Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 8, Issue 2, February 2004

Copyright 2004 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.

Seattle Sun Home and Garden Briefs

Gardening classes offered

The Center for Urban Horticulture at the University of Washington is offering several classes for gardeners during the month of February.

Preregistration is required for all classes; call 543-8616 for registration or more information.

The classes are:

· "Getting Your Garden Going in Spring," with Master Gardener Elaine Keehn, Thursday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Douglas Classroom, CUH). Keehn, a longtime nursery owner, will reveal the hows and whys of fertilizing perennials, dealing with dying bulb foliage, clipping back asters and other blooms, pruning chores and mulching. Cost is $10.

· "Basic Pruning," with certified arborist Cass Turnbull, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m. to noon (Douglas Classroom, CUH). Turnbull, the founder of Plant Amnesty, will teach a two-part course on introductory pruning. Part I will include instruction on tools, techniques and timing for various ornamental shrubs and small trees. Part II will be a practical demonstration of these techniques held at one student's garden. Cost is $30 for Part I only; $55 both parts.

· "Botanical Illustration: Drawing," with illustrator Louise Smith, Thursdays from Feb. 19 to March 18, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Douglas Headhouse, CUH). Smith, a noted botanical illustrator, will provide an introduction to drawing botanical subjects in pencil. Students should bring drawing paper, pencil, and eraser to the first class. Cost is $125.

· "Tour of Washington Park Arboretum Winter Garden," with Dr. John Wott, WPA director, Saturday, Feb. 21, 10 a.m. (Graham Visitors Center, WPA). Cost is $10.

Maple Leaf community garden

The Maple Leaf Community Council has submitted an application for a matching fund grant from the City's Department of Neighborhoods to cover the costs of finalizing a development plan for the Maple Leaf Community Garden at 529 NE 103rd St. The community council is seeking support for the project from Maple Leaf residents in the form of monetary donations and/or volunteering their time to participate in the planning, according to the council's January/February/March 2004 newsletter. For more information, call Barbara Maxwell at 524-1502 or visit the Web site at www.ci.seattle.wa.us/COMMUNITY/mapleleaf.

Is your garden salmon-friendly?

Whether your garden is two feet or two miles from the nearest stream, lake or Puget Sound, it affects salmon. Everything that runs off your property into storm drains eventually washes through their habitat. Excess storm water running off pavement or compacted soil, residues of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals they all harm salmon habitat.

Better garden design and care can minimize the negative impacts. Tips on how to create a salmon-friendly garden include building healthy soil with compost; planting pest- and disease-resistant plants and native plants; minimizing lawn areas through the planting of trees, shrubs and groundcovers that require less water and fertilizer; using soaker hoses and drip irrigation that allow healthy plants to grow with less water; and using natural fertilizers and pest controls.

Other tips include directing rain water appropriately through the use of porous materials such as gravel paths in place of pavement; and protecting shoreline habitat with a buffer of native plants, shrubs and groundcovers near streams and lakes.

For more information, visit Seattle Public Utilities' Web site http://cityofseattle.net/salmon or call 684-7560.