The Non-Storm

A week ago, we were supposed to have had a big storm--the news was filled with forecast of a mega-storm leading up to Saturday, October 15. So, Jim cancelled the work party for October 16 but invited anyone interested to walk around the park to survey the expected storm damage.

We walked around most of the park. The recent weather really had little to no effect. Probably a few branches came down on Thursday when it was windy. We did notice some spectacular fungi growing on the poplar logs, along the western loop trail around the ponds.

Yesterday morning, I took another walk to admire the fall colors. Here's a view of the north pond from the isthmus.

Our Fall Planting Party will be November 6--End of Daylight Savings Time

A week ago, Jim cancelled the Oct 9 session due to weather but went to the park anyway, in case someone showed up. I did because the morning was actually quite decent. One outcome of our meeting was that we decided to hold the fall planting party on November 6th.

We walked around the Meridian side. We found this sign below, proclaiming the area as a restoration project by the Stewards of Twin Ponds Park. At one time, it was visible from the street.

It is now behind all of this:

This is the area north of the Trail of Cedars, along Meridian. At our meeting with Nelson of EarthCorps, he mentioned getting rid of the blackberry on the south side of the trail, along the street. We will definitely consider doing that! We do need to be careful not to bare the ground too much while the natives have the time to grow.

On the Meridian Side

Jim and I started out today by pulling out some of the remaining yellow archangel just east of our chip pile along Meridian. The area has really been taken over by creeping buttercup. You can see the buttercup and the yellow archangel below. Also an aven peeking out among the invasives.

Later, I followed Gary into the area between the trail by the Jobox and the Trail of Cedars. Found a very sweet spot where some false Solomon seal is starting to become established near a sword fern, Oregon grape, thimbleberry and vine maple:

Also in the vicinity Gary found a geocache. I covered it up with some twigs.

Himalayan Blackberry

Last Sunday (Sept 25), Jim, Gordon and I again headed out to the Arboretum side to work on morning glory in the Arboretum Annex. Gary joined us after each of us had picked out spots to work on.

For whatever reason, after pulling out a few vines, I wound up tackling blackberry instead. I eventually settled on the blackberry growing on a little knoll:

I used just my trusty Felco #6 since the guys had the lopper and mattox--probably not that efficient. Since I had to stick my arm into the thicket, I got scratched. Below is the after photo:

On our walk back to the Meridian side, we walked on the west side of the soccer field, passing by more blackberry. Gary couldn't resist and did a little clipping. 

Fall Is Here!

Jim cancelled last Sunday's work party when it rained on Saturday and there were indications for more in the morning. Ironically, it was was a nice morning. Oh, well. We had mostly pleasant weather all this week. Here's photo from Wednesday looking toward the Arboretum.

Arboretum Side

Last Sunday (Sept 11), we worked on the Arboretum side for the first time in a long time. I suppose, technically, we worked in the area that John called the Arboretum Annex--south of the Arboretum and basically near the corner of Corliss and N. 150th Street (but can't get to the area from that corner). We still met on the Meridian side and Jim, Gordon and I set off for the Arboretum side with a wheelbarrow and tools. Jim brought one of his garbage cans. Later, Gary joined us.

Yikes! The morning glory was awful. I worked in this one area:

It looked a bit better later:

                                    

Similarly, here are the before and after photos of the area that the guys worked on:

On the bright side, there was a lovely patch of piggyback plant along the trail, beneath a vine maple:

On the other hand, I walked in the opposite direction and looked out beyond the Garry Oak. The knotweed was thriving by the wetland.

So, that was this past Sunday!

Today was Labor Day. Yesterday, Jim, Gordon and I worked on the trail to the Southern Forest. We were later joined by Gary.

We basically tackled the morning glory and blackberry right off the trail. Jim and Gordon wound up focusing on one area, near a pine, and uncovered a healthy snowberry in bloom. Jim ended the session with couple loads of mulch.