Addicted to Herons
Seattlites tend to be very avid in their leisure time pursuits. They don't do anything halfway. They don't just jog; they train for marathons. They don't just bike; they bike to Portland. They don't just go to the opera occasionally; they buy season tickets. I'm hopeful that living in Seattle will help me fix what I've long considered to be a defect in my character, and that is that I never get interested enough in any one thing to become expert at it. I've been accused of being a dispassionate person. I'm afraid it's true, and I don't like it. Seattle's my chance to find the quirky hobby that will hold my interest and make me more interesting.
Last weekend I met up with the avid tea drinkers who know everything there is to know about all kinds of tea. Could I become an avid tea drinker? Maybe.
Today I decided to participate in MLKJ Day of Service. While browsing the list of available projects, I found one called SAVE THE BLUE HERONS!!!!! and I said to myself "Ah! These must be the avid blue heron savers!" Conveniently, this project was happening right here in my neighborhood, so I signed myself up.
Here is some background on the whole heron business. The herons come here to the neighborhood every February to build nests and mate. The Heron Habitat Helpers work to make sure the neighborhood continues to meet with the herons' approval. That means keeping it clean, quiet, and full of good nesting trees.
Today's project was to rip out invasive blackberry and morning glory vines and replace them with lovely native plants such as cedar saplings, salmonberry bushes, Indian plum, and some kind of little bulb. How cool to be able to plant things in the ground in January! I forgot how much I enjoy gardening. I'm hopeless with houseplants, but I love putting plants in the actual earth.
The project was amazingly well organized. Plenty of tools and work for everyone, lunch, and a nice lecture about herons. As someone who used to have a job organizing these one-shot service project type deals, I was super impressed with the Heron Habitat Helpers. I will definitely be stalking the rookery in February and March when the birds get here.
Today was SUNNY so I spent as much time outside as I could. Hopefully I absorbed enough Vitamin D to see me through until July or whenever the sun decides to make another appearance, whichever comes first. I took a walk across the Hiram Chittenden Locks into Ballard, past the Shilshole Bay Marina and up to Golden Gardens Park. Pictures on flickr if you're interested. The zoom on my camera is not so great.
Last weekend I met up with the avid tea drinkers who know everything there is to know about all kinds of tea. Could I become an avid tea drinker? Maybe.
Today I decided to participate in MLKJ Day of Service. While browsing the list of available projects, I found one called SAVE THE BLUE HERONS!!!!! and I said to myself "Ah! These must be the avid blue heron savers!" Conveniently, this project was happening right here in my neighborhood, so I signed myself up.
Here is some background on the whole heron business. The herons come here to the neighborhood every February to build nests and mate. The Heron Habitat Helpers work to make sure the neighborhood continues to meet with the herons' approval. That means keeping it clean, quiet, and full of good nesting trees.
Today's project was to rip out invasive blackberry and morning glory vines and replace them with lovely native plants such as cedar saplings, salmonberry bushes, Indian plum, and some kind of little bulb. How cool to be able to plant things in the ground in January! I forgot how much I enjoy gardening. I'm hopeless with houseplants, but I love putting plants in the actual earth.
The project was amazingly well organized. Plenty of tools and work for everyone, lunch, and a nice lecture about herons. As someone who used to have a job organizing these one-shot service project type deals, I was super impressed with the Heron Habitat Helpers. I will definitely be stalking the rookery in February and March when the birds get here.
Today was SUNNY so I spent as much time outside as I could. Hopefully I absorbed enough Vitamin D to see me through until July or whenever the sun decides to make another appearance, whichever comes first. I took a walk across the Hiram Chittenden Locks into Ballard, past the Shilshole Bay Marina and up to Golden Gardens Park. Pictures on flickr if you're interested. The zoom on my camera is not so great.