April brings us the joy of spring flowers and includes celebrations for Earth Month, international Earth Day, national Native Plant Month, and WA Native Plant Appreciation Month. It's an appropriate time to acknowledge and appreciate the natural processes that are working to enliven and protect our planet.
This year's Earth Day theme, "Our Power, Our Planet", marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, celebrated on April 22nd, inviting people worldwide to unite in offsetting climate change. We are reminded that we all have the ability and responsibility to accelerate clean energy solutions to create a healthier, more sustainable planet.
Natural ecosystems play an important role in combating climate change. Natural systems such as forests and wetlands act as powerful carbon sinks by absorbing and storing more carbon dioxide than they release, helping to reduce the overall concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Ecosystems thus not only provide a habitat for a rich variety of plants and animals; they also play an important role in regulating global carbon levels and maintaining the carbon cycle balance.
We can help natural systems by planting and conserving native trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers in our yards, open spaces, and natural areas. Each of us can make a difference; small actions count.
"You are nature's best hope!" - Doug Tallamy, author of "Nature's Best Hope" and "Bringing Nature Home".
Tallamy advocates for the importance of home gardens. He understands that most people want to take part in conservation efforts, but often feel powerless to do so as individuals.
For people who care about preserving the diversity of life on Earth, the stakes are too high to do nothing. Doug Tallamy inspires us to action. By planting a garden, if only a little one in a window box or balcony pot, it will make you feel better because you will be making a visible difference to the struggling natural world. Bumblebees and butterflies will come, as will the songbirds, to delight you. And the more people who plant a garden, however small, the more visible that difference will become.
Tallamy's new book How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard becomes available this month. It details how one person can make a difference. He tackles questions commonly asked, and shares actions to help gardeners and homeowners take their next steps. Topics range from ecology, evolution, biodiversity, and conservation to restoration, native plants, invasive species, pest control, and supporting wildlife at home.
"Whether by reducing your lawn, planting a few native species, or allowing leaves to sit untouched, you will be inspired and empowered to join millions of other like-minded people to become the future of backyard conservation."
Tallamy founded the Homegrown National Park, which is inspiring the creation of an entire network of homegrown wildlife sanctuaries (including this author's Kirkland garden) that seek to stem the loss of biodiversity, one yard and flowerpot at a time. This nonprofit makes the case for converting every available bit of soil into habitat — not only in yards and balcony planters, but also at schools, businesses, public parks, places of worship, even sidewalk strips and parking-lot margins. It includes resources for helping teachers and parents to inspire young people to become habitat stewards.
On Thursday April 17th, 9:00am to 10:30am PDT, Homegrown National Park is offering the online presentation From Wasteland to Wonder - An Earth Day Event with Basil Camu. Sign up and learn how to choose working with nature to restore beauty, resilience, and biodiversity.
Tallamy, who lives on the East Coast, does a stellar job of including habitats from the entire US; however, for more local specificity, Washington Native Plant Society has a wealth of information more directly relevant to the Pacific Northwest.
Congratulations to Doug Tallamy for receiving the prestigious Thomas W. Keesee, Jr. Audubon Conservation Award.
🦉 The Thomas W. Keesee, Jr. Conservation Award recognizes those who demonstrate remarkable leadership and commitment to protecting birds and the places they depend on:
"Failure is not an option! Property owners are the hope and future of conservation. We have to practice conservation on our private properties and balconies, not just in parks and preserves. In the past, conservationists worked exclusively where there weren't a lot of people. Now, we need to find ways to thrive in human-dominated landscapes."
Using fallen leaves in your yard as a natural mulch layer supports birds and other wildlife. During winter, and now in spring, you likely observe birds foraging in the leaf layer, including Robins, Towhees, Juncos, Wrens, Varied Thrush, and Sparrows. The leaves provide habitat for beneficial microorganisms, worms, insects, and other arthropods, which in turn can become part of the food chain, such as food for birds.
Ground-nesting birds rely on a layer of leaves and dried stems, and other birds can use dried leaves and stems in nest construction. All part of the web of life!
It is true that a thick layer of fallen leaves will smother lawn. The best way to solve this problem is to reduce the size of your lawn! A lawn is an ecological impoverished zone that supports almost no living things. Large amounts of polluting pesticides and fertilizers and wasteful amounts of water are typically used for a lawn to stay green and pristine. Even better, completely convert your lawn into beautiful natural plantings. Neighborhoods and beneficial wildlife will appreciate less noise and pollution from lawn mowers and blowers.
If you must have a tidy look in your yard or maintain a lawn to comply with Home Owners Association, you can move leaves off the lawn and use them as mulch in your planting beds.
April Native Plant Appreciation Month gives us a springtime opportunity to enjoy Washington State's amazing flora.
This year, Native Plant Appreciation Month focuses on exploring biodiversity with community science. It's a time to celebrate native floral abundance, its amazing biodiversity, and all the good work being done to protect and preserve it.
Visit the WNPS Native Plant Appreciation Month website to get involved and learn more.
Tuesday April 15, Cascade Gardener: Nita-Jo Rountree presenting on Maximize Your Small Gardens: Design and Planting Ideas 7:00-8:00pm on Zoom
Thursday April 17th, Homegrown National Park online presentation 9:00am to 10:30am PDT, From Wasteland to Wonder - An Earth Day Event with Basil Camu.
Sign up and learn how to choose working with nature to restore beauty, resilience, and biodiversity.
Saturday April 19, Bridle Trails Park Foundation Earth Day event. Invasive plant removal and free pizza, 9:00am - 1:00pm. Registration Required.
Tuesday April 22nd, The Village at Totem Lake Earth Day Celebration. 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Includes recycle sorting station and wildflower mix giveaway.
Tuesday April 22, Cascade Gardener Series: Marianne Binetti presenting on Tiny but Mighty: big impact in small spaces with plants and projects that live large. Ideas for side yards, patios and forgotten corners and other small spaces 7:00pm-8:00pm on Zoom
Friday April 25, Cascade Gardener Series: Lisa Taylor in person 11:00am-12:00pm at Bellevue Nursery in Bellevue, presenting on Growing a Garden Anywhere in Containers.
Saturday April 26, WNPS Central Puget Sound Chapter Spring Plant Sale 10am until sold out, Bellevue Botanical Garden.
Saturday April 26, Bothell library, in person 1:30pm - 2:30pm. Native Plants Workshop: Their Beauty and Benefits by Lynn Putman.
Tuesday April 29, Cascade Gardener Series: Sue Goetz presenting on Easy Container Gardens for Food & Flavor 7:00pm-8:00pm on Zoom.
National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward Training - Online May and June
The National Wildlife Federation is offering a specialized, multi-week virtual training to teach you how to create and restore wildlife habitat in backyards, schoolyards, balconies, and other places in your community. The training consists of 4 classes over zoom from 6:30-9:00pm. For questions contact WAEducation@nwf.org. Available trainings either in May or June.
May Training: Tuesdays/Thursdays, May 13th, 15th, 20th, and 22nd
https://habitatstewardmay.bpt.me
Thursday May 15th, 4-6pm, Bee Day Splash at Kirkland Urban about its bee hive and associated info. Kirkland Habitat will have a booth at the event - please visit us! We often have native plant giveaways 🌱
Tuesday May 20th, Cascade Gardener Series: Jessi Bloom presenting on Irrigation. 7:00pm-8:00pm on Zoom.
Tuesday May 27th, Cascade Gardener Series: Lisa Taylor with Cool Tools and Hot Tips About Watering Wisely. 7:00pm-8:00pm on Zoom
Saturday May 31st, 21 Acres, 13701 NE 171st Street, Woodinville. Pollinator Fest. There'll be entertainment, education, food trucks!
National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward Training - Online
June Training: Mondays/Wednesdays, June 2nd, 4th, 9th, and 11th
https://habitatstewardjune.bpt.me
Green Kirkland Partnership Earth Month activities and more. Includes weeding, mulching, and tending to new plantings in forested parkland. Visit the Green Kirkland calendar to register to volunteer and learn more.
City of Kirkland tree rebate program. You can receive rebates up to $500 per property for planting qualifying trees on your property! Rebates also cover the cost of necessary compost soil amendments, mulch to protect the soil, and watering bags to help your new trees thrive and survive during our dry summers.
Yard Smart Rain Rewards is an exciting opportunity for Kirkland homeowners to beautify their yards and help slow and filter rainwater runoff before it flows to our creeks and lakes. Qualified homes can take advantage of free technical assistance and financial rebates up to $5,000 to install rain gardens and native landscaping on their property. Some homes may also be eligible for rebates to help cover the cost of replacing a traditional asphalt driveway with permeable pavers! Schedule a free site visit at https://calendly.com/yardsmart..
Cascade Water Alliance Activities, Offerings, and Resources https://cascadewater.org/water-efficiency/turf-out/.
We're happy to answer questions about Kirkland's Community Wildlife Habitat Program (Kirkland Habitat), and to engage in related discussions using kirklandhabitat@gmail.com. Please forward our newsletter to interested contacts, and let us know of addresses to add to our e-news list.
Your friendly community supporters,
Sharon Rodman with Marilee, Aly, Ann, Ash, Jenifer
Kirkland Community Wildlife Habitat Team
Please like or follow us on Facebook
Kirkland's Community Wildlife Habitat Program strives for each person to make our community healthier for people and wildlife.
We encourage residents to certify their properties to show support for wildlife-friendly activities: https://www.nwf.org/certifiedwildlifehabitat
Appreciating and enhancing habitat in Kirkland, which is situated on the ancestral, unceded land of the Puget Sound Salish people; we acknowledge and honor the land with gratitude.
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