A “work party” is scheduled for this Saturday, March 13th at the Salmon Creek Ravine in Burien beginning at 10am.

The goal of this two-hour “party” is to save this park from invasive plants like English Holly, English Ivy, English Laurel and Himalayan Blackberry (EDITOR’S NOTE: Looks like we’re going to have to defeat the English again…).

These events are always a satisfying form of both exercise and social interaction, but we recommend that you RSVP early to the organizers.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Invasive plant work party at Salmon Creek Ravine

WHEN: Saturday, March 13th beginning at 10am

WHERE: Meet at the intersection of Shorewood Drive and SW 130th – the top of Goat Hill near the Shorewood on the Sound sign.

INFO: From the Shorewood on the Sound blog:

Help to protect our local forests by coming to a work party at the Salmon Creek Ravine on March 13th at 10:00.

We’ll provide tools and gloves and a specific project to work on for 2 hours.

Meet at the intersection of Shorewood Drive and SW 130th – the top of Goat Hill near the Shorewood on the Sound sign.

This is your opportunity to participate in a group effort to save this beautiful forested park from invasive plants like English Holly, English Ivy, English Laurel and Himalayan Blackberry.

RSVP/CONTACT: RSVP to Jean Spohn at jeanspohn@comcast.net, or if you have any questions.

“Creating a Sustainable Gardening Community” will be the main topic at the next Sustainable Burien meeting at 2pm on Sunday, March 14th at the Burien Library.

The speaker will be Craig Bye, who will talk about:

• Creating a sustainable gardening community.
• Info about Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle (CHOSS), their mission, goal, and community outreach
• Mentoring programs and how the community can get involved

Here are the details:

WHAT: Sustainable Burien’s monthly meeting will feature Craig Bye, who will speak about creating a sustainable garden community.

WHEN: Sunday, March 14th from 2pm to 4pm; doors open at 1:30pm.

WHERE: Multipurpose room of the Burien Library, located at 400 SW 152nd.

INFO: From a press release:

CREATING A SUSTAINABLE GARDENING COMMUNITY

Our speaker will be Craig Bye, who will talk to us about:

• Creating a sustainable gardening community.
• Info about Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle (CHOSS), their mission, goal, and community outreach
• Mentoring programs and how the community can get involved

Check out their website at: http://www.gleanit.org/index.html

The remainder of the meeting will be covering our projects, such as our community gardening efforts and accomplishments; various projects toward the Wild Strawberry Festival (i.e., Bike Rodeo, Film Festival, our booth and free wild strawberry plants).

Please call Rebecca or Bill at 243-9366 if there are questions.

From their website:

Sustainable Burien is an organization started in January of 2008. We recognize the need to promote and participate in the creation of a sustainable community in Burien. We invite all residents and businesses to participate in creating a sustainable local community by sharing their ideas, passions, knowledge and talents.

At our meetings we will be collecting burned out CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs and dead rechargable batteries. People are welcome to bring any extra food items [produce from your garden, fruit from your trees, etc.] that they have and barter with others. Also bring any coupons for food that you get in the mail or from the newspaper, we’ll pass them on to the food bank, who can make good use of them.

Gatherings are held on the second Sunday of each month, – from 2:00 – 4:00PM at the (new) KCLS Burien Library (doors open at 1:30PM). For more information, go to: http://www.sustainableburien.org.

The Seattle Rose Society and Valley Rose Society will host a hands-on pruning demonstration for members and the public at the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden this Sunday, March 6th from 10am to 2pm.

According to its website:

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.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Spring Rose Pruning Event

WHEN: Sunday, March 6th from 10am to 2pm

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

For directions to the garden, click here.

COST: FREE – no registration or fee is required, just show up and bring your pruners and gloves. Rain or shine!

INFO: For more info, contact Markus Burdine at 206 391 4003.

Volunteers are needed to help the effort to remove invasive plants from Burien’s historic Salmon Creek Ravine this Saturday, Jan. 16th from 10am to Noon.

According to Burien Parks:

Salmon Creek Ravine is a passive park, with trails and access roads affording nature hikes, scenic beauty, and solitude. The heavily wooded Ravine, a remnant of the verdant fir and cedar forest that once cloaked the area, includes a mile-long, year-round stream, and another mile of feeder tributaries, some of which are spring-fed. It also contains vestiges of the logging industry that flourished here. Springboard notches still scar the ghostly cedar stumps scattered among the nettles and sword ferns, and the faint, mossy traces of skid roads still haunt the hillsides.

The area includes many natural features – shorelines, streams, wetlands, ridges, gullies, and slopes – which enhance the diversity of local wildlife. Animals common to the Ravine include bald eagles, raccoon, red fox, muskrat bats, osprey, otters, and grey squirrels.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Salmon Creek Ravine invasive plant work party

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 16th, from 10am to Noon

WHERE: Meet at the intersection of 16th Ave SW and SW 131st St. (see map here). The Salmon Creek Ravine trailhead is located next to the “Shorewood on the Sound” sign.  There will also be temporary signs at the location alerting motorists and volunteers about the work party.

INFO:

“We are starting a volunteer effort to remove invasive plants from the Salmon Creek Ravine.  There have volunteer efforts in both Shorewood Park and in Seahurst Park, and now the effort is expanding to include the Salmon Creek Ravine.

Wear sturdy shoes and work gloves.

Tools will be provided.”

For a historical perspective on Salmon Creek, download a PDF here.

Otherwise, mark your calendars and get ready to whack some weeds!

Contact Jean Spohn for further information at 206-433-0848.

In August, a portion of Walker Creek in Normandy Park was reconstructed to make it a better fish habitat, and this Saturday (Oct. 3rd) from 9am to Noon, volunteers will be the first members of the public to see the restoration (the Walker Preserve remains closed while the new pedestrian bridge is being constructed).

Volunteers are sought to help remove the remaining ivy and other invasive plants around the restored area to ensure its revegetation with native plants is wildly successful.

• Do you want to be the first to see the recent Walker Creek restoration?
• Do you care about a healthy environment for your children?
• Do you want to get rid of the stress of the work week by whacking non-native, invasive weeds?
• If so, recruit your friends and family and join us to help restore a section of Walker Creek!

Here are the details:

WHAT: Walker Creek Preserve Stewardship Work Party

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 3rd from 9am to Noon

WHERE: Walker Creek Preserve in Normandy Park; enter through a gate off First Ave South just south of Normandy Park Assisted Living Center at 16625 First Ave South.

If driving, your parking options include:

• Two-three spaces for high clearance vehicles just inside the gate
• Four-five spaces at the far southeast corner of the Assisted Living center (staff said it would be okay for us to use this area); immediately turn left after entering off First Ave.; cars will have to park head-to-tail
• Three spaces in the small lot at SW 171st St. and Second Ave. SW
• On the street along S. 168th St. on the east side of First Ave. S.

INFO: We will continue the work of removing English ivy from trees and the forest floor along Walker Creek.

What do you need?

• An eager attitude
• Sturdy shoes or boots
• Water bottle
• Gloves (if you have them)

We provide gloves, tools, and snacks!

This project is a cooperative effort of the Cities of Normandy Park, Burien, and SeaTac; the Port of Seattle; and King County. These governments are working with residents to improve water quality and create healthy streams in the Miller and Walker Creek basins.

RSVP: Please RSVP in advance so a donut with your name on it is saved; to sign up or get more info, contact Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward, at:

• dennis.clark@kingcounty.gov
• 206-296-1909

Highline/SeaTac Botanical Gardens will be hosting their FREE annual “Ice Cream Social” on Sunday, Aug. 16th, with special guest Ciscoe Morris and FREE ice cream to the first 300 guests.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline Botanical Gardens Annual “Ice Cream Social” with Ciscoe Morris and FREE ice cream to the first 300 guests

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 16th, beginning at 1pm, with Ciscoe taking center stage around 2:30pm

WHERE: Highline/SeaTac Botanical Gardens, located at 13735 24th Ave South in SeaTac (see directions below)

COST: None, but get there fast if you want free ice cream, which apparently will be limited to the first 300 guests.

INFO: From the Highline/SeaTac Botanical Garden website:

Join us in the garden on Sunday, August 16th for our annual Ice Cream Social.

This year’s Celebrity Guest will again be Ciscoe Morris, who hosts “Gardening with Ciscoe” on KIRO 97.3 FM radio and KING 5/NWCN television, as well and is the author of the best-selling garden tome, “Ask Ciscoe” as well as a weekly column in the Seattle Times.

Ciscoe’s topic will be “…And This Is Also My Favorite Plant…”

Many of the plants discussed will be available at our accompanying plant sale.

The fun starts at 1:00 p.m., with Ciscoe taking center stage in the Celebration Rose Garden at around 2:30 p.m.

Be one of the first 40 guests to join the Garden Foundation and get a free pot from AW Pottery!

DIRECTIONS:

• 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.
• From Interstate 5, travel west via SR-518 (SeaTac Airport/Burien freeway) about 3 miles to Des Moines Memorial Drive exit. At the stop sign, turn North onto Des Moines Mem. Dr. to S 136th. Right at S 136th, then right at 24th S, then right into Community Center complex at S 138th.
• From Seattle travel south on Hwy 99 to SR-509. Take the S 128th St exit. Turn left onto S 128th, then right at 24th S, then right into Community Center complex at S 138th.
• Garden located on south side of parking area.

No word yet on whether Ciscoe will be scooping ice cream, nor what the plant-related flavors may be, but we’re rooting for “Nasty Stinging Nettle.”

Our friend Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward, sends us this unusual event – a “Happy Hour Weeding” gathering from 5-6pm on Wed., July 22nd at the Miller Creek restoration project.

Here’s what Dennis had to say:

“Because I received no advance sign-ups for Saturday’s weeding party at our restoration project on Miller Creek at S. 144th St., I’m going to cancel that event.

We will not surrender to the weeds, however!

On the premise that people want to reserve the beautiful weekends we’re enjoying this summer for fun activities, we’re going to try something a little different: a short weeding on a weekday evening.

To make it easier to squeeze volunteering for our streams into your busy summer schedules, I’m asking for just ONE HOUR OF YOUR TIME during 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22. You can stop by on your way home from work, whack some weeds, and then head off knowing you did your part to help steward the stream. It’ll be “happy hour” for us and “unhappy hour” for the weeds.

The location is on South 144th Street, two blocks west of Des Moines Memorial Drive in Burien.

We have several different weeding-type tasks to get done:

• Carefully unwind the bindweed (morning glory) climbing up our two-year old trees and shrubs
• Dig up those blackberry canes coming back using the tiller-mattock hand tools – fortunately, the canes are small and weak thanks to two-year’s worth of good grubbing
• Clip grass from around the willow stakes with shears

With a dozen people, we’ll get this work done quickly and we won’t need to return to the site until the fall!

PLEASE BRING:

• Sturdy shoes
• Clothes that won’t get stained by grasses
• Gloves if you have them (I have plenty if you don’t)
• Your enthusiasm!

TIME:

• 5 – 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 22

LOCATION:

• South 144th Street, two blocks west of Des Moines Memorial Drive in Burien.

Dennis also adds:

“If you wish, RSVP, although RSVPing is not necessary – simply come on by and put in a little time on our project.

During the event, you can reach me at 206-369-8339 (but please do not leave message).”

Sustainable Burien has installed four community gardens at the Interim Art Space, with the hopes of developing a place where residents can grow sustainable food.

“Right now we’re just trying to show that this can be done,” said SuBu member John Feeney as he put the finishing touches on some lattice work. “And this garden is open to all residents, especially those who want to grow their own food – just come to one of our meetings.”

Some of the plants growing in the garden now include pumpkin, tomato, corn, mint, lettuce, peppers, chard, onion and others, along with one planter devoted to local, native plants like wild rose and black cap raspberry.

Sustainable Burien’s next meeting is Sunday, July 12th at the new Burien library from 2pm – 4pm. For more information, please visit their website.

This month’s Shorewood cleanup event is scheduled at Shorewood Park on Saturday, June 20th from 10am – 12 pm.

Please just show up if you’re interested – bring pruners and gloves if you have them.

Shorewood Park is located at 28th Avenue SW and SW 118th Street (follow Ambaum to 116th Street, turn left so you are heading west on 116th Street and follow to 28th Avenue SW make a left and go 2 blocks, the park entrance is on your left side.)

The group may be spreading mulch in the lower half of the park so follow the short trail around.

The Highline Historical Society will be holding a Garden Tour on Saturday, June 13th from 10am to 5pm, where people can visit gardens in Normandy Park, SeaTac and Burien.

Some of Highline’s best gardeners are preparing their homes and gardens for this Garden Tour.  Large or small, traditional or eclectic, there is something in each of this year’s featured gardens that the visitor will find of interest.

The Highline Historical Society‘s cheerful band of volunteers will host visitors at four beautiful gardens and at the Highline SeaTac Botanical Gardens.  An added feature is a talk by noted gardener Marianne Binetti, as well as a screening at the SeaTac Community Center of the Seike Garden film produced by documentary filmmaker Ken Slusher.

In addition to gardening tips and ideas, visitors will find an artist in action, a musician, and garden art for sale.  Ticketholders will be able to enter sponsor raffles for garden-related giveaways, and chat with owners about ideas and best practices.

If you are not a gardener, these gardens will give you inspiration.  If you are a gardener, you will find plenty to admire and the opportunity to make like-minded friends.

Advance tickets are $12.00 for parties of 4 or more, and $15.00 for individual tickets.  Day of show tickets are $18.00.  Tickets may be purchased at Grassroots, Burien Bark and Herr Backyard Garden Center.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline Historical Society Garden Tour

WHEN: Saturday, June 13th from 10am to 5pm

WHERE: Various gardens in the area, including Seike Garden

COST: $12 per person for groups of four or more; $15 advance purchase, $18 day of tour. Please mail check with name, address, phone, email and # of tickets requested to:

PO Box 317
Seahurst, WA 98062

Or charge via VISA or MasterCard by calling 206-241-5786.

INFO: The Highline Historical Society presents a visit to our neighborhoods for a day of gardening inspiration.

Highline Historical Society invites you to visit our neighborhoods for a day of gardening inspiration. Visit lovely gardens in Normandy Park, SeaTac and Burien, where you will be treated to music and artists-in-action. Visiit the Seike Garden at Highline/SeaTac Botanical Garden, talk with a Master Gardener, attend Marianne Binetti’s program and learn about creating your own show garden.

Music program of “artists in action” by Marianne Binetti.

Special sponsor drawings for gardening gifts.

Former “Lazy Gardener” Stephen Lamphear, whose garden is pictured above, says:

The Highline Garden Tour (originally ‘the Burien Garden Tour”) has been presented since 1996, when a Burien community group [Parks, Arts, and Recreation Council] and I put together the first tour.  We’ve shown gardens from the Grand to the Bland, with each tour an opportunity to get to know the community.  A few years ago, I handed off the tour to the Highline Historical Society to expand it into the Highline Garden Tour as a major fundraiser for HHS.

Attached is a photo of my garden which won the 1997 First Prize in the annual Pacific Gardens Contest (trip to London for the grandest garden event of them all: the Chelsea Flower Show).  It is still the only Highline area garden to win.  After the win, I became garden columnist for the Robinson Newspaper Group as “The Lazy Gardener” for 9 years.

So, the Lazy Garden is still spading away!

“The most noteworthy thing about gardeners is that they are always optimistic, always enterprising, and never satisfied.” – Vita Sackville-West, 1892 – 1962 .

BTB Advertiser Herr Backyard Garden Center is holding weekly “Master Gardener Clinics” every Saturday from 10am-4pm at their location at 107 SW 160th.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Burien Master Gardener Clinic

WHEN: Saturdays from 10am to 4pm

WHERE: Herr Backyard Garden Center, located at 107 SW 160th Street, Burien.

INFO: We are a devoted group of King County/WSU Master Gardeners who volunteer hours answering gardening questions during the spring and summer months at Master Gardener Clinics.

Burien has a very active group, we participate in two clinics one on Wednesday evenings and Saturdays at the Burien Library (NOTE: on hold until library re-opens June 13th, then location TBD) and we also have a clinic on Saturdays at Herr Backyard Garden Center.

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.

Burien Parks wants everyone to know that this Saturday (May 16th), from 10am-Noon there’s a group mulching party at Shorewood Park, which is located at 28th Ave SW and SW 118th Street.

Just remember – bring a bucket!

Here are the details:

WHAT: Group mulching party

WHEN: Saturday, May 16th from 10am to Noon

WHERE: Shorewood Park, located at 28th SW and SW 118th Streets

INFO: Please just show up if you’re interested –bring pruners and gloves if you have them. Tomorrow the group is mulching so if you have a bucket with a handle bring it along (possibly 5 gallon but can be smaller.)

Shorewood is located at 28th Avenue SW and SW 118th Street (follow Ambaum to 116th Street, turn left so you are heading west on 116th Street and follow to 28th Avenue SW make a left and go 2 blocks, the park entrance is on your left side.)

The group may be working in the lower half of the park so follow the short trail around.

Last fall, a hardy band of volunteers ventured down into the ravine beneath the Sylvester Road bridge in Normandy Park, where they worked to clear hundreds of pounds of garbage around Fox Creek, a tributary stream to Miller Creek. While these folks removed most of the trash, some remains, and more hardy souls are requested to help haul the rest of this garbage out this Saturday, May 16th between 9am and 11am.

There is also an abundance of invasive English ivy that has grown up many of the trees. If left unchecked, this invasive weed will kill the trees and deprive the stream of the benefits they provide. Volunteers will girdle the ivy at the base of the trees, greatly extending their lives.

So, once again the call goes out to watershed citizens who will brave the steep slopes of Fox Creek ravine to care for this ecological resource and improve water quality downstream:

WHAT: Fox Creek volunteer garbage/ivy removal in the ravine below Sylvester Bridge

WHEN: Saturday, May 16th from 9am to 11am

WHERE: Meet at the hairpin turn on 11th Place SW just down the hill from the intersection with Sylvester Road, Normandy Park.

INFO: Please RSVP via email to Dennis Clark so he can plan accordingly and to guarantee your doughnut!

WHAT TO WEAR/BRING:

• Shoes with gripping soles and good ankle support – we’ll be on steep slopes
• Clothes that can get dirty if you slip
• Layers of clothing – you’ll warm up quickly moving up and down the slope or gathering trash along the creek
• Hard hat if you have one – I have plenty if you don’t
• Sun glasses or safety glasses if you wish to use them (primarily due to bushes)
• A water bottle

PARKING:

• Parking is limited. If you can carpool, walk, or bike, that would be great. We will meet at the hairpin turn at the top of 11th Place S.W., just below the intersection with Sylvester Road. If you aren’t familiar with this location and need to MapQuest or Google it, use the following as your destination address: 16856 11th Pl. S.W., Normandy Park, 98166.
• If you drive, proceed down 11th Place S.W. past the hairpin and park as far off the road as you can. Take care to avoid blocking driveways or damaging the neighbors’ vegetation.

STUDENT PARTICIPATION:

• Students 16 and older are welcome.
• Those under age 18 should download and complete this form with a parent or guardian’s signature to allow their participation. Those over 18 do not need to fill out the form; they can sign in on Saturday.

BTB Contributor Jim Branson alerts us that Native Plant Appreciation Week starts Sunday, May 3rd, and Earnie Thompson of Normandy Park will be showing his innovative yard to the public from 10am to 3pm.

Earnie lives at at 625 SW 189th Street, on the north edge of Nature Trails Park, at the corner of 8th Ave SW and SW 189th Street (map below).

Earnie is a member of the Washington Native Plant Society, and he is also on the Parks Board of Normandy Park. Over the past three years, he has transformed his property from the standard suburban yard of lawn and shrubs to a lush and vibrant garden of native plants. Over 60 species of native plants now blend into the wild habitat of the Park behind his house.

He uses no chemicals, gave away his lawn mower, and doesn’t need to water any of his plants, which are adapted to our climate. Birds, butterflies, bees, and small mammals make themselves at home in his yard. Right now, the strawberries, elderberry, and twinberry are looking especially good. Later in the year, Collomia and hedge nettle will bloom prominently.

Here’s a photo slideshow of Earnie’s innovative yard:

Click to View Slideshow

The Washington Native Plant Society has many lectures, hikes, and tours to celebrate, culminating in their annual Spring Sale at Bellevue Botanic Gardens.

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Three free natural yard design workshops will be offered by the City of Burien and King County starting Thursday May 7th and continuing for two additional Thursdays through May 21st.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Three free natural yard design workshops

WHEN: Thurs., May 7th, 7pm – 9pm: Workshop 1: Garden Design & Growing Healthy Soil

Thurs., May 14, 7pm – 9pm: Workshop 2 Smart Watering and Designing with Plants

Thurs., May 21, 7pm – 9pm: Workshop 3: Designing a Natural Lawn and Natural Pest Control

WHERE: The workshops are at Cedarhurst Elementary School, located at 611 South 132nd Street (map below)

COST: FREE!

INFO: Natural yard design is taking root in Burien.

The Natural Design Program is a series of three free workshops presented by the City of Burien and King County.

There will be design tips to help make the most of your yard – big or small,flat or hilly.

You will learn about controlling pests without toxic pesticides or herbicides, building healthy soil, practicing smart watering and natural lawn care, and designing with plants.

There will be drawings for prizes.

RSVP: Please preregister by calling (206) 838-9831 or email register@naturalyardcare.com.

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The Parkside Garden Club will be holding its annual plant sale to benefit local charities as well as scholarships at both the UW and WSU on Saturday, May 2nd from 9am to 4pm in the Albertson’s parking lot at First Avenue South and South 160th Street (map below).

A large variety of plants will be available, all reasonably priced.

Come early for best selection or late for best prices.

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Spring has sprung, plants are blooming and that can mean only two things: spiky, irritating pollens are attaching themselves to suffering humans everywhere; and the Highline SeaTac Botanical Gardens will be holding their annual plant sale this Saturday, May 2nd, from 10am to 3pm.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline SeaTac Botanical Gardens Plant Sale

WHEN: Saturday, May 2nd from 10am to 3pm

WHERE: Highline SeaTac Botanical Gardens, located at 13735 24th Ave South in Burien (map below)

INFO: The Puget Sound Daylily Club, King County Iris Society, Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden Foundation, Heritage Roses Northwest, and the Seattle Rose Society will be hosting a plant sale at the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden, Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 from 10 am—3 pm.

Joining us for the first time this year will be the Puget Sound Fuchsia Club.

Last year shoppers enjoyed bargains on a wide variety of plants, from rare collectibles to old garden standards.

Cuttings and divisions will be available of plants from the original Elda Behm Paradise Garden, and experts from each group will be on hand to answer your garden related questions. No trigonometry questions, please.

Shop early for best selection, as quantities are limited.

Proceeds from this sale will be used to improve the existing display gardens and install new gardens at HSBG.

For directions to the garden, click here.

For the latest pollen count for the area, click here.

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Sustainable Burien is having its next meeting on Sunday, April 5th at the Burien Library, from 2pm-4pm (with doors opening at 1:30pm), speaker Susan Casey will talk about community gardening.

WHAT: Sustainable Burien gathering with Speaker Susan Casey discussing community gardening; She has been involved with P-Patches, composting, transportation issues and parks since 1985 in the Seattle area. She served on Friends of P-Patch [including as chair] for over 10 years; more info on Susan here.

WHEN: Sunday, April 5th, 2:00pm – 4:00pm (doors open at 1:30pm)

WHERE: Burien KCLS Library, located at 14700 6th Ave SW (see map below)

INFO: Please call Rebecca or Bill at 243-9366 if there are questions.

From their website:

Sustainable Burien is an organization started in January of 2008. We recognize the need to promote and participate in the creation of a sustainable community in Burien. We invite all residents and businesses to participate in creating a sustainable local community by sharing their ideas, passions, knowledge and talents.

At our meetings we will be collecting burned out CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs and dead rechargable batteries. People are welcome to bring any extra food items [produce from your garden, fruit from your trees, etc.] that they have and barter with others. Also bring any coupons for food that you get in the mail or from the newspaper, we’ll pass them on to the food bank, who can make good use of them.

Gatherings are held on the second Sunday of each month, – from 2:00 – 4:00PM at the KCLS Burien Library (doors open at 1:30PM). For more information, go to: http://www.sustainableburien.org.

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This Saturday (Mar. 21st) Spring will have sprung so it’s time to get your garden gloves on, dig out those pruning shears and help the Walker Wetlands by removing invasive plants from 10am to Noon.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Walker Wetland invasive plant removal work party

WHEN: Saturday, March 21st from 10am to Noon

WHERE: Walker Wetlands, located at sw 176th near Des Moines Memorial Drive

RSVP: Advance sign up is encouraged to help plan. Please contact Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward, dennis.clark@kingcounty.gov, or phone: 206-296-1909.

INFO: Here’s a link to a PDF Poster with more info. Link to King County’s page is here.

Celebrate spring (Vernal Equinox is March 20) by volunteering at your local wetland!

Here’s your chance to see the big wetlands at the head of Walker Creek up close.

The City of Burien purchased the wetlands in 2005 to preserve the upper portion of Walker Creek.  While the wetlands themselves continue to serve as a giant sponge and filter benefiting the creek, the edges of the wetlands need a bit of care.

There’s some litter to clean up and then we’ll dig up those pesky blackberries that threaten to overwhelm the healthy native vegetation around the edge of the wetlands.

This is your chance to take a peek inside the wetlands before the vegetation leafs out.

What will the volunteers do?
Volunteers will help protect the health of the Walker wetland by removing invasive, non-native plants. The biggest problem is Himalayan blackberry. Volunteers will cut the canes and then dig up the root balls – hard work but satisfying. Volunteers of all ages are welcome but children need to be
accompanied by a parent or an adult.

Why are we doing this stewardship project at the Walker wetland?
The Walker wetland was purchased by the City of Burien in 2005. The Walker wetland sustains the health of Walker Creek by storing and then slowly releasing water. The water also is filtered by the wetland plants. Lastly, the wetland is home to birds and small animals.

Stewardship is needed to preserve the health of the wetland and the larger Walker Creek stream basin.

While the wetland is basically healthy, invasive plants are creeping in around the dryer edges. This stewardship project will help control this unwanted vegetation.

What do volunteers need? The requirements are simple!

• An eager attitude
• Sturdy shoes or boots (you will not be walking in the wetland itself but if it’s raining, you’ll want footwear that keeps your feet dry)
• Leather-palmed gloves (we also will have plenty to loan)
• Filled water bottle
• We provide tools and snacks!

Who’s organizing this event?
This project is a cooperative effort of the Cities of Burien, Normandy Park, and SeaTac; the Port of Seattle; and King County. These governments are
working with residents to improve water quality and create healthy ecosystems in the Miller and Walker Creek basins.

Parking
Park on S. 176th St. east of Des Moines Memorial Drive. Please do not park on Des Moines Memorial Drive.

Celebrate spring in the green – the green of the Walker Wetland!

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by Bart Bryan and Mark Neuman

We at The B-Town Blog offer a groundbreaking and earth-turning welcome to our newest advertiser, Burien Bark.

“We’re more than just bark,” says Jeff Clairmont of Burien Bark. “We have products, tools and accessories for the professional contractor and the everyday home gardener. Our products assist in fixing and beautifying your yard, finishing the simplest, smallest project all the way to the complete landscape overhaul.”

New to gardening? Some people call a spade a spade.

“Here at Burien Bark we call a shovel a shovel and we’ll help the newbie tell the difference.”

“We’ll happily mix various types of bark or gravel for you, if that’s what you want,” Jeff says.

In fact, when our B-Town Blog reporters stopped in the other day, Pablo the mix master and Paylin the earth mover were groovin’ to a fertile remix of Donny and Marie’s “I’m a Little Bit Manure, You’re a Little Bit Sod and Steerco.”

Stop in and say Hi to the crew at Burien Bark. In addition to Jeff, Pablo and Paylin, there’s Deana, Ellis and Barb.

Jeff, a gardener in his own right, is also an avid fisherman. Come by, drop in anytime, and he’ll not fail to regale you in the story of the big fish, the one that got away.

On the wall he has pictures, between the trowels and the clippers, of the ones who decided to stay.

Deliveries of sod, bark and gravel are available. Please call or stop by for delivery fee information.

Here are some other items available at Burien Bark:

• Assorted fertilizers and weed preventatives
• Wind chimes
• Firewood
• Bird baths
• Peat moss
• Bamboo screens
• Gloves and trowels
• Potted plants
• Assorted seeds to start a lovely garden
• And pink flamingos!

Burien Bark
13258 1st Ave South # E (map below)
Burien, WA 98168
(206) 242-6567
www.burienbark.com

Hours:

• Monday through Saturday 8am to 5:30pm
• Sunday 10am to 2pm

So click on their Ad, check out their website, or better yet – stop by and stock up on your gardening and other supplies!

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Welcome our latest Advertiser – Herr Backyard Garden Center!

You can always tell when Spring is upon us: the camelia buds are ready to burst open, the roses need their first hard prune, the primroses are adorning shelves and yards everywhere, the honeysuckle’s in bloom with bees abuzzing and of course:

For the past five years Herr Backyard Garden Center has its
NEW SEASON GRAND OPENING EVENT AND SALE!

This year the event will be Saturday Feb. 28 and Sunday Mar. 1 from 10am-4pm.

They’ll be food samples, BBQ hotdogs (weather permitting), paint-a-pot for kids, plus very special prices throughout the entire store.

On stock for the sales event are plenty of early spring annuals including pansies, primroses and violas. Plus they’ve got plenty of colorful containers, gazebos, yard ornaments, patio furniture, chemicals including a large selection of organics for the ‘green gardeners’ among our eco-friendly BTB readers. And they’ve got the staff to explain organic gardening to you. If you plan to plant a veggie garden this year Herr’s also got plenty of high quality seeds on hand.

Herr Backyard was started by two stay-at-home moms when there was no longer a reason to stay home. “Herr sister-in-laws” Diane Herr-Lorella and Lisa Herr started the garden and gift center when most of Diane’s three daughters and Lisa’s two daughters didn’t need them hovering about any longer. Diane explained that in the early 2000s she was quite ill, and felt that through her illness “there was nothing more positive than flowers.” Once well, she and her sister-in-law Lisa started on their journey into the garden business in 2003 in the Five Corners shopping area (1st Ave South and SW 160th).

What started with selling plants on a matt of AstroTurf in the parking lot in 2003 has turned into a full-blown nursery business. The nursery is in the old lumber yard base and is stocked with “climatized” perennials, shrubs and annuals that are native to this area. We were told that “if plants could talk they’d say ‘take me home and plant me today.’” This means you can go home and plant them the same day, rather than “season” them first. Diane tells BTB that this year they’ll have a “bigger and better array of sustainable natives like red twig maples, vine maples & salal.

As if running a nursery wasn’t enough for these two hard working women, Lisa and Diane opened Herr Backyard Garden Center’s Gift Shop shortly after the nursery. The shop sits where the ‘molding bay’ was when it was the lumber yard. They pride themselves on offering extremely unique gifts that are bought in the northwest. We at BTB were especially curious about the Northwest Slug Butter. Doesn’t that sound like something to spread on your bagels? We hear it’s pretty good. In addition to this they offer Braswell’s Select preserves, private label BBQ sauce and chocolate syrup. They’ve got a large selection of Root Candles and artificial flowers (for those who can’t wait for their own garden to bloom). From Huckleberry Haven, Herr offers huckleberry syrups and jam.

Diane is a two-year breast cancer survivor. Having been through chemo herself, she invites women in treatment at Highline Medical Center to stop by after chemo to enjoy the flowers.

“Being sick is a negative. Plants are a positive,” states Diane.

When asked what Diane would like BTB Readers to know about Herr Backyard that they wouldn’t find on their website, her response was “I have the cutest, brightest, smartest grandkids of anybody.” So far her girls have given her 3-3-1/4 grandaughters!

The Herr family has been part of the Burien community for over 50 years. And if these two ladies have anything to do with it, they could be here another 50 years. So far they’ve suffered through two years of road construction, two snowed-out winter storms and now the downturn in the economy–and they’re hanging in. Keep them on their corner.

This year buy locally and buy from the experts at Herr Backyard Garden Center. We can state with pride that we’re regular Customers, and we encourage all our Readers to support local small businesses like this over those big “box stores”!

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It actually “soft opened” somewhat quietly on Jan. 2nd, but we wanted to make sure everyone knew that Burien now has its very own hardware store – Ace Hardware, located at 14930 4th Ave SW, near Saars Market and Staples (map below).

The “Grand Opening” festivities will start Friday, March 20th and run through Sunday, March 22st. Activities will include:

• Special sale items
• Meet Ed Hume
• Enter to win a $750 Weber BBQ
• Complimentary refreshments

And while we’re big fans of McLendon’s Hardware in White Center, it’s nice to have a neighborhood joint when you absolutely, positively have to have an inflatable garden snake.

Here’s the Ace press release:

America’s most celebrated “helpful place” opened its doors on January 2, 2009 in Burien. The new Ace Hardware store, located at 14930 4th Ave SW, will bring the company’s unique blend of nationally recognized customer service and quality home improvement knowledge and products to Burien residents.

The store is designed to reflect the needs of the Burien community, including solutions to everyday home improvements needs, as well as an extensive array of high-quality products in categories such as paint and lawn and garden. Ace’s mission is to provide customers with convenience combined with superior service through one-on-one expert advice and assistance.

The almost 13,000 square foot store with a 2,500 square foot garden center is packed with thousands of essential products and supplies, including some of the most respected brand names and best-selling items in the home improvement marketplace. Key product offerings include paint, lawn and garden, hardware, electrical, plumbing, automotive, home décor and one of the largest selections of nuts, bolts and screws in the Northwest.

The Grand Opening festivities will take place from Friday March 20 and run through Sunday March 22. Activities include special sale items, meet Ed Hume, enter to win a $750 Weber BBQ and complimentary refreshments.

Store Hours:

• Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m
• Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Address & Phone:

• 14903 4th Ave SW, Burien WA 98166
• Phone: (206)242-8700

About Ace Hardware:
Throughout its 80-year history, Ace Hardware has been known as the helpful hardware store by both customers and communities. In 2007 and 2008, Ace Hardware was ranked the “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Major Home Improvement Retail Stores” by J.D. Power and Associates in its inaugural study of the retail home improvement industry. With 4,600 hardware, home center and building materials stores that generate annual retails sales of more than $12 billion, Ace is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the industry. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace currently operates 14 distributions centers in the U.S. and a warehouse in Shanghai, China, and its retailers’ stores are located in all 50 states and 60 countries. More information about Ace can be found at www.acehardware.com.

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The monthly Shorewood Park cleaning event is scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 17th) from 10am to Noon at – you guessed it – Shorewood Park!

Please just show up if you’re interested – and don’t forget to bring pruners and gloves if you have them.

The group may be working in the lower half of the park so follow the short trail around and look for your fellow gardeners.

Shorewood Park is located at 28th Avenue SW and SW 118th Street (Follow Ambaum to 116th Street, turn left so you are heading west on 116th Street and follow to 28th Avenue SW make a left and go 2 blocks, the park entrance is on your left side):

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That’s a 180-pound pumpkin sitting in the office of Burien Bark, grown in White Center at the home of owners Roger and Barbara Clairmont using their “Special Blend Garden Mix.”

The B-Town Blog has been informed that Burien Bark plans to harvest the seeds of said giant pumpkin and distribute them to customers and have a “Grow the Biggest Pumpkin” contest next year!

The monthly Shorewood Park gardening/cleanup event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18th, from 10 am-12 pm.

No need to RSVP on this one – please just show up if you’re interested, and bring your trusty pruners and gloves if you have them.

Shorewood Park is located at 28th Avenue SW and SW 118th Street (follow Ambaum to 116th Street, turn left so you are heading west on 116th Street and follow to 28th Avenue SW make a left and go 2 blocks, the park entrance is on your left side – map below).

The group may be working in the lower half of the park so follow the short trail around.

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On Sunday afternoon, Aug. 17th, the Highline – SeaTac  Botanical Gardens will present a special “Ice Cream Social” featuring celeb gardener Ciscoe Morris.

Apparently, Ciscoe will toss off his gardening gloves and wash his hands to serve as celebrity ice cream scooper.

From their website:

Join us in the garden on Sunday, August 17th for our annual Ice Cream Social.

This year’s Celebrity Guest Scooper will be Ciscoe Morris, who hosts “Gardening with Ciscoe” on KIRO radio and KING 5 television, and is the author of the best-selling garden tome, “Ask Ciscoe” as well as a weekly column in the Seattle PI. Ciscoe will give one of his favorite talks, “Stump the Chump: Get Environmentally Friendly Answers to Your Gardening Questions!”

The fun starts at 1:30 p.m., with Ciscoe taking center stage in the Celebration Rose Garden at around 2:30 p.m.

Other featured events include:

• “Cool Pots for Hot Spots; Drought Tolerant Containers for Summer & Fall”
• Local nurseries and designers will plant up 10 gorgeous pots donated by Aw Pottery. Sign up to vote for your favorite container and get a chance to take one of these babies home for FREE!!! Participating designers and nurseries include Clinton Bamboo Growers, Dogwood Design/Klein Art Fab, Grass Roots Home and Garden, Minter’s Earlington Greenhouse and Nursery, Village Green Perennials, Furney’s, West Seattle Nursery, Herr Backyard Garden Center, and Branches Garden Center, with more to come!
• Door Prizes Galore!!!
• Register to win 2 free ticket to the NW Flower and Garden Show, an autographed copy of Ciscoe’s book,  or gift packages from Dan the Sausageman, the Seattle Rose Society, King County Iris Society, and the Puget Sound Daylily Club.
• Free Ice Cream cone to the first 300 guests!
• Please join us in the garden for an afternoon of the very best in gardening edu-tainment, ice cream, and of course, brussels sprouts!

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This summer isn’t the only thing that’s moving fast these days – so are the numerous invasive weeds!

Now you can combine summer fun with your inner extreme gardener by taking part in a major weed-whacking expedition in the Miller Creek area of Burien on Sat. July 19th, from 9am to 11am.

The goal is to protect the investment in the native trees and shrubs volunteers planted there last October.

We call it Speed Weed-Whack Volunteering!

TASKS:

• Carefully unwind the bindweed (morning glory) climbing up the new trees and shrubs
• Dig up those blackberry canes coming back using the tiller-mattock hand tools – fortunately, the canes are small and weak thanks to last year’s grubbing
• Spread the remaining mulch on trees with buckets
• Clip grass from around the willow stakes with shears

With a dozen people, this work will get done faster than a morning glory weed can sprout, and work won’t need to be done at the site again until the fall.

The location is on S. 144th St. about two blocks west of Des Moines Memorial Drive in Burien (see map below).

It is recommended that you bring:

• Sturdy shoes
• Re-usable water bottle
• Gloves if you have them (I have plenty to loan)
• Your enthusiasm!

Please RSVP by 10am, Friday, July 18 to ensure that there are enough tools for all.  But if you decide to come at the last minute, don’t worry as there will be a few extra tools.

Rumor has it that there will also be donuts provided!

More info here, or contact Dennis Clark at (206) 296-1909.

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If you believe the imminently wonderful weekend “Weather Advisory” (which we do since it’s about 68 degrees right now), this weekend will be gorgeous and sunny.

What better way to celebrate the belated arrival of Spring (or does this qualify as an early Summer?) than by heading on over to Shorewood Park on Saturday from 10am – Noon for a mulch spreading and invasive plant removal work party?

Volunteers will be working in the lower portion of the park so follow the short trail till you reach them. Parks Board Chair Jean Spohn will be leading the effort on Saturday so be sure to get signed in with her. You do not have to stay the whole time – come for as long as your schedule allows.

Shorewood Park is located at 28th Avenue SW and SW 118th Street (follow Ambaum to 116th Street, turn left and head west on 116th Street; at 28th Avenue SW take a left and go 2 blocks; the park entrance is on your left).

If you have loppers bring them along.

And don’t forget the sunscreen!

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Has the recent pollen explosion got to you yet?

If not (or if you’re on some effective meds, or just a very hardcore gardener), get yer bloomin’ self down to SW 152nd between 10th Ave SW and Ambaum Blvd. in Olde Burien on Friday and Saturday, May 9th and 10th for the Annual Bloomin’ Burien Plant Sale, where you’ll find:

• Plants
• Flowers
• Starters
• Accessories
• And lots of free pollen!

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NORMANDY PARK – This Saturday, March 22, from 9am – Noon, volunteers are needed to help eradicate ivy from the Walker Preserve along Walker Creek in Normandy Park.

Here’s a Q&A courtesy Burien Parks:

Q: Why are we doing this stewardship project?
A: English ivy is creeping into the Preserve.  Ivy is bad because it:

• Strangles trees
• Creates more weight and “sail area” that can topple trees in high winds
• Provides a home to rats
• As ivy kills native trees, it opens up areas for more non-native weeds to invade the exposed ground.  This prevents new trees from getting started.  If left unchecked, ivy will destroy the urban forest along Walker Creek.

Q: What will the volunteers do?
A: Stewardship on March 22 will focus on removing ivy from the lower trunks of trees and creating ivy-free rings around the base.  We’ll also remove other weeds such as Himalayan blackberry.  We’ll use a mix of hand tools to perform these tasks.  Volunteers of all ages are welcome but children need to be accompanied by a parent or an adult.

Q: What do volunteers need?
A: The requirements are simple:

• An eager attitude
• Sturdy shoes or boots
• Leather-palmed gloves (if you have them; we also will have plenty to loan)
• Filled water bottle
• We provide tools and snacks!

Q: Who’s organizing this event?
A: This project is a cooperative effort of the Cities of Normandy Park, Burien, and SeaTac; the Port of Seattle; and King County.  These governments are working with residents to improve water quality and create healthy streams in the Miller and Walker Creek basins.

Driving and Parking
To avoid causing street access problems during the event, volunteers who are driving should park at Normandy Park City Hall (801 S.W. 174th St.).  We will run a shuttle to get you to and from the Preserve.  This shuttle will be available throughout the event if you need to leave early.

Sign Up and Questions
Advance sign up is encouraged to help us plan.  Please contact Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward ASAP via email dennis.clark@kingcounty.gov, or call 206-296-1909. 

This is a great opportunity for people in Burien and SeaTac to see a hidden part of the stream basin downstream from their communities.

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Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden is hosting a special hands-on rose pruning demonstration (Editor’s Note: Ouch!) this Saturday, March 8th, from 10am to 2pm.

Hosted by the Seattle Rose Society and Valley Rose Society, 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.

If all goes as planned, they will also be re-installing their climbing roses beneath the new Rose Garden Arches.

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

For more info, contact Lori White at rosefame@comcast.net.

For directions to the garden, click here.

SOURCE:

• Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden