Help improve Ronald Bog Park this Saturday, April 11th

Here's a fun way to get involved in your community, meet some neighbors and do good for the environment. Join a work party at Ronald Bog Park this Saturday, April 11th from 9am to noon.

Bring loppers, pruners, shovels, rakes and forks to remove more blackberries and plant some native plants. Everyone is welcome!

For more information, call Dick Decker at 206-542-1552

Link to see more photos of improvements at Ronald Bog park

Link to more articles about Ronald Bog park

"All of this used to be bog" - lessons from an urban nature walk

One of the first (and most interesting) things I learned today is that a wide swath of Shoreline was once all bog. This fascinating fact was imparted by Jennifer Youngman. Jennifer is Outreach Coordinator for Homewaters Project, an organization that exists to create "an engaged and informed citizenry by connecting people to nature and each other in the context of their home communities."

A group of about 15 people braved the cold and rain to meet with Jennifer on a Saturday morning to learn about watersheds and storm drains, beavers and peat, native plants and invasive species, while following (on foot) the main branch of Thornton Creek's North Fork from its headwaters to Twin Ponds.

Jennifer (green jacket) is showing us the path of Thornton Creek

The group met in the parking lot at Twin Ponds park. Jennifer showed us a big map of Thornton Creek and gave us a basic idea of the journey we were about to embark upon, then we were off.

The future of Cromwell Park

First stop: Cromwell Park at 180th and Meridian. Cromwell Park will be undergoing some big changes this summer. We saw a map of the new layout and it is totally different than the current one. Among other changes, the baseball field and the playground will both be moved and there will be new paths installed throughout the park. Other improvements, including wetland restoration, will be a positive change for the watershed and the natural environment in general.

The group gathers at Ronald Bog Park

Second stop: Ronald Bog Park. Jennifer told us a little bit of the history of Ronald Bog and a bit about the nature and ecology of bogs in general. Did you know people used to pick cranberries at Ronald Bog? That was back when it was an actual bog. Alas, back in the 1950s all the peat was harvested from the bog. So now Ronald "Bog" isn't a bog at all. It's a pond.

Info sign at the arboretum at Ronald Bog Park

While at Ronald Bog Park, we checked out the new-ish Pacific Northwest Conifer Arboretum. Jennifer encouraged us to return here on our own to explore the place more fully. She also explained that not all conifers keep their needles year-round. Indeed, "conifer" simply means "cone-bearing." We saw an example of a deciduous conifer - the tamarack tree. It had dropped its needles, but was sporting many little cones.

From Ronald Bog Park we walked south down Meridian Ave., where we encountered Dick Decker working at removing invasive blackberries from the edge of the pond. He and a group of local citizens have regular work parties to improve Ronald Bog by removing invasives and replacing them with native species.

That's Dick Decker in the orange vest

We then meandered along the south side of Ronald Bog, along some little paths I never before knew existed, through James Keough Park (aka 'Freeway Park'), and found ourselves at our next destination.

At the recycling station

Third stop: Shoreline Recycling Center. Outside of a chainlink fence on the northern side of the recycling center Jennifer talked out how the (fairly huge) building there was LEED certified, meaning that it meets certain environmentally friendly standards. We also learned how and where the creek runs through this part of Shoreline.

Next we walked around to the main entrance of the recycling center to check out the educational display they have there. It's not only informative - it's also really cool, with a multi-colored river made of recycled glass. The display reminds us that we're "always in a watershed."

Journeying on, we walked out of the south side of the recycling center, past the 'bus barn' and headed south towards our final destination.

Walking into Twin Ponds Park

Fourth stop: Twin Ponds Park. We learned how water moves through this park and we also learned that several of the improvements to the park over the years were made by Eagle scouts, including the construction of a sturdy little bridge and the removal of a bunch of junk metal. We saw the 'trail of cedars' and Jennifer showed us a 'secret' hidden-away little arboretum at Twin Ponds. Somehow, back in the early 1990s a man named John Dixon convinced King County to let him plant a tree there. Then more trees. Over the years he kept on planting trees and cleaning the place up - removing concrete debris, etc. Now, nearly two decades later, John is still taking care of this place. It really is a hidden gem.

Jennifer answering questions in the 'secret' arboretum at Twin Ponds

We walked back to the parking lot where Jennifer gave us each some informative brochures produced by the Homewaters Project including a really nice map of the Thornton Creek watershed, some general information about Homewaters, and some info about a fundraising party Homewaters is holding on May 18th.

Although it was cold and rainy most of the time we were out, I still really enjoyed this walk and I would recommend it to anyone interested in how the natural world flows on all around us all the time. Jennifer was a great teacher and a pleasure to spend time with.

Check out the Homewaters website. There is a lot there to explore, including a virtual tour of the Thornton Creek watershed, ideas for fun activities, volunteer opportunities, and of course, information about upcoming events.

In conclusion, allow me to remind you that "you're always in a watershed." And when you're in the Thorton Creek watershed, remember that "all of this used to be bog!" :)

Link to see more photos from today's urban nature walk through Shoreline.

Link to get a free walking map of Shoreline that you can print out.

Were you on this walk? (or a previous one?) Please add your reflections, thoughts, memories, ideas etc. to the comment section.

Music and video by local composer J.C. Combs

Composer and musician James (J.C.) Combs lives in Shoreline. 

He filmed this brief video at Ronald Bog Park (in the snow) last November.

James says "I compose non-pop music out of Seattle. I also run Amaranth Arthouse Music, a blog that explores the contemporary music scene."

Listen to some of his music here:

Link to James at reverbnation.com 

Link to Amaranth Arthouse Music blog

Link to James Combs on Twitter

Ronald Bog planting party on Saturday Jan 17th

Dick Decker says:

The extreme cold/snow/rain doesn't appear to have caused much damage at Ronald Bog but we won't know until later this spring what might have been killed from the freeze.

The Meridian Park Neighborhood Association (MPNA) will continue planting at Ronald Bog along Meridian Ave. North south of North 175th this Saturday (January 17, 2009) from 9am to noon. MPNA will have a wide selection of native trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants and groundcovers. You're invited to join the 'Planting Party'! Bring a friend, spouse, son, daughter, Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa. Bring shovels, pitchforks, rakes and gloves. Dress for the weather. They’ll have some treats and water.

For more info: Dick Decker 206-542-1552

The photo above is from work being done at the bog last September.

Link to see more photos of improvements at Ronald Bog park

Link to more articles about Ronald Bog park

Improvements to Ronald Bog Park and Meridian Park School

Meridian Park School

Meridian Park School

Ronald Bog Park

Ronald Bog Park

As you may know, Meridian Park Neighborhood Association (MPNA) has had many weeding and landscaping work parties at Ronald Bog Park. More than 40 yards of invasive blackberries were removed from Ronald Bog park in late August. You can now see the water, turtles, frogs, ducks, and other birds on a daily basis. Approximately 100 appropriate plants and trees have been planted at the bog. That project is being led by Master Gardener Dick Decker.

There have also been monthly work parties at Meridian Park School with the neighborhood association and the PTA working together. This has resulted in most of the flower beds being weeded and the 6 beds in the parking lot weeded, barked and planted. That project is usually lead by David Drummond and Bob Pacunski and aided by members of the Meridian Park Neighborhood Association under Chairperson Gretchen Atkinson & her board. The MPNA wrote the grant that paid for all of the plants going into both the Bog and the School.

Now there is an expansion of the Ronald Bog project being carried out by Eagle Scout Candidate Victor Casarez. He and 14 other scouts and adults started removing blackberries from the north end of the lake below the bus stop shelter. They will be there again this Saturday from 9am to noon. Once the blackberries are removed that group will also be planting trees and native plants, many of which will be furnished through the neighborhood association.

(This information was sent to us by Gretchen Atkinson. Thanks Gretchen!)

Link to see more photos of the work being done at Ronald Bog Park

Link to see more photos of the work being done at Meridian Park School

Pacific Northwest Conifer Arboretum at Ronald Bog park

I've been wondering for nearly four months if the 'wooden sign thingy' at Ronald Bog was erected for a particular purpose. Well, the answer has been revealed. 

On Monday October 13, 2008 a dedication ceremony was held for the freshly groomed  Pacific Northwest Conifer Arboretum near the parking lot. And it turns out that the 'wooden sign thingy' (as I've called it in the past) is actually a "kiosk." And that kiosk is now dedicated to providing information about the trees in the arboretum. 

This side of the kiosk faces the parking lot.
Click the link below to see the other side.

A map of the arboretum

Link to: more photos of the kiosk and arboretum at Ronald Bog park (including details of the reverse side of the kiosk)

Link to: other posts labeled "Ronald Bog"

Dedication ceremony at Ronald Bog park today at 5pm

The arboretum and new kiosk at Ronald Bog park will be dedicated this afternoon at 5pm.

Here's the text of an email from Amy Bryant of the Meridian Park Neighborhood Association:

Nestled in the northeast corner of Ronald Bog Park on N 175^th Street in Shoreline is an Arboretum boasting 25 species of native conifers. Since 1992, the Rotary Club of Shoreline has been planting and nurturing these trees not only to provide a special place for the community to enjoy, but to add a valuable environmental resource for local educators to share with their students

The Shoreline Rotary didn’t just stop with trees. Since the Club had adopted Ronald Bog Park, over the years it also enhanced the park with plantings and, most recently, a new kiosk.

On Monday, Oct. 13, the City of Shoreline is hosting a dedication to recognize the hard work Shoreline Breakfast Rotary has invested in Ronald Bog Park. The ceremony will be at 5:00 p.m. near the parking lot off N 175^th Street. Additional parking is available at Meridian Park Elementary School on the corner of Meridian Avenue N and N 175^th Street.

“Organizations such as Rotary with members who are dedicated to sharing their talents, time and resources with the community are a major reason Shoreline is a great place to live,” says Shoreline Mayor Cindy Ryu. “We are grateful they have adopted Ronald Bog Park as an ongoing project and are fortunate to have them in the Shoreline community.”

The Arboretum project began in 1992 to celebrate International Rotary’s theme of environmental projects. Shoreline Rotary originally planted 10 each of 16 species of conifers with the help of Shorewood High School students.

The project followed Shoreline Rotary President Mike Rancich when he helped form the Shoreline Breakfast Rotary in 1994. Over the years, the Club maintained the Arboretum, adding trees to cover attrition and enhancing the park with other plantings including adding 2,500 bulbs around the picnic shelter and other areas.

Rancich and Dick Nicholson led the most recently completed project that added nine more species of Pacific Northwest conifers, an interpretative kiosk and a permanent trail with financing from Shoreline Breakfast Rotary, Rotary District 5030 and the City of Shoreline.

Link to: all posts about Ronald Bog park

Gravelled and green at Ronald Bog park

I noticed a couple of recent changes to Ronald Bog park this morning. There is now gravel covering the new-ish winding little path east of the parking lot. There is also a "green roof" on the signboard. Here's a few photos.

The newly graveled path

Where the gravel meets the grass

The new 'green roof' on the wooden sign thingy

Link to: all articles about Ronald Bog park

Link to: hear some music from a CD called 'Gravelled and Green' by Seattle band Actual Tigers

Want to help clean up Ronald Bog? Work party this Saturday!

The Meridian Park Neighborhood Association will be hosting a work party at Ronald Bog, this Saturday, September 13th, to clean out some of the blackberries and other invasive plants that clog parts of the park. To help, come down to the Bog between 9 am and noon on Saturday, and bring work gear – remember that those blackberries are sticker-laden, so you'll want to wear jeans or heavy pants and definitely bring gloves. Also useful would be tools like wheelbarrows, rakes, and so on.

As this ongoing cleanup of the bog continues into fall, the association will be planting more native plants and encouraging the wonderful variety of wildlife that is attracted to natural spaces. Have you noticed the turtles that often come out to sun themselves on the logs at the water's edge? There are even reports that blue herons have been spotted there!

If you'd like any more information about the cleanup project, please contact Dick Decker at 206-542-1552, or Mark Tomboulian at 206-546-3261.

Photos from Ronald Bog Work Party last week

On August 29, 2008 there was a work party at Ronald Bog park in Shoreline to remove blackberries and other invasive species.

Thanks to Dick Decker for the following information and photos:

Eighteen volunteers accumulated over 90 hours removing blackberries along Meridian Avenue. The lead was Tomboulian Landscaping, a landscape firm owned by Mark Tomboulian, a Meridian Park Neighborhood resident. His crew (equipment, trucks, etc.) assisted by a Boy Scout contingent from Troop 325 and Dick Decker removed approx. 40 yards of blackberry debris. We have a work party scheduled for 9/13/08 Saturday 9 to noon to remove blackberry roots and spread arbor chips to hold the soil and reduce the reemergence of the blackberries. Later in the fall native plants will be planted to begin restoring the shoreline. This project, headed by the Meridian Park Neighborhood Association, will cover approx. 600 feet along Meridian and 200 + feet along North 175th. The project will take at least two years to remove invasives and plant natives but a couple of years longer to keep the new plants alive.







Link to: More photos from this event

Work party at Ronald Bog parkFriday Aug. 29, 2008

Click the flyer to see a larger version

UPDATE: Click here to see photos from this event

For more info call Dick Decker at (206) 542-1552
or Mark Tomboulian at (206) 546-3261

The blackberries are ripening in Shoreline

Blackberries at Ronald Bog

When I first moved to Shoreline I was very happy to discover that there were wild blackberries growing all over the place, free for the picking! I quickly learned that they are widely reviled in these parts because they're an invasive species that pretty much takes over everything. So they're bad news for native plants and a real pain to try to eradicate.

So that's a bummer.

I have to admit, though, that I still enjoy a hot blackberry cobbler made with fresh (free) blackberries.

At any rate, the breaking news is that the wild, invasive, troublesome blackberries are turning ripe in Shoreline!

What do you think about the blackberries? Post your thoughts to the comments section. Better yet, if you have a yummy blackberry recipe, post that to the comments section!

A new trail at Ronald Bog park

It looks like a little meandering walking trail is being added to Ronald Bog park. Recently they put a big wooden sign thingy next to the parking lot at Ronald Bog. Now this! The trail starts at the parking lot, (right near the new sign) and wanders around in that green area between the parking lot and the on-ramp to I-5. The trail doesn't really seem to go anywhere in particular. Perhaps it is intended to just be a pleasant little stroll?

At any rate, that part of the park has never really seemed to get used much. Maybe it'll see more action in the future.

The trail starts at the parking lot

Do you know anything about this? What do you think about the idea? We'd love to know your thoughts. Click below to add your comments.

Link to: earlier post about the installation of the sign thingy

Link to: all posts about Ronald Bog park

New wooden sign thingy at Ronald Bog park

Ooh. Something new at Ronald Bog park. I wonder what this will be used for? Perhaps to display the history of Ronald Bog? Or maybe one of those poster/display things that teaches about the environment and the watershed and how a bog works, etc? We shall see!

A bit of history: Ronald Bog Park

Ronald Bog Park

The Shoreline Historical Museum offers a map of North King County that highlights local historic sites. There is an entry for Ronald Bog Park and here's what it says:

Headwaters to the northern part of the Thornton Creek watershed, the ancient peat bog covered several acres of land. Native Americans living in the area picked cranberries there, as did settlers into the 1940s. A small pond formed at certain times of the year, and people reported having skated on it. At one time, a wooden bridge on 175th crossed the north side. The bog was mined for its peat throughout the late 1940s and 1950s. In 1974 the land was purchased by King County and turned into a park, now a City of Shoreline park.

So Ronald Bog was apparently once a cranberry bog! How 'bout that?

Link to: Other blog posts labeled 'Ronald Bog'

Tulips in the sun at Ronald Bog park

The sun shone on Shoreline this afternoon!
The tulips were so happy they obscured the sign. :)

Shoreline's environment in 1859

Interpretive map of Shoreline's environment in 1859.

This map is on display at the Shoreline Historical Museum

Slightly blurry close up of the map's inset legend

Ronald Bog, back in the day! :)

A few photos of an interpretive map that is on display at the Shoreline Historical Museum. Here is some information that is posted next to the map:

In 1855, a survey was taken of the land throughout North King County. Carlton's Register Books record the trees and their sizes in inches and the types of undergrowth at the juncture of section lines and along township lines, as well as noting aspects such as burned areas, wetlands and trails. The plant species and tree sizes shown on the map are those that the surveyor observed at the juncture of each section. Plants were recorded by their common name. The actual species names are based on what is known to have existed in the area at the time, and are deduced from the surveyor's records.

The native people living in the area traditionally kept areas in the forest open by controlled burning. The purpose of this was to create meadows where edible plants could be cultivated and berries encouraged, and to which small game would be attracted. Evidence of these burns were recorded by Carlton (1855-1859), and the method of cultivation corroborated by local Native Americans' testimony during the 1920's.

Research by David Buerge, interpretive map by Todd Gamble.

Click here for other posts about The Shoreline Historical Museum.