Happy Earth Day!

There's many ways you can celebrate Earth Day in your backyard and in your community!

• Sign up for Water Features for Wildlife class on April 29th at Woodland Park Zoo: http://www.zoo.org/educate/adult/workshops.html
• Check out Savvy Gardener classes and a feature story on welcoming wildlife into your garden: http://www.savingwater.org/savvygardener/default.htm
• Sign up for a habitat restoration event with EarthCorps this weekend: http://www.earthcorps.org/volunteer.php
• Share how you're spending this Earth Day, Week and Month: Feel free to post your plans in the comments section!

Together, we can Share the Habitat!

April 25th: Master Gardener Plant Sale!

Master Gardener Foundation of Pierce County Annual Plant Sale
When: April 25th from 9:30 – 4:00 and April 26 from 10:00 -3:00
Where: Allmendinger Hall, 2606 W. Pioneer, in Puyallup.

Native Plants, Vegetables, Perennials, Annuals, Succulents, Trees, Shrubs, Bushes, Vendors, Book Sale, Raffle, Free Seminar and Parking. Come early for the best selection. Visit www.pierce.wsu.edu/MasterGardeners or call 253-847-7601 for more info.

April 25th: How to Create Your Own Bird-Friendly Garden

Saturday April 25th from 10:00am-11:30am
“HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN BIRD-FRIENDLY GARDEN” presented by Emily Bishton, landscape designer and educator

The class will include:
• A table display with hands-on examples of plants, nesting boxes, bird nests, books, etc. for children and adults to explore.
• A brief PowerPoint presentation on the topic, that illustrates how to add wildlife-friendly features to your own garden, to attract birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
• Info on Bird-Friendly maintenance techniques for your garden.
• A guided tour of the Community Center's Bird-Friendly Landscape.
• Take home materials such as a Top 10 Native Plants List, The 4 Keys to Success, and other educational materials.
• Question and Answer time.

Location: Magnuson Community Center Building 477110 62nd Avenue NE Seattle, WA 98115

For more info or to register for the class, contact the Community Center staff at 206-684-7026 or visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/magnuson/

April 29th: Water Features for Wildlife evening class at Woodland Park Zoo

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.

Date and time: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. Cost: $20
To register, please see the zoo's website: http://www.zoo.org/educate/adult/workshops.html

Amazing Local Backyard Habitat Website!

Check out Edmonds Backyard Wildlife Habitat Community Certification Project's website; it's chockful of information and resources about wildlife and backyard habitats. Their Events Calendar alone is enough to keep you busy all summer long!

http://edmondsbackyardwildlifehabitat.org/

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

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