NEWSLETTER July 29, 2021

Early Bloomers Are Leaving Sooner Did you know that some plants end their seasonal life cycle at the end of July?  Several plants and shrubs have adapted to this hot, dry time of year by literally folding up their tents and entering dormancy until next spring.  Shrubs such as our native Osoberry exhibit the fall colors and dropping of leaves that we come to expect of most deciduous plants in October!  These plants have adopted the strategy of flowering early in the spring, fruiting or setting seed in late spring, and with their reproductive activity done for the year, storing their carbohydrates and water in their roots systems when heat and drought stress is most acute (late July, August, and September).  If you see plants with yellow or red leaves as you explore the trails in Seward Park, don’t be concerned, it is just another example of nature’s adaptation to the environment around us.

Indian Plum photo by Lotus Johnson

Traffic Update Three miles of Lake Washington Blvd S (from Mt Baker Park to Seward Park) will open to people walking, rolling, and biking on weekends & holidays through at least Labor Day. To gain entry into Seward Park, motor vehicles must use S. Juneau Street. Please remember this advisory when you plan your next trip to Seward Park.

File Photo

The Early Bird Saturday, August 7 2021 8:00 - 10:00 AM or Sunday, August 8 2021 8:00 – 10:00 AM  Free Advance Registration Required Join us in Seward Park during a point in the day where the bird's calls and songs are lifted high above the din of the busy day that follows. Lead Naturalist Ed Dominguez leads our trek through the fields and forest as we tune in to migrating and resident birds and bring them into view as the opportunity allows. We provide the binoculars, and you bring your curiosity. Learn more and register

Cooper's Hawk photo by Mick Thompson

Guided Nature Walk | Shoreline Plants Saturday, August 7, 2021 1:00 - 3:00 PM Sunday, August 8, 2021 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Free Advance Registration Required Shoreline plants play a vital role in moderating water temperature and providing protective cover for birds and aquatic lifeforms.  Join Lead Naturalist Ed Dominguez on a shoreline tour of Seward Park and discover the diversity of life at the water's edge.  We will explore why this is such a rich habitat zone as well as identify native and non-native shoreline plant species. Learn more and register

Western Pond Lily photo by Leonora (Ellie) Enking

We're Pulling for Seward! Friday, July 30, 2021 8:30 – 10:30 AM Friday, August 13, 2021 8:30 – 10:30 AM Advance Registration Required We are inviting our forest warriors to come out this month to help us remove invasive plant species from Seward Park. We are providing tools, gloves, and good cheer as we work the land to protect the places birds and other wildlife need to thrive. Learn more and register

Photo by Amy Scarfone

Meditation Nature Walk Sunday, August 15, 2021 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Free Advance Registration Required Tune your awareness to the natural world of Seward Park's ancient forest, sky, and shore. Find peace and rejuvenation on a guided meditation walk with Kimberly Bowen, meditation and martial arts teacher and former staff at Seward Park Audubon Center. Modest pace, up to 2 miles including some stairs. Older children who can maintain silence may join with their adults. No pets, please. Learn more and register

Photo by Richard Ricciardi

Fear Less: Annie Marie Musselman at Wolf Haven Sanctuary Seward Park Audubon Center Garry Oak Gallery Now through  September 12 The late-day sun shines on Tenino, WA, where award-winning conservation photographer Annie Marie Musselman brings into focus this megafauna species at the center of myths, legends, and controversy. The results are magical, photographic images that could only be captured by the loving heart of a passionate advocate for these captive-born wolves that reside in this Washington sanctuary.  The Seward Park Audubon Center is honored to show the work of Annie Marie Musselman in the Center’s Garry Oak Gallery. Get an up-close look at images by a photographer whose images have appeared on the covers of Audubon, Smithsonian, and Outside magazine, and inside The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, National Geographic, and the New York Times.

Jesse Shilo Love | Photograph by Annie-Marie Musselman

Order Up! The Center is now open Saturdays and Sundays, 10 – 5, but we are still accepting orders for curbside pick-up. Choose from many birdfeed options, fun jigsaw puzzles, handmade bird boxes, and our favorite books. Place your order online anytime for pickup on Saturday or Sunday. All orders must be placed online. Shop online for curbside pickup

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