Water Features for Wildlife Evening Class at Woodland Park Zoo

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. Cost: $20
Clean, fresh water is a crucial part of any habitat. Join Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Woodland Park Zoo staff in learning about the variety of ways you can provide water for urban wildlife in your own backyard, including logistics and construction considerations about ponds, birdbaths and fountains.

To register, please see the zoo's website: http://www.zoo.org/educate/adult/workshops.html

FREE Rain Garden Classes around Puget Sound from January through April

A rain garden is a shallow depression in a yard planted with a variety of flowers, shrubs and grasses that "don’t mind getting their feet wet." Learn how rain gardens help soak up rainwater from downspouts, driveways, and sidewalks, while protecting our local waterways. When planted with the right types of plants, rain gardens also attract birds, butterflies and bees.

You’ll receive a FREE rain garden manual and additional materials. You’ll also have a chance to start designing your own rain garden during the class! There are opportunities to gain further hands-on experience by helping create rain gardens later in the summer.

For more information and to register, see the Stewardship Partners website: http://www.stewardshippartners.org/raingarden_workshops.html

February 7th Native Plant Salvage

From King County Native Plant Salvage Program:
We’re digging native plants and need your help!
Join other volunteers digging up trees and shrubs from this site scheduled for development. In the afternoon, we’ll be potting up the salvaged plants so they can recuperate before going to King County habitat restoration sites. Once replanted, these native plants will help reduce erosion, shade streams and provide habitat. Special thanks to PacTrust for providing the salvage site.

When: Saturday, February 7, 2009
Time: 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. salvage at site, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. potting at Holding Facility
Where: Redmond Ridge near Redmond
Directions: From I-405, I-5 or Hwy 520, drive Eastbound 520 through Redmond and continue north onto Avondale Road. Turn right (east) onto Novelty Hill Road. Turn right (south) onto Redmond Ridge Dr. NE. Turn left onto NE Market Place Dr. Watch for signs directing you to the site.

Notes: A parent or guardian must accompany volunteers under 16 years old. Dress for the weather and be prepared to get dirty. Sturdy shoes or boots are recommended. We’ll provide gloves, tools and light refreshments.

Not a morning person? Volunteers are also needed at our Native Plant Holding Facility from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. to help pot up the salvaged plants. Volunteers that help with potting are eligible for free native plants.

Directions: Native Plant Holding Facility:
From I-5 or I-405, take I-90 east to Highland Drive exit (exit 18) in Issaquah. Stay left on the off ramp to continue onto Highland Drive through several lights. Turn right onto Issaquah–Fall City Road. Just past Endeavor Elementary School, stay straight onto Duthie Hill Road.
The holding facility is in Duthie Hill Park (on the right) at 27101 Duthie Hill Road.

Please call Cindy Young at 206-296-8065 or email cindy.young@kingcounty.gov if you plan to participate. Please do not expect a return call.

Backyard Habitat Workshop at Camp Long!

Join Woodland Park Zoo, National Wildlife Federation, Seattle Audubon, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Native Plant Society at Camp Long for this informative workshop on creating a backyard wildlife habitat. Meet experts and get hands-on experience that will show how to attract birds and other wildlife to your backyard, select and care for native plants, recognize and remove invasive plants species, conserve water, manage your backyard without the use of chemical herbicides and pesticides, place feeders and bird houses, get your yard, schoolground or community garden certified as a Backyard Habitat.

This is a four-part workshop
- Tuesday, March 10, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 17, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 24, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Saturday, March 28, 2009from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Cost: $75 (or $140 for couples); Scholarships available for members of West Seattle Garden Club and local neighborhood associations

To register, please download a registration form from Woodland Park Zoo's website: http://www.zoo.org/educate/adult/workshops.html

For more information, contact Jenny Mears at 206.548.2500 ext. 1516 or jenny.mears@zoo.org

January 27th: Gardeners and Global Warming: Impacts and Solutions

Join National Wildlife Federation and Woodland Park Zoo for a special event about gardening and its important role as a solution to global warming. Attention about this worldwide issue is growing, and it’s time for gardeners to take action.

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Tuesday, January, 27, 2009
Time: Lecture: 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Become a Trainer: 8:00 – 9:00 pm (optional)
Location: Education Center Classroom 2, Woodland Park Zoo
Cost: Free!

RSVP HERE: http://online.nwf.org/jan27gardenersguide

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
• Hear from experts about the impacts of global warming on the environment.
• Real solutions for how gardening can protect plants and animals.
• Network with other like-minded gardeners and plant enthusiasts.
• Tips to strengthen and beautify your community.
• “Become a Trainer” session after the lecture.

Take the next step in your commitment to gardening.
Stick around for the “Become a Trainer” session after the lecture and learn how to give the Gardening and Global Warming presentation. Educate the members of your community about this growing threat to plants and wildlife.

This lecture is based on National Wildlife Federation’s Gardener’s Guide to Global Warming report. Download it today at www.nwf.org/gardenersguide

December 13th Native Plant Salvage

Bonus Native Plant Salvage for YOU! You do not need to register for this event.

Come dig up native trees and shrubs from this site scheduled for development. At this salvage, you keep whatever plants you dig. That’s right. Now is a better time than ever to shrink that lawn and install wonderful Northwest flora to benefit local wildlife and water quality.

Time: Show up anytime between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 13, 2008. We will salvage on site until about 2:00. Many salvagers can fill their vehicle in as little as an hour.

Please download and fill out a liability waiver in advance: http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/pi/waiver.htm

These salvages are loads of fun. Here are some things to know.

Upon arriving at the site, immediately check in with staff to hand in your liability waiver, and learn salvage area boundaries. If you are unsure if you can salvage in an area, ask before you dig!

Do not go to the site any other time. It is trespassing.

Salvage containers: Plastic grocery sacks, buckets, pots and buckets all work. If the plants will be going in the ground the same day, the plants can be wrapped in a tarp. Bring your own shovel. A flat spade or pointed shovel will work. Loppers or pruners help with plants on runners. If you would like a snag, bring a bow saw. No chainsaws allowed.

Dress for weather and be prepared to get dirty. Bring your own refreshments if needed.

Need help? Look for volunteers in orange vests to help you identify plants.

Directions to site
From I-405, I-5 or Hwy 520: Drive Eastbound 520 through Redmond and continue north onto Avondale Road. Turn right (east) onto Novelty Hill Road. Turn right (south) on to Eastridge DR. NE. Watch for signs directing you to the site. This event is at the same location as the Dec 6th salvage.

The following event is addition to the December 6th volunteer Native Plant Salvage. Hopefully you can make both events.

The Dec. 6th salvage information is available at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/stewardship/volunteer/plant-salvage-program.aspx

Snohomish Conservation District Plant Sale

Message from the Snohomish Conservation District:
The 2009 "Conservation Plant Sale" kicks off on December 1st, when pre-orders begin. The 2009 brochure and order form are now on our website at: http://www.snohomishcd.org/plant-sale.

New this year on the website is a fill-able order form that can be filled out on-line and printed, then mailed or faxed to our office. This helps us because the orders will be legible and it helps you because it does the math! When you print you name on page 2, it will add your name to page 1 for us.

There is also an excel file on the website that can be filled out, saved on your computer, and then emailed to: treesaleorders@snohomishcd.org.

Please note that neither of these order forms link to our inventory of plants, and that you still need to wait to receive your white confirmation before mailing a check in. We do not
accept credit or debit cards. Checks, cash and money orders only, please.