Volunteers are needed for a Community Garden Work Part at Burien’s B-Patch from 11am – 3pm on Saturday, May 7th.

This will be the first work party of the year, according to their website.

The B-Patch is located behind the old community center at 437 SW 144th.

According to a flier, here’s what kind of work will be done:

• Use plastic eddying material in the green house to edge the gravel common area
• Clean/organize green house
• Lay cardboard and a few inches of wood chips around the paths
• Plant hops along trellis and perhaps more raspberries along front fence
• Turn the compost

More information available at http://beepatch.blogspot.com.

You can also “Friend” them on Facebook here.

This time they’re using our ever popular coupon section with $5 off a purchase of $25+ and $10 off a $50+ purchase. You won’t have a hard time spending that much, as the store is practically overflowing with great gifts and plants for Mother’s Day. (Which in case you need reminding, is May

Lavina Mays is a locally owned and independent Garden Center. Owners Alan McGuire and Dennis Nash, also known as The Garden Guys. They have been in the gardening business for many years.

When asked about why Dennis and Alan are leaving their long-term business of Alki Landscape Company in West Seattle, they replied in unison “we’re getting too old” (to work as landscapers). Dennis is a long-time landscaper and Alan has had a previous career in retail, so it seemed right to them. Both have lived in Normandy park since 2001.

New Summer hours will start, May 1st, and will be 9:30-6 Weekdays and 9:30-4 weekends. Keeping with the eco-friendly gardening theme, this year they have added Dr. Earth Organic Fertilizers to their large line of eco-friendly merchandise.

Lavina Mays is located at 17824 1st Ave South in Burien by Curves and across from Key Bank.

Follow them on Facebook and learn about special promotions and when new plants or merchandise arrive.

The Seattle Rose Society and Valley Rose Society will be hosting a hands-on pruning demonstration for members and the public at the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden this Saturday, March 12th from 10am to 2pm.

American Rose Society President Jeff Wyckoff and crazed rosarian Lonnie Garceau will lead a team of rose enthusiasts who will share their know-how with gardeners of any level of expertise. (Jeff has recently authored a new book entitled “Rose Gardening” – click here to learn more!)

This is a great opportunity to learn how to prune all types of roses, modern and old. Novice gardeners can work alongside an experienced veteran or, if you are an experienced Society member, you can work one-on-one with someone who wants to learn.

No registration or fee is required, just show up and bring your pruners and gloves. Rain or shine!

The Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden is located just west of the intersection of S. 138th & 24th Ave. S. in SeaTac, WA, and just south of the North SeaTac Park Community Center. The community center’s street address is 13735 24th Ave S., SeaTac WA.

Garden located on south side of parking area.

For more info, please call (206) 391-4003.

For directions to the garden, click here.

UPDATE 3/8/11: We just received word that this workshop is has been “sold out.” While they’re not taking any more attendees, they are creating a waiting list, so if you’re interested, please contact Stacey Gianas at (206) 292-9875 or sg@stewardshippartners.org.

PREVIOUSLY: If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to design and build your own rain garden, you’re in luck – there will be a workshop from 6pm – 8pm on Tuesday, March 15th at the Shorewood Room of the Burien Community Center.

At this workshop, you will:

Learn how to design and build a rain garden. Rain gardens function like a native forest to absorb polluted runoff in a cost-effective, low-maintenance, and beautiful way. They reduce flood damage, erosion, mold problems, and increase property values. Whether you have a green thumb or a brown thumb, there are free resources available:

Free Classroom Workshops
All classes are from  6-8pm on weeknights. At the workshop, you’ll receive a rain garden manual and additional materials. There will be opportunities to gain further hands-on experience by helping create rain gardens later in the summer. Advance registration is appreciated. Want a workshop in your town? Suggest a venue!

Free Rain Garden Installations
Stewardship Partners is also looking for six to eight homeowners who would like rain gardens installed in their neighborhood. Several neighborhoods have already taken advantage of this exciting grant program with beautiful results, including homeowners without gardening experience. Click here for a map and photos.

Contact Us
To nominate your neighborhood or register for a workshop, contact Stacey Gianas at (206) 292-9875 or sg@stewardshippartners.org.

Visit our website and Facebook page for more information.

With this Sunday’s upcoming B-Patch Garden Day we though it would be a good time to swing by the community garden and check things out for ourselves.

We were amazed at how lush and verdant the gardens have become. Everywhere you look are beautiful flowers and vegetables growing and you’re surrounded by buzzing bees and the sounds of bird calls. The garden is even equipped with a bench and picnic table, making it an inviting place to relax and spend some time.

It’s well worth stopping by for a visit, but in the meantime here’s a photo slideshow taken by Michael just this morning. Sit back, relax, click and enjoy the view!

Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), team Gold One, consisting of nine members living in one apartment in Burien, is spending the summer not watching TV, but teaching kids about urban gardening in Seattle’s International District.

Here’s more info on what they’re doing:

In a city like Seattle, kids rarely have a chance to play outside. But at the Danny Woo Children’s Garden, kids from local day cares and low-income housing gather each day to celebrate and learn in a lively green space. The Children’s Garden is part of the larger Danny Woo Community Garden, run by InterIm, a neighborhood development organization.

Every day, members of NCCC’s Gold One teach the children to explore garden’s cycles, the plants and creatures in the garden, the compost and the worm bins. They dye plants with veggies from the garden, decorate signs, make bird feeders, and color “creature crowns” and rocks. The kids are encouraged to eat what they find in the garden, and play with the newly arrived chickens.

Through the program, NCCC hopes to engage the children in nature and pass on the older generation’s love and knowledge of growing food. NCCC has implemented the program, which is new this year.

NCCC also keeps the garden running after hours: they turn the compost, take care of the chickens, weed, and decorate the garden. They have also built a chicken run and a compost sifter, which will last for years to come.

The Danny Woo Community Garden has served the elderly of the International District for 35 years. Seniors can obtain a plot and plant at their convenience. The Children’s Garden is a new addition. Both gardens are run by InterIm, a community organization that develops low income housing and community spaces in the International District and Asian/Pacific community.

Gold One lives in a two-bedroom apartment in Burien. There are nine of them. They have lived and worked together all over the US since October of 2009.

AmeriCorps NCCC is part of AmeriCorps, a network of national service programs created to improve the environment, enhance education, increase public safety, and assist with disaster relief and other unmet human needs.  The Pacific Region campus, located in Sacramento, Calif, serves Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and the territories of Guam and American Samoa as well as a continuing commitment to the Gulf Coast.  The Pacific Region is one of five campuses in the United States; the others are located in Perry Point, Md., Vinton, Iowa, Vicksburg, Miss. and Denver, Colo.

NCCC members must be 18-24 years old and get to complete no less than 1,700 hours of community service during the 10-month program.  In exchange for their service, they receive $5,350 to help pay for college or to pay school loans.  AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.  For more information about applying to an AmeriCorps program, call 1-800-942-2677 (1-800-94-ACORP) or visit the website at www.americorps.gov/nccc.

Owners Alan McGuire and Dennis Nash, also known as The Garden Guys, will be awaiting your arrival at Lavina Mays on Tuesday July 13th at 10 a.m, and their “guard dog” Edgar Martinez — a Corgi, not the baseball player — may be there to welcome you as well. The Garden Guys guarantee us that he’s very friendly.

Alan McGuire, one half of The Garden Guys

As we previously reported, Lavina Mays Garden, Gift and Home Decor store is… well… a home furnishings, garden, home decor and gift store.

Some, but not all eco-friendly merchandise includes:

• Garden products including soils and organic pest control
• Bio-degradable bamboo pots that decompose
• Bio Bags for dogs, compost and kitchen material
• A large variety of decorative lamps made from re-cyclied leaves and bamboo.
• Handbags
• Soaps and oils from Indigo Wild, makers of “Zum” products.
• Woodwick Candles

Lavina Mays will also feature handmade twig tables crafted by a Seattle artisan. Most represented wood pieces in the store are from the Northwest.

Just a tiny slice of the products shoppers will find at Lavina Mays

As far as home furnishings and gifts you’ll be able to select from:

Dennis tells us that the store is about 95% “Eco-friendly.” We’d estimate the merchandise representing the other 5% includes pottery, yard ornaments, garden tubs, hoses, watering wands, garden equipment and Woodstock Chimes — already tuned and ready to go, in both metal and wood.

Lavina Mays 2,000 square foot retail store will open on July 13th. But wait there’s more, their 500 square foot garden area will open on Thursday July 17th outside (behind the yet to be built fence) with summer color and perennials. They’ll also have house plants.

Dennis Nash, the other half of The Garden Guys

When asked about why Dennis and Alan are leaving their long-term business of Alki Landscape Company in West Seattle, they replied in unison “we’re getting too old” (to work as landscapers). Dennis is a long-time landscaper and Alan has had a previous career in retail, so it seemed right to them. Both have lived in Normandy park since 2001.

And why Lavina Mays? Easy for them. To honor the memory of Alan’s mother Stella Lavina McGuire and in honor of Dennis’s mother, Oma May Nash (who will be visiting next month to inspect the new store).

Lavina Mays is located at 17824 1st Ave South in Burien by Curves. You know, in that part of Burien that everyone thinks is Normandy Park, but it’s not.

There’ll be an official grand opening in a few weeks. Keep on reading the B-Town Blog for updates.

Dennis and Alan are looking forward to welcoming you to Lavina Mays!

With the recent wet spring weather, and the subsequent blooming (and bugs!) that’s suddenly happening, it’s likely that you’ve got some questions about your garden, lawn or yard, or that weird new bug you keep seeing.

Did you know that there are local experts with gardening and pest control who can answer your questions for no charge?

These volunteer experts, who are all trained by Washington State University, will be ready and willing to help at one of two locations on either Wednesdays or Saturdays.

Here are the details:

Wednesday, June 16, 23, & 30th
Burien Master Gardener Clinic 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Burien Library, 400 SW 152nd St, Burien
Get answers to general gardening questions, learn about proper plant selection, bring a sample of a diseased plant for diagnosis and treatment recommendations, have an insect identified. Learn the least toxic ways to treat diseases and pests.
This service is free.

Saturday, June, 19th & 26th
Burien Master Gardener Clinic- 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Burien Library, 400 SW 152nd St, Burien. Get answers to general gardening questions, learn about proper plant selection, bring a sample of a diseased plant for diagnosis and treatment recommendations, and have an insect identified. Learn the least toxic ways to treat diseases and pests.
This service is free.

Saturday, June, 19th & 26th
Burien Master Gardener Clinic- 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., at Herr Garden Center, 107 SW 160th Street, Burien.
Get answers to general gardening questions, learn about proper plant selection, bring a sample of a diseased plant for diagnosis and treatment recommendations, and have an insect identified. Learn the least toxic ways to treat diseases and pests.
This service is free.

by Rob Johnson

In case anyone didn’t know, Burien now boasts a wonderful community garden at 437 SW 144th, behind the old Community Center. Many of the gardeners are folks who are just getting back in to gardening.

Some are new gardeners.

Some are old pros.

Darlene Johnson is one of the old pros. She lost her gardening space when she sold her house and moved into an apartment a few years ago. She was glad to get the chance to be involved in the new “Bee-Patches.”

“I have missed gardening and having fresh grown tomatoes since I moved, and am glad to be able to grow them again.”

She is currently growing seven kinds of heirloom tomatoes in her small space, as well as a variety of other vegetables.

Burien's new community garden is located behind the "old" Community Center, at 437 SW 144th.

Wayne Sykes is growing at the community garden and says it’s about time that Burien got community garden space because at home he is limited to heavy shade garden space and patio containers. This allows him space to grow squash, tomato, beans, dill, parsnips, and borage.

Rebecca Dare and Bill Opfermann are busy growing radishes, beets, lettuce, tomatoes, corn, beans, tomatillos, and bulb fennel in their plot.

“We do have garden space at home, but have a lot of shade,” Rebecca said. “The community garden is so wonderful. Already, just in the beginning stages, we’re so enjoying the other people in adjoining and other plots. We’re coordinating watering, and sharing plants and have such a feeling a community and enjoyment.”

There is still time to join in the fun – just Contact Burien Parks and Recreation at 206-988-3700.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was written by Rob Johnson, a BTB Reader and active member of Sustainable Burien. We encourage all our Readers to submit stories, or story ideas – email us your idea(s) to editor@b-townblog.com!]

Can you imagine having a job where you work with plants? Where you view a yard as a useable space to create something beautiful, functional and livable?  New B-Town Blog Advertiser Rodda and Sons Landscapes has done just that for thousands of yards around the Seattle area.

Owned by Barry and Jan Rodda, Rodda and Sons Landscapes, Inc. is a second generation, family-owned, design/build construction company, landscaping in the King County area since 1937. Barry’s dad, Stewart Rodda, the company founder, even did the initial landscaping at the Frederick and Nelson in Bellevue back in the 50s.

Since its inception, Rodda and Sons has specialized as a landscape contractor in the design and installation of residential and small commercial landscapes, both for new construction and the renovation of existing landscapes and gardens.

A backyard before Rodda and Sons...

Barry tells BTB, “Our designers enjoy creating beautiful outdoor living spaces and gardens that reflect your lifestyle, from formal to informal and low maintenance to active gardening. They are also knowledgeable in designing native and drought tolerant landscapes with habitat to encourage birds, butterflies, bees, and other small wildlife.”

Barry and Jan agree that their designer, Janell Frazier-Day, with several years of garden design experience, is an ”excellent, excellent designer.”

Rodda’s landscape foremen are experienced in installing all phases of a landscape project and many jobs involve a single element of the landscape, e.g. a patio, a retaining wall, or a sprinkler system. Sprinkler systems in Seattle, Barry? “You know we have two months of drought in the Seattle area every summer,” said Barry. We’ll take that as a ‘Yes’ on the sprinklers!

Rodda and Sons’ three designers have a total of 65 years’ experience and three foremen have a combined total of 55 years’ experience. These people love the landscape business, and they’re good at it too!

...and AFTER!

As for Barry and Jan Rodda? Well, Barry grew up in the business. Jan tells BTB that on road trips as a kid, Barry and his family played “Name that Plant” instead of the ”License Plate Game” that those of us of a certain age will remember. Barry went off to WSU to get a degree in Bio-Chemistry, volunteered for Vietnam, and married his college sweetheart, Jan, before he left. She went on to teach second grade in the Highline area.

Timing being everything, Barry’s dad retired and became a design consultant for the firm. Barry took his Bio-Chemistry degree and joined his brother, Foster, in the family landscape design and contracting business. That was 1973. Jan joined them as the bookkeeper shortly thereafter. They had always run the business from their home, but a buy-out for the third runway allowed them to move to a new home in the Normandy Park/Burien area and move their landscape contracting business to a commercial site right where SeaTac, Burien and Des Moines converge. Barry and Jan are assisted in the business by their nine-year old Golden Retriever, Savanna, who comes to work with Barry every day.

We need to warn you though – Rodda and Sons is not the type of landscape business that stuffs fliers in your mailbox to mow the grass, trim trees or move plants around. They are a full-service landscape contractor whose projects include:

• Demolition
  

  Barry, Jan and Savannah Rodda.

• Grading, drainage, and soil preparation
• Design and consulting
• Lawns and plantings
• Sprinkler systems
• Retaining walls
• Patios and walkways
• Decks, railings, and stairs
• Fences and screens
• Customized arbors
• Water falls, ponds, and fountains

Barry tells BTB that a well-designed outdoor living space can add 10-15% to the value of a home. If you’re in the market for a new, well-designed outdoor living space, or if you need a new deck or patio, why not give Rodda and Sons a call at 206-242-6063. And please check out their website (www.RoddaAndSons.com) for samples of their very excellent work.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by over 51,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]