West Seattle, Washington
09 Wednesday
(Bee Garden photo: Volunteers, earlier this year)
If you have some spare time on Sunday, the West Seattle Bee Garden could benefit! Here’s the announcement that Lisa asked us to share:
This Sunday the 6th is our July work party, 10-12 pm. Our big focus is weeding! Some areas of the garden have gotten pretty wild so I’m hoping we can make a big dent and give our intentional plants much needed space and sunlight.
In the spirit of the holiday weekend, I also encourage you to bring your social side and join us for a break with lemon raspberry cake (homemade! homegrown raspberries!) and sparkling water. If you’d like to bring something to share, you are welcome to, but no pressure.
As usual:
-dress for the weather: it’ll be warm and sunny – hats and sunblock encouraged
-wear close-toed shoes
-we have tools but bring a favorite if you have one
-no experience necessary, all levels of garden-curious folks are welcome
-this is a family-friendly event, kids are welcomeAdditional volunteer opportunities
In July and August, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 2-4 pm, a youth group from the High Point neighborhood will be gardening and stewarding in and around the Bee Garden. The group has leaders, extra hands are appreciated. If you have interest and availability in supporting this community work, please reach out to Abbie at: abbiec@nhwa.org.
The Bee Garden is at the north end of High Point Commons Park (Graham/Lanham).
FIRST 9 PHOTOS BY OLIVER HAMLIN FOR WSB
If you’re in a garden-related business, chances are you have a great garden yourself, as does Marcia Bruno (above), owner of West Seattle Nursery and Garden Center (WSB sponsor) – her west Admiral garden was the first stop on the map for today’s West Seattle Garden Tour. Ten gardens were chosen as tour stops. Here’s the fifth on the list, in west Seaview:
This garden was laden with art, including “Steel Roots” by Steve Tobin:
A notable feature of the eighth garden on the list, toward the south end of The Arroyos – its Puget Sound view:
At the ninth garden, in Seola, we photographed gardeners Janyce Lauhon-Horton and Kent Horton beneath a magnolia tree:
This is Janyce’s childhood home.
She told us she’s been gardening there for 50 years, and she’s especially fond of shade-loving plants!
These hydrangea blossoms were eye-catching too:
Container gardening was in view at some stops too, like the tenth on the list, on Puget Ridge:
And containers also caught our eye at the seventh mapped garden, in Gatewood (photos from here by WSB editor Tracy Record):
But the most striking features of this site are the gardeners’ efficient use of space, including the planting strips:
Not shown, but also notable, this home once had a golf-course-quality lawn out front. One of its owners told us they knew when they bought the house they’d never be able to maintain that. Over the years, more and more of the lawn has been carved away and turned into garden beds.
The West Seattle Garden Tour raises money for grants to nonprofits – here’s this year’s list; nominations are still being accepted for next year’s grants.
(Seen on last year’s West Seattle Garden Tour)
If June showers enhance June flowers, then Sunday should be a spectacular edition of the annual West Seattle Garden Tour, as the forecast suggests some showers before then (though the current outlook for tour day is “partly sunny”). We checked in with the WSGT today to, for starters, see if any tickets are left. Answer: No – they sold out as of Sunday. So if you haven’t already bought a ticket, you’ll have to wait until next year. If you have – here’s an important reminder:
We’d like to remind folks who’ve purchased their tickets online for will-call that they will be available for pickup on Sunday only between 8:30 – 11 am at West Seattle Nursery at 5275 California Ave SW. This is a change from prior years where pickup was at Metropolitan Market. There will not be additional ticket books for sale at the West Seattle Nursery.
Tour hours on Sunday are 9 am to 5 pm – please be considerate of the garden hosts, no earlybirds, no late stragglers. And please follow tour etiquette:
-Stay on paths and be careful not to step on bordering plants
-Do not collect any plant material without the gardener’s permission
-Do not bring pets to the gardens (service animals are permitted)
-Please watch children closely
P.S. As we’ve reported before, Garden Tour proceeds go to grants for other nonprofits – here’s this year’s list of recipients – and applications are still open if your nonprofit is interested in next year’s grants.
(WSB photo by Dave Gershgorn from last month’s Peony Festival)
Events like last month’s Peony Festival bring many visitors to the Seattle Chinese Garden on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge, on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. But you might not be aware that it’s more than an event venue – it’s a cultural touchstone, and it’s embarking on a new fundraising campaign announced at its annual banquet last weekend. Today the Garden shares this announcement about what happened at the banquet and what it’s raising money for:
At a time when tensions between the national governments of the U.S. and China have been escalating, three hundred people came to the Chinatown-International District last weekend to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Seattle Chinese Garden and to reaffirm our people-to-people ties with Seattle’s Sister City of Chongqing. “With the rise in international tensions and anti-Asian prejudice, there has never been a more important time to educate people about the beauty and importance of Chinese culture and to increase public understanding of Chinese communities locally and around the world,” said Evelyn Yenson, a member of the Chinese Garden board.
Former Governor Gary Locke was even more passionate in his remarks to those in attendance, “We need to finish the Chinese Garden to show our pride in Chinese culture and heritage and to fight back against current efforts to brand everyone of Chinese heritage as somehow a potential spy for the People’s Republic of China or un-American. We are proud of our Chinese heritage, and we are loyal Americans.”
During the evening, the Chinese Garden board honored Jerry and Charlene Lee for their long service to the community and for their steadfast support for the garden. Representatives of the City of Seattle and King County read proclamations in honor of the Chinese Garden and the Lees.
Paige Miller, a Chinese Garden board member, announced a bold plan to raise over $30 million to build out the Central Garden including a teahouse, four-story tower, scholar’s studio, and multiple smaller buildings, ponds, and Mirror Lake. Last year the City of Seattle put $5 million in its budget for the capital campaign. Combined with Chongqing’s commitment to provide Chinese building materials and skilled artisan labor and the other pledged gifts from individuals, the campaign has reached $15 million in pledges, nearly halfway to its goal. “We are so excited to be nearly halfway to our goal as we publicly announce this campaign,” said Lincoln Ferris, president of the board. Jerry Lee, in his remarks, urged the community to rally to support the garden. “Now is the time to make it happen,” he urged.
The Seattle Chinese Garden was conceived in the mid-1980s as a joint project between Seattle and Chongqing, a city of thirty three million people in a mountainous region of southwest China. The garden is located on the campus of South Seattle College in West Seattle, high on a ridge with a view over the harbor toward downtown Seattle. The first construction began in 1999. The garden’s mission is to celebrate classical Chinese culture through the activities in the garden and to serve as a living bridge of friendship between the people of Chongqing and the people of Seattle.
Proclamations from the City of Seattle and King County were presented in honor of the garden’s 35th anniversary. For more information about the Chinese Garden and the campaign visit the website at seattlechinesegarden.org.
Spread mulch, help bees! That’s the task awaiting helpers at tomorrow’s monthly West Seattle Bee Garden work party. Lisa asked us to, well, spread the word:
Please join us this Sunday, June 1st, 10 am-12 pm in the Bee Garden for our June work party.
Our big task is re-mulching the pathways. We’ll have wheelbarrows and pitchforks to complete the work but bring your own if you have a favorite. As usual, dress for the weather (looks like sun!) and wear closed-toe shoes. Light snacks provided.
We’ll have additional tasks as well, such as weeding (always) and possibly some planting.
Thanks to our amazing community support, this season we’ve been been able to relaunch the field trip program as well as welcoming other education groups back to the garden. It wouldn’t have been possible without your help. Thanks for your continued support!
The West Seattle Bee Garden is on the north end of High Point Commons Park, Lanham/Graham.
West Seattle High School students hosting a “beautify the school” event are inviting donations for their gardening project. Here’s the announcement they asked us to share:
West Seattle High School ASB members Sam Flynn, Jonah Pelander, Charlie Lewis, and Christiano Solis are putting on an event to add beauty and color to the surrounding premises of WSHS through plant life. We’re all very passionate about nature and our community and we would love if fellow community members could support us through donations, specifically to buy plants to plant. We thank you for your time and the impact you will have on the youth.
Here is the link for donations. Thank you for your time.
While we’re talking about flowers, we have updates from the West Seattle Garden Tour organization. Above is the winning artwork that’s being used to promote this year’s tour (June 22), “Pool Party” by Gay Waldman. WSGT has more winners to talk about – the recipients of this year’s grants – and also wants to encourage applications for the next round money it’s ready to give – all explained as follows:
Each year West Seattle Garden Tour, a 501(c)(3) organization, seeks out other nonprofits whose goals fit our mission—to promote horticulture, education, and artistic endeavors within West Seattle and neighboring communities. Your donations and purchase of garden tour and raffle tickets, along with the generous support of our sponsors, allow the West Seattle Garden Tour to fund projects in our community.
We are proud to present the ten nonprofit organizations selected to receive a total of $53,250 in West Seattle Garden Tour grants this year. ArtsWest, A Cleaner Alki, Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, Endolyne Children’s Choir, GROW, New Start Community Garden, Rainier Beach Action Coalition, Shadow Lake Nature Preserve, Urban Raptor Conservancy, and West Seattle Community Orchestras have received grants to fund projects that might otherwise not be possible. You can learn more about these organizations and the specific projects we’ve funded on our website at westseattlegardentour.org/grants. Be sure to visit their tables in the gardens on tour day!
The West Seattle Garden Tour is also pleased to announce the opening of our 2026 grant application. We’d like to invite 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the greater Seattle area to apply for grant funding from now until midnight on July 15th, 2025. Grant applications, eligibility, and submission instructions can be found on our website at westseattlegardentour.org/grants.
This year’s West Seattle Garden Tour takes place on Sunday, June 22nd and tickets are now available for sale on our website and at West Seattle Nursery, Swansons Nursery, Wells Medina Nursery, and Zenith Holland Nursery.
The WSGT invariably sells out, so if you’re considering going, you’ll want to get your ticket book sooner rather than later.
The West Seattle Junction Association‘s flower baskets are here! Visiting The Junction this morning, we spotted the crews installing the baskets, working their way north to south, west to east. Again this year, The Junction is putting up almost 100 baskets grown by Van Wingerden Greenhouses in Whatcom County, with the purchase and maintenance costs partly covered by “adopters.” We walked down California looking at the baskets awaiting installation – no two are alike, but all have bright blossoms already and will only get more lush as spring/summer proceeds:
Within a week or two, each basket will have a plaque on behalf of its “adopter.”
Two notes from the West Seattle Junction Association:
FLOWER BASKET TIME: The famous hanging baskets that adorn The Junction every spring/summer are almost here! WSJA tells WSB that installation is planned for Monday. Once again this year, WSJA – a nonprofit – helped cover the cost of the baskets by offering the opportunity to “adopt” them; look for plaques later this month to show who is sponsoring this year’s baskets. (WSB is participating again this year, this time dedicating our basket to the memory of co-founder Patrick Sand.) The baskets are grown by Van Wingerden Greenhouses in the North Sound, who’ve been tending them since December to get them ready for their debut! (SATURDAY UPDATE: WSJA executive director Chris Mackay just told us the installation date has moved back a week, to May 12.)
SUMMER FEST SHADE AND SEATING: West Seattle’s biggest party is a little more than two months away! West Seattle Summer Fest Eve starts it all off on July 10, and then the festival days are July 11-13. Every year, festivalgoers voice the wish for more seating and shade, so WSJA is crowdfunding to make that possible. Presenting the festival costs a big chunk of change, including permits and security, and it goes up every year, so adding these literally cool new features means this need for donations Go here to get the donation link.
It’s prime time for mulching, soil-enriching, etc., and you’ve got the opportunity this Saturday to do that with FREE compost that’s being given away at a West Seattle event. GROW just sent us the announcement to be sure you know they’re partnering with Seattle Public Utilities to offer up to a half-yard of compost, 9 am until 1 pm (or until it runs out, if sooner) on Saturday, May 3, at Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW – near the P-Patch, per GROW). Bring your own container and shovel!
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Coast to coast, “resisters” opposed to recent federal actions and orders have gathered on streetcorners, among other places, in recent weeks.
For Highland Park resident and West Seattle artist Sheila Lengle, protest took a different form.
With the help of graphic artist Gretchen Flickinger and Christy Hosler, she decided to start the group Victory Gardeners HP. “I am past my limit of endurance about feeling angry, and powerless about what’s happening in this country,” Lengle said. “This is my own quiet way to resist.”
(Photo courtesy Sheila Lengle, shown holding Victory Gardeners HP flyer at recent event, with another volunteer)
“The HP stands for Highland Park,” she explained, with the intent that others could take the Victory Gardeners model and use it in their own neighborhoods, with a slight tweak to their title.
The name is taken from the the historical Victory Gardens, originally called “War Gardens” or “Liberty Gardens.” In World War I and II days, people were encouraged to grow their own food, as a way to alleviate pressure on the national food supply, boost morale, and support the community.
Lengle’s Victory Gardens seek to serve much the same purpose, especially with increasing concerns about food security amid tariffs and other economic concerns. Furthermore, Lengle says, any additional produce grown throughout the project will be donated to local food banks.
Beyond just addressing food concerns, gardens also serve as a way to connect the community. “The essence, other than providing the food, is that people meet each other,” Lengle said. “It’s about the spirit of sharing with the community, taking something as easy and common as gardening and finding a way to share it with your neighbors.”
(The Victory Gardeners HP Flyer, Designed by Sheila Lengle, Gretchen Flickinger and Christy Hosler)
The project has only just begun, but Lengle said she is excited to see it grow, after sharing it with the community at a recent event held by the Highland Park Improvement Club. She plans to focus her garden on carrots, potatoes, onions and garlic, but there are dozens of options to choose from. The important thing isn’t the quality or quantity, but the spirit of being involved, she said. “The bottom line is, I did something. Everybody can do one little something.”
If you have questions about Victory Gardens, or would like to reach out to Sheila, you can do so through the project’s email address, vgardenershp@gmail.com.
Been working on your garden and/or planter(s) and have a question or discovery you’d really rather talk about with an expert, rather than just digging around online? These are the people who can help – King County Master Gardeners – and they’re back in action, not only at the regular spots, but also with pop-ups. At center above, photographed with fellow MGs at today’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market, is Beth, who sent us the announcement you might have seen in our Event Calendar:
The WSU Extension King County Master Gardeners will again be offering plant diagnostic clinics in the West Seattle area. Master Gardeners provide research-based home gardening information focused on environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. The clinic schedule is:
Delridge Home Depot – Saturdays, 10 AM – 2 PM – through September 6 (No clinic on Saturday, July 5)
West Seattle Farmers Market – Sundays, 10 AM – 2 PM – through September 7 (No clinics on Sunday, July 6 and Sunday, July 13)
South Park branch of Seattle Public Library – Saturday, May 3, 10 AM – 2 PM
West Seattle Bee Festival – Saturday, May 17 – 12 PM – 3PM
West Seattle Nursery – Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, July 13 – 10AM – 2PMHave a home gardening question but can’t get to a clinic? The Master Gardeners have an email clinic – askamastergardener@kingmg.org
You’ll find them at the south end of the market (California/Alaska) until 2 today.
“The 25th season of West Seattle Landscape and Stone Supply grows in a new direction!” That’s how one of our newest sponsors begins their message for you about what they do:
West Seattle Landscape & Stone Supply (formerly E-green Landscaping and Materials) is happy to announce the start of its transition to new ownership this year!
You may remember us from our start as a landscape contractor in 1999 or visiting our materials yard on Delridge Way SW we opened in 2003. Jeff Detweiler and his partner Andrew worked tirelessly to beautify many outdoor spaces – one rockery retaining wall, garden bed, and tree planting at a time. In 2015 we shifted to a delivery-only business where we’ve defined ourselves with a huge selection of materials, convenient small-yardage deliveries, and the agility to get into the tight driveways and alleys found around the homes of West Seattle.
Jeff Detweiler, now 67, says “it’s time for another chapter of my life,” and is pleased to announce that effective later this year, his friend and employee Paul Thomas will take over the reins of the business.
Paul has had the privilege to work with Jeff on many landscaping projects, while also co-managing two small farms in Kitsap County where they collaborate daily on managing nearly 30 acres of land.
Paul left his first career in tech and marketing behind to jump at the opportunity to get hands-on with farming and all that goes with it – gardening & crop management, nurturing fruit trees, and looking after animals (sheep, and horses), all with organic and regenerative farming practices centered in this work. Paul also built our new website last year, which features an easy to use online quoting tool and streamlined communications with customers.
These experiences combined with Paul’s excellent driving skills and small-business chops make him well-suited to operate West Seattle Stone, and keep the rocks-a-rolling! He is excited to lead West Seattle Stone into our second quarter century.
Many things won’t change, and our focus remains on helping folks in West Seattle get the products they need for their landscape design, construction, earth work, and gardening needs while staying small and efficient so that we can do it at affordable prices.
If you want to start an order, or just send Jeff some well-wishes as he heads toward greener pastures – he’d love to hear from you at 206-763-7625 – call or text! You can also email us directly at wslandscapesupply@gmail.com, or visit us online at www.westseattlestone.com
We thank West Seattle Landscape and Stone Supply for choosing to advertise their business by sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB. Interested in doing the same? Please email WSBAdvertising@wsbsales.com – thank you!
It’s finally time to get out and grow! In time for spring-and-beyond gardening, we welcome West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW) as a new WSB sponsor, which means they get to tell you their story:
West Seattle Nursery has been proudly serving neighborhood gardeners for 42 years, offering a diverse selection of perennials, annuals, shrubs, and trees—everything from tried-and-true favorites to rare and unusual garden gems. Quality is at the heart of what we do, which is why most of our plants come from Northwest growers, ensuring they’re well-suited to our local climate. Our knowledgeable team of seasoned gardeners and plant enthusiasts is always here to help, whether you’re searching for the perfect plant or need expert advice on garden care.
This season, you’ll notice some exciting changes—we’ve rearranged the nursery layout to make it easier to navigate and more enjoyable to explore. Our 2025 conifer and Japanese maple collections are ready to browse, our fruits and veggies section has moved behind the greenhouse, and our native plants section is now at the front of the nursery. Our highly anticipated roses have arrived, with David Austin varieties expected in May. If you’re looking for something truly special, we also have a limited supply of rare, seed-grown species rhododendrons and azaleas from Chimacum Woods, along with a large variety of hybrid rhododendrons and azaleas.
We’re also dedicated to growing the next generation of gardeners through our Growing Gardeners Club, designed to help young plant lovers learn, explore, and get their hands in the dirt. This month, our gift to our Growing Gardeners is a zucchini plant — by August, we welcome kids to bring their zucchinis to the West Seattle Farmers Market for zucchini races! And for those looking to deepen their gardening skills, we’re offering a fantastic lineup of spring events, including:
Solitary Bee Class for All Ages – Saturday, April 5, 12:00-1:00 PM
Spring Plant Swap at Hoste – Saturday, April 12, 12:00-4:00 PM
Real Organic Gardening: Compost & Soil Health – Sunday, April 13, 1:00-2:00 PM
Beyond plants, our destination gift shop is overflowing with unique gifts, housewares, books, and indoor plants. In our Garden Center, we also offer a curated selection of seeds, bulbs, tools, and soil amendments to help your garden thrive.
We’re so grateful to be part of the West Seattle community and look forward to another season of helping you grow! Stop by to explore, get inspired, and connect with fellow plant lovers. Find more details at westseattlenursery.com.
We thank West Seattle Nursery for choosing to advertise their business by sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB. Interested in doing the same? Email WSBAdvertising@wsbsales.com – thank you!
Spring is the start of outdoor sale season, and the West Seattle Eagles have one for your calendar, especially if you’re interested in being a seller. Here’s the announcement:
Plant and Craft Sale – April 26, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the West Seattle Eagles Club. Join us for a plant, art and craft sale in the south parking lot, accompanied by a BBQ selling hamburgers and hot dogs from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
We welcome friends or associates of members to participate in the sale. You do not need to be a West Seattle Eagles member. Spots are available for $15 each; please provide your own plant rack or table. Proceeds from the spots will benefit Fred Hutch Cancer Center.
This event is the perfect opportunity to sell plants, pots, and/or garden art from your garden. It’s also an ideal venue for artists, crafters, and anyone who enjoys making unique garden creations. If you are interested in participating, please contact Sue Irvin at irvdiamonds@comcast.net.
The Eagles’ HQ is next to the post office, at 44xx California SW in The Junction.
Thinking of flower baskets this year? The Bridge School cooperative elementary is selling baskets as a fundraiser:
Hanging Flower Basket Fundraiser
Now through April 11Pickup date: Friday, May 2 or Saturday, May 3 at The Bridge School (10300 28th Ave SW)
The Bridge School is holding our annual Hanging Basket Fundraiser. We’re excited to offer beautiful 12″ Premium Hanging Baskets from Van Wingerden Greenhouses. Options are available for both sun and shade exposure. Add some color to your own porch, or pick one up as a Mother’s Day Gift!
Price is $45 each. Baskets will be available for pickup at the Bridge School (10300 28th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98146) on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3.
Order at /tinyurl.com/bp9ebk2w
The growers are the same ones who create the West Seattle Junction’s hanging baskets!
Yes, the sun really did appear for a while on Saturday, and our photos from West Seattle’s newest community garden are proof. A work party at “Beyers’ Bulldog Garden” at 54th/Edmunds – a block inland from Beach Drive – was on our Saturday event list, and we stopped by to see how things were going. We just missed the biggest wave of volunteers, but there’ll be more events to come. The site has a heartwarming backstory (read it here) – Margi and Bill Beyers used to garden there, and after they died, bequeathed it to GROW. Some of their plants remain – we noted these artichokes:
That’s a hint at what Kristin Parker from GROW explains as the site’s destiny – a community-tended “food forest” including existing fruit trees, some espaliered. Donated raspberry plants are going in, too.
Though this will be operated in connection with the city’s P-Patch program, it won’t be following the model where individual gardeners sign up for individual plots – it’ll be collectively tended. You can sign up to help with this via the P-Patch website; here’s how. Part of it will be used as a “giving garden” – a shed the Beyers installed on the west side of the lot will be used to grow tomato starts!
(WSB photo: Denis and Mike from the Kiwanis Club with a booth visitor)
Classic showery spring weather brings thoughts of gardening to come. The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is hoping to make it happen for more classrooms and families with its annual seed giveaway; today’s the day, at the Kiwanis booth at the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market. Though the pickup of vegetable and flower seeds is geared for the teachers and parents who responded to the invitation we published last fall, they have some extras too, first-come first-served. Supporting youth is a cornerstone of what the Kiwanis Club does, and this is part of that. The seed pickup is scheduled to continue until about 1 pm.
Last fall, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle said it would again give away vegetable and flower seeds in spring so that educators and parents could help kids learn about growing plants. Spring is here, and Kiwanis members have announced that they will be at the market tomorrow with the seeds:
Free seeds will be distributed this Sunday, 3/23, at the Farmers’ Market from 10 AM to 1 PM, as part of the Kiwanis Seed Project. Those who requested seeds in November and December can pick them up. There are extra seeds for those who would like to grow vegetables and teach youngsters how food is grown. Seeds for classrooms will be distributed also.
Look for their booth at the south end of the market, California and Alaska.
Seattle Tilth has a training program coming up and asked us to help circulate the announcement so that West Seattleites are aware of it too. Half the sessions are online, and half are in-person in other parts of the city, but it’s for everyone in Seattle:
If you are a, or know a, Seattle resident interested in learning about compost and preventing waste, and then teaching others, here’s how to become a Master Composter/Sustainability Steward. This free training program is looking for individuals who want to learn more about these topics and then share what they learned in their communities.
Starting on March 19, we will teach 12 classes via Zoom and in person in both Seattle’s Wallingford and Rainier Beach neighborhoods, followed by volunteer activities throughout the city. Our teachers are subject-matter experts but there is no expectation of prior knowledge. A more detailed description of this year’s volunteer training and the link to the application form can be found on our webpage at tilthalliance.org/our-work/environmental-stewardship/master-composter-sustainability-stewards/mcss-training.
Application is open until February 21.
We strive to put together a diverse cohort that represents all of Seattle’s communities.
(WSB photo, basket arrival day, April 2024)
It’s always a sign that spring is here and summer’s approaching when the West Seattle Junction Association‘s flower baskets arrive. Again this year, they’re offering you the chance to “adopt” one – helping defray the costs of keeping them up and maintained throughout the warm months. 93 baskets are available, at $199 each, which includes plaques displaying your (or your business/organization’s) name and a message. You can sign up here while they last. (This year’s baskets are again coming from Van Wingerden Nursery, which WSJA executive director Chris Mackay reports “has already put the little flower seeds in starter soil to give them a head start.”)
(Pam Lustig’s ‘Garden Pose,’ winner of 2024 WSGT competition)
Here on the first day of Pacific Standard Time, summer feels like a long way away. But local artists are invited to have summer in their hearts and come up with creations to submit for the West Seattle Garden Tour‘s annual art competition – one week until the deadline, Sunday, November 10:
We welcome your submissions for our 2025 event and look forward to seeing your art!
Each year West Seattle Garden Tour, a 501(c)(3) organization, seeks out other nonprofits whose goals fit our mission—to promote horticulture, education, and artistic endeavors within West Seattle and neighboring communities. Your submissions and the winning art, along with the generous support of our sponsors, allow the West Seattle Garden Tour to fund projects in our community that align with our mission. Our 2024 tour raised and distributed $57,700 for 11 local nonprofits.
Submissions should be reflective of the following narrative with a focus on use of color, composition, texture and contrast to excite interest in the tour.
Gardens are personal statements that reflect the passions and creativity of their gardeners. They may be places of refuge and retreat or active environments that invite engagement. The gardens featured in our tour exhibit those qualities as well as an artful mix of design, rich color palettes, texture, contrast, creative and inspiring use of plants, art, and hardscaping.
You can find the rules/guidelines here, and send in your entry here. Think bright and beautiful during these long dark nightd, looking ahead to next year’s Garden Tour, set for June 22nd.
Fall showers bring thoughts of spring flowers – and vegetable plants. Last year, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle provided about 200 packs of seeds at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, to both schools and individual gardeners. Another round is planned next year, but first, the club is requesting your feedback:
Kiwanis will again offer free vegetable and flower seeds in 2025. Teachers and parents can help Kiwanis select the type and number of seeds to order by completing the survey here.
Kiwanis offers the Seed Project to boost family fun and joy, and to provide an educational experience with a hands-on activity! As the seeds grow into plants they can be transplanted to your garden.
Please add your contact information (particularly your email address), so that we can let you know when seeds will be available at the Farmers’ Market in the Spring of 2025. If you have any questions, please contact us via email:
Denis Sapiro, President, Kiwanis Club West Seattle
sapirokiwanis@gmail.comPlease complete the Google form before December 10, 2024
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