September 2023 Photo Post
Tolt MacDonald Park
UPCOMING EVENTS for the Homeschool Stewardship Squad
2nd Thursdays & 4th Wednesdays 11a-2p
(2nd) Thurs 9/8 - Cottonwood Corner, Tukwila, RSVP here
(4th) Wed 9/28: - Lake Sammamish SP, MTSGT *swimming*
Tolt MacDonald State Park Watering in the Heat
Squad provided much needed watering relief to native plantings near the Snoqualmie River at Tolt MacDonald State Park. King County Parks has been enhancing the native forest at this park for some years, it’s a Squad favorite! Fortunately the hose made watering the vine maples, rose, ninebark, salmonberry and more much more luxurious than pulling buckets from the River as we’ve done in the past. Of course the River makes for the perfect after dip at the end of forest trail walk.
Tolt MacDonald Park, King County Parks
Blog on holiday! Back next time.
UPCOMING EVENTS for the Homeschool Stewardship Squad
(2nd Thursdays & 4th Wednesdays 11:00a)
(4th) Wed 6/23 - Cottonwood Corner, Green Tukwila Partnership, RSVP here
(2nd) Thurs 7/8 - Pritchard Island Beach, Lk WA, South Seattle, GSP *swimming*
(4th) Wed 7/28 - (stewardship/swim location TBD)
Tansy Weeding Along the Snoqualmie River.
UPCOMING EVENTS for the Homeschool Stewardship Squad (2nd Thursdays & 4th Wednesdays 11-2)
Thurs 9/12: Belmondo Reach, Renton, KC Parks *swimming/salmon*
Wed 9/25: O’Grady Natural Area, Enumclaw, KC Parks *salmon*
Squad had a spectacular summer day at Tolt MacDonald Park on the Snoqualmie River with King County Parks. After giving the lazy black bear a wide berth on the trail, we walked through the woods to a sweet swimming spot on the river where we tackled noxious tansy. Not everyone got to see the bear, but it was an exciting first for squad!
King County lists two species– tansy ragwort / Jacobaea vulgaris and common tansy / Tanacetum vulgare as noxious. We prioritized clipping seed-heads before they could wind disperse the seeds, also pulling up the stocks if practical. The seed-heads had to be thrown away in a trash bag. Other interesting species to see included a toad in the pond created by a river offshoot being cut off, which also held small fish! The mellow river was a delight after a warm day of work.
Acres of Baby Trees for Tolt MacDonald Park.
Tolt MacDonald Park is getting hundreds of baby trees! King County Parks has cleared significant acreage of noxious blackberries that is now ready for planting. We helped out by putting in young Douglas Firs and Western Red Cedars. It was quite the impressive crew coming out in the pouring winter rain! Watching this new forest grow up will be very special for all of us to witness over the years.
It was our first occasion to work on this beautiful public land in Carnation. It has a wonderful bridge over the river, which is also fun to play along. The park has camping and also yurts that can be rented.
The next step for this site is mulching the restoration area to retain water during our dry summers, as well as to repel weeds-particularly all those blackberry seeds that will be threatening to sprout if given the chance. We look forward to returning to help out!
