We held our spring planting party today. As with our past planting parties, we publicized through Shoreline Area News and the Parkwood Neighborhood Association, along with our email list. For whatever reason, we had our smallest turnout yet with just my next door neighbors--Katie, Ben, Julia and Will--coming out to help.
The kids came with their own shovels and I discovered that with an appropriately sized shovel and a little instruction, young kids can also grub out blackberry roots. Here's Will with a root:
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| Photo by Katie! |
We did manage to acquire plenty of cardboard for today, with multiple donations. So, I've concluded that the emailing was great this time around for getting cardboard but not volunteers.
Below, both Gary and Julia were intent on saving a spider from getting buried in a planting hole.
And, here is Julia next to the mock orange she planted!
Below are two views of the finished area: One looking from the west and the other from the east.
With this planting, we extended this particular restoration site, We planted last fall in the area photographed above with the sign. I was surprised with the amount of chip we used today--at least a third of the giant load Parks delivered few weeks ago. Really appreciate Parks also buying us plants! Today, we received mock orange, ocean spray and nutka rose. Last fall, they bought us serviceberry, vine maple and snowberry. There's also salal from my yard in this area and today, I brought three sword ferns that should be happier here than on my property.
Robby had also donated several potted spruces but this area is too dry for them. So after we were done with the planting and mulching with our tools back in the Jobox, we walked around to discuss where the spruces could go. We passed by this camas, just starting to bloom.
