Thursday, March 26, 2009

May 16th: Gardens of Fox Island

The 2009 Fox Island Garden Tour will feature some of the Island's most beautiful gardens. The tour begins at 10:00 AM, with coffee & snacks served at the Nichols Community Center, along with guided tours of the Fox Island Nature Center nature trails, led by Boy Scouts from Troop 27.

There will also be an Art Show that will be held in the south front room at NCC, plus an antique Quilt Show at the museum.Take the tour of gardens, and stroll through five unique gardens of Fox Island residents. Stop back at the Nichols Center for a box lunch, with the Chapel on Echo Bay.Finally, round out the day with light refreshments at the Fox Island Museum.

Tickets are $12.00 in advance, $15.00 the day of the tour.

Contact Carolyn Braden at 253-549-4542 or DeeAnn Cline at 253-549-2669 for more information. E-mail: hcline@centurytel.net Website: http://www.foxislandmuseum.org

Monday, March 23, 2009

May 10: Magnuson Community Center Bird-Friendly Landscape Dedication Celebration

You're invited to the Magnuson Community Center Bird-Friendly Landscape Dedication Celebration!

When: Sunday May 10th, beginning at 10:00am
Where: Magnuson Community Center (Building #47, 7110 62nd Ave. NE)
Cost: FREE!

Come celebrate this beautiful new addition to the Magnuson Community Center; a landscape that provides much-needed habitat for native birds and other urban wildlife, as well as a peaceful oasis for bird-watching. The Dedication Celebration will be filled with lots of fun for the whole family. Enjoy refreshments while you browse through a display of bird nests and other materials in the Community Center, take a tour of the landscape with its designer, then make sure to join the Chautauqua Marching Band Parade and Ribbon Cutting with special guest Ciscoe Morris!After the Dedication Celebration, join the parade to the Festival of Trees, a FREE family event to celebrate Seattle’s trees with a day of learning and entertainment.

Festival of Trees Highlights:

  • Lots of indoor and outdoor nature activities for kids and families; make Mother's Day gifts from recycled paper, help create a tree mural, and explore the acclaimed Magnuson Children's Garden.
  • Free talks by your favorite famous gardener; Celebrity gardeners include author-columnists Ciscoe Morris, Marty Wingate, Arthur Lee Jacobsen, Linda Chalker-Scott, and others.
  • The New Old Time Chautauqua will provide a boatload of family fun and live entertainment: music, magic, juggling, comedy, aerial acrobatics and more.
  • Live tree planting and tree care demonstrations all day.
  • Tour the secret gardens of Magnuson Park.
  • Browse education displays from local Environmental Organizations
  • Shop at booths filled with eco-friendly products, crafts, and healthy-food.
For more info: See festival link on homepage of PlantAmnesty.org. Contact PlantAmnesty @ 206-783-9813, or info@plantamnesty.org

Volunteer and Learn to Landscape with Native Plants!

EOS Alliance is hosting 3 volunteer opportunities for anyone interested in gaining hands-on experience with native plant landscaping. EOS, along with Mariposa Naturescapes, is working with three homeowners in the Seattle area to kill their lawn and install an entirely native plant landscape on their property and we need volunteers!

Dates to Volunteer :
Saturday - April 11, 200910 A.M. -- 2 P.M.West SeattleRSVP
Saturday - April 25, 200911 A.M. -- 3 P.M.Victory HeightsRSVP
Saturday - May 2, 200910 A.M. -- 2 P.M. Ballard/Phinney Ridge RSVP

Join us at one or all of the homes where Kimberly Leeper, owner of Mariposa Landscapes and accomplished horticulturist, will present a hands-on introductory workshop about landscaping and gardening with native plants. Come ready to work because we will be helping each of these homeowners jump-start their landscaping projects!

Bring your work clothes, shoes (remember to dress for the weather) and a bag lunch. We will provide tools, gloves, materials and snacks.

*Space is limited for each of these events so please RSVP in advance, and we will send you additional information.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Savvy Gardener Spring Class and Spring Garden Fair

Easy Plants for Carefree Gardening
Saturday, March 28th 10 to 11:30 am
Swansons Nursery at 9701 15th Ave NW, Seattle (206) 782-2543

Ready for a more leisurely summer? Tired of endless weeding and watering? Learn tips, proven techniques and plant suggestions from Peggy Campbell for year-round beauty and easy success. Gather lists of plants able to thrive in our dry summers. Free class, sponsored by Seattle Public Utilities and the Saving Water Partnership.

2009 Spring Garden Fair
Saturday, April 25th 9 am - 3:30 pm
Redmond City Hall - 15670 NE 85th, Redmond
www.springgardenfair.com

Classes at the Fair:
Making the Right Choices for a Climate-Resilient Garden - Ciscoe Morris
Soil Building Practices for a Changing Climate - David McDonald
Contain Yourself! - Marianne Binetti
Beyond Water Conservation...Making the Most of Rainwater - Mike Broili
Trees and Climate Change - Ciscoe Morris & Meeghan Black
Also, check into the sales on plants, gardening books, bird houses, rain barrels and compost bins.Bring your children to have fun building a terrarium and more.

Happy Gardening!

www.seattle.gov/util
www.savingwater.org

Urban Garden Share in Seattle!

Info from Urban Garden Share's website:
There is limited green space for food and flowers in this place we call the urban jungle. Matching homeowners (with garden space) to gardeners (with experience) is the perfect solution for cultivating both food production and community. Condo and apartment dwellers are faced with containers or p-patches as their only prospects for vibrant gardens. Homeowners can be overwhelmed by yet-another-garden-project. Together, we make a great team.

Urban Garden Share pairs together eager gardeners with eager gardens. When neighbors come together and co-operatively grow food, dirt flies and good things happen.