Potting-Up Native Trees for the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust.

The less-common, but particularly majestic, grand fir / Abies grandis was first for potting-up from 1 to 2 gallons at the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust's native nursery at Lake Sammamish State Park, Issaquah. We also tackled some Oregon grape and subalpine fir during the last potting session of the season. As per usual, there was much fun driving (and riding) carts, plus watering.  After the plants were tucked-in amongst their 20,000 other potted neighbors, the kids formed a bucket brigade to clear the potting area of soil.

We are looking forward to working with MSGT this summer at their beloved Mercer Island restoration site that has become our favourite summer swimming hole!  Mark these on your summer calendar for the 4th Tuesdays noon-3 (Tu 6/23, Tu 7/28, Tu 8/25) you won't want to miss them.  Stay tuned to hear more about our summer/swim Squad's on the Cedar River for our other 2nd Thursday dates as well this summer.

Noxious leopard slug / Limax maximus.  Check-out its fascinating mating acrobatics!

On the River Again at Codiga Park, Another Former Farm.

The is just something magical about working alongside the Duwamish River (AKA Green River). The hardworking park Stewards & EarthCorps crew leaders walked us back to the site we planted natives last fall, including live willow stakes, so the kids could check-up on them.  Luckily the beaver hasn't done much damage yet.  We have a number of native willow species and at least two were evident (more pics below), with some still showing off pussies- which are the male catkin-flowers in bud, all furry to protect them from cold.

On the way to our work destination along the river, we hiked past some Conium maculatum / poison hemlock (see below for pics of the blotchy purple stem base for ID) which is a common and dangerous noxious weed.  Our work was weeding out blackberry from established native plantings- a delight to see them large and thriving.  Codiga Park is a former farm and a neat spot for the public to access the Duwamish River, go on out and enjoy it!

Native strawberry flower.

 Conium maculatum / poison hemlock showing telltale purple blotchy stem base, though it still can be tough to ID from other carrot-family species such as cow-parsnip & Queen Anne's lace.

 Conium maculatum / poison hemlock

The Mighty River Wound its Way Below the Forest in the O'Grady Natural Area.

The Green River is an impressive sight, first your heartbeat quickens and then your breath slows as your body settle into its tiny position amongst the wide splendor.  This was our second time working with WTA in the O'Grady Natural Area outside Enumclaw and was just as gorgeous as the first.  King County now maintains the former farm and has connected-up the trail system, which receives use from equestrians, hikers, ramblers and trail runners.  It stays quiet down by the river because the trailhead is > 1mi (uphill) from it.  

We planted little cedar plugs on a quite steep hillside.  Many kids got stung by fresh juicy nettles and they boasted of who had the most.  We also improved a trail section by reducing the uphill grade to prevent erosion and conversely, graded the downhill side to allow for drainage.  

The friendly side river channel was very fun to play in (reportedly still a good depth in the summertime). In the fall, the spawning salmon are close-up and plentiful under the bridges.  We'll be back!

Claytonia siberica / Siberian springbeauty

Fawn bones.  Likely killed by a cougar.

Farm country on the way to the park.

Claytonia siberica / Siberian springbeauty

With their parent's permission, the children tried the taste of Polypodium glycyrrhiza / licorice fern that grows epiphytically, primarily on big leaf maples.  Actual licorice flavour comes from Glycyrrhiza glabra and is in the legume family.

Discovery Park Sunny Winter Work Round-Up.

Hummingbirds noisily danced & dipped, kids planted, adults shoveled and the coats came off- yet another unseasonably warm and sunny Squad for the 2015 winter-that-wasn't.  A variety of jobs were tackled at our second event at the Discovery Park restoration site stewarded by Matt Chadsey, supported by both the park and the Green Seattle Partnership.  One crew tackled the thorn battle(!) digging out blackberry from native Nutka roses, while others flagged older natives, planted new ones and mulched them.  All amongst horsing-around of course.  We will come back in the summer to go swimming afterwards!

Chamerion angustifolium / fireweed or rose willow herb

Potting-up 400! native plants at KCD's wetland plant nursery.

Wow, four-hundred might be a new Stewardship Squad record for the number of bare root plants potted up. We enjoyed very warm sun and a nice crowd at the King Conservation District's wetland plant nursery for planting red osier dogwood and salmonberry into pots for future-use in restoration projects. The kids checked the flooded beds for signs of their beloved tadpoles, but will have to come back in the spring for much activity.  They worked so swiftly that they also had plenty of time for the usual tag, hide & seek and epic snacking- essential components of most activities.   We look forward to using these plants out in the field at future work parties.