (UBNA). Crews will be taking soil samples and installing monitoring well equipment in and around the parking area to study soil and groundwater conditions. The information gathered helps us better understand the composition and characteristics of the ground in this area to prepare for future wetland mitigation work.
What can you expect?
- Monitoring well installation will begin as soon as April 15, 2013, and last up to one week. The wells will be in place through summer 2014.
- Work will occur on weekdays between 7 a.m.and 6 p.m.
- The primary impact will be temporarily reduced parking (up to four spaces per well) during drilling and monitoring well installation.
More information: April 2013 SR520_UBNA_Fieldwork_Flyer
Call WA DOT at:
SR 520 Fieldwork Hotline: 206-708-4657
Web:
www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/SR520Bridge/currentwork
Join the e-mail update list by sending a message to:
SR520Bridge@wsdot.wa.gov
What’s Going on Around the Burnt Tree?
March 12th, 2013 by UWBG Communication Staff
By Andrew Fraser
Preparing the area to be planted with native grasses and flowers near Shoveler’s Pond
If you have walked around Shoveler’s Pond in the Union Bay Natural Area (Montlake Fill) this month you have seen the area undergoing a flurry of activity from plowing to bulldozers moving dirt. This is all part of the ESRM 473 restoration project. Each winter quarter, students in the class design and implement a restoration project in the Union Bay Natural Area. Previous year projects have included mound construction and prairie plant installation around Shoveler’s Pond, trimming the willows and clearing up the area around the large central pond, wetland construction and prairie conversion of the E5 parking lot.
Planting native grasses near Shoveler’s Pond.
This year is the first of a multi-year process of converting the non-native grassland of UBNA into that of the local South Puget Sound Prairies and Gary Oak Savannas. Students have selected, propagated and purchased a large quantity of plants and seeds of native flora and have begun installing them this week. The goal of these projects is to help our native flora to get a leg up over the large number of non-native plants in the area and provide an easy view location of some of the beautiful local native grasses and wildflowers. Within the next two years, this year’s project site will change from an open gravel and sand patch to a prairie landscape covered with native grasses such as Idaho Fescue, Blue Wildrye, and Tufted Hairgrass with wildflowers such as Common Camas, White Fawn lily, Chocolate lilies, Prairie lupine, Scarlet Paint Brush, and Broad-leafed Shooting Start blooming in the area from Early Spring to Early Summer.
Please forgive our mess and come see the next stage of UBNA’s transformation from the Montlake Dump to a premier Seattle natural area.
Northwest Horticultural Society Spring Plant Sale
February 25th, 2013 by UWBG Communication Staff
Saturday, March 9, 2013 9am – 3pm
Find elusive spring ephemerals for sale at the NHS Plant Sale
Come get your early blooming plants at the Northwest Horticultural Society Spring Plant Sale. This annual event features dozens of vendors and lectures by gardening experts, including Dan Hinkley.
Dan Hinkley will be speaking twice at the sale. Tickets go on sale at 8:30 for $5. At 10am his topic is Foliage First – Building the foundation of your garden. At 1pm the topic is The moment at Windcliff – Winter gives way to early spring.
Also, at 11:30 there will be a free experts Q&A session with Lorene Edwards Forkner, Richie Steffen & Marty Wingate.
The sale is free, but tickets for the lectures cost $5.00. Proceeds benefit the Miller Library.
3501 NE 41st St, Seattle, WA 98195
Work parties to restore nature
February 22nd, 2013 by UWBG Communication Staff
The students involved with UW Restoration Ecology Network need the public’s help restoring degraded natural areas in urban sites. Join a work party to rip out invasive weeds, build trails, spread mulch and many more invigorating tasks.
Richmond Beach Saltwater Park
Click for work party details
- February 23
- March 9
- April 6
- April 20
- RBSP Facebook page for more information
Yesler Swamp Trail
Proposed dates
- Saturdays 1030-1PM
- Feb 2,9,16,23
- Saturdays 10-noon
- March 16
- April 20
- May 11
- Friends of Yesler Swamp blog for more information
Graham Visitor Center Room Rental now 10% off
January 28th, 2013 by UWBG Communication Staff
Receive a 10% Room Discount*
Hold your event at the Graham Visitor Center between January and June 2013.
Please call 206-221-2500 now to reserve your next event and mention this promotion to receive 10% off your room fee.
*This promotional discount applies to one meeting or social event per customer.
Perfect for an intimate party
Learn Autumn Perennial Care from Riz Reyes
October 11th, 2012 by UWBG Communication StaffAutumn in the Soest Perennial Garden
When - Saturday, November 3, 2012, 10am – 12pm – Cancelled
Where - Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st Street, Seattle, WA
Cost - $25; $30 after October 28th, registration required.
Join the Soest Garden gardener Riz Reyes for this hands-on workshop on fall perennial garden care. Walk the extensively planted beds and learn about which plants to cut back now, and which ones to leave until spring. Learn how to divide and transplant specific types of plants, and some tricks and techniques for maintenance practices that create visual appeal for the dormant season. Riz will also share his favorite “tried and true” selections for fall interest.
Participants should bring their own hand-pruners, gloves, and hori-hori soil knife, and dress for the weather.
Mobilizing Volunteers – 2012 Urban Forest Symposium
March 14th, 2012 by UWBG Communication Staff
Mobilizing Volunteers for the Urban Forest
The 2012 Urban Forest Symposium will address the concerns of municipalities, NGOs and educational groups whose work involves volunteer planting and care for the urban forest. This year’s speakers understand what it takes to have a truly successful program. Our keynoter, world renowned speaker and grassroots organizer Andy Lipkis, will take us on the inspirational journey from the founding of the Los Angeles’ Tree People who planted one million trees for the 1984 Olympics to the influential, 10,000 volunteer organization it is today. Throughout the day representatives from a variety of non-profit organizations will share what has, and what hasn’t worked to motivate volunteers and secure funding. The technical track will cover how to avoid common problems with volunteer tree planting projects and how to set your project on track for long-term success. It will also have the latest on best practices for tree planting.
- When: May 14, Monday from 9 am to 4 pm
- Where: University of Washington Botanic Gardens, Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st Street, Seattle, WA 98105
- Cost: $45 per person. Lunches are available at a cost of $15. Free lunch for the first 50 registrants, provided by Davey Tree Expert Co., Trees for Life, Thundering Oak Enterprises and Seattle Tree Preservation, Inc.
- Contact: Jean Robins at 206-685-8033. Online Registration.
- Sponsors: UW Botanic Gardens, Washington State DNR, USDA Forest Service, the Northwest Horticultural Society and King County
- More information and print registration form.
Biodiversity Conference Registration Open
January 26th, 2012 by UWBG Communication Staff
There’s still time to register for the upcoming conference Conserving Plant Biodiversity in a Changing World: A View from NW North America to be held at UW Botanic Gardens, March 13-14. Act now so you don’t miss the chance to raise questions and find solutions to protect endangered plant communites. Program sessions include Climate Change: Observed Effects on Plants and Plant Communities and Recovery of rare species and the restoration of their habitat. Mingle with experts from around the Northwest and hear keynote speakers Dr. Peter Raven, President Emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden and Dr. Joshua Lawler, Associate Professor of the University of Washington.Resolve to Learn Gardening Skills in 2012
January 4th, 2012 by UWBG Communication Staff
Landscape design, tree identification, pruning and creating mosiac stepping stones are just a few of the many continuing education classes offered this winter and spring at the UW Botanic Gardens.
Take a look at the complete list of classes for home gardeners and professionals and register online.
Willing to trade your time and sweat for plant care knowledge? Work side-by-side with skilled UWBG gardeners at one of the many volunteer drop-in work parties.
