City Nature Challenge City Nature Challenge is an international four-day bioblitz that encourages folks to get outside, take as many pictures of plants and animals they find in the wild, and upload them to their iNaturalist app. This event is ordinarily a friendly challenge between cities, but this year the organizers want to embrace the healing power of nature and encourage the collaborative aspect of the City Nature Challenge. The Challenge takes place in 2 parts: For 2021, April 30-May…
Intro to Botanical Names Part Two: Pronunciation By Cynthia Welte In the first blog article on botanical names, we looked at how plant names are constructed. Now … time to get brave and say them out loud! A note on my phonetic spellings: the Æ or æ symbol is an “a” as it is pronounced in cat or Seattle. Accented syllables are in all caps. This isn’t in any way official but is how it makes sense to me. Plant…
Intro to Botanical Names Part One: Understanding Names By Cynthia Welte Those of us who work closely with plants are frequently asked why we use the long, hard-to-remember scientific names instead of simpler common names. To illustrate why, what comes to mind when I ask you to picture a cedar tree? You might be thinking of any of a dozen conifers. But if I’m talking about Thuja plicata, there is only plant I could mean: the Western red cedar (also…
Are you curious about plants and animals? Are you always asking questions about the natural world? Do you like being outdoors and having fun? Then check out the American Public Garden Association’s “Plant Heroes” website. On the website you will find: Videos to learn more about moths, beetles, and fungi and explore each species like a scientist! Read comics about insects and plants Activity books with word puzzles, coloring pages, and other activities related to the comic books Lesson plans…
Planning – and Planting – for Pollinators By Cynthia Welte Home gardeners can do a lot for pollinator species by providing access to shelter, food, water, and nesting space. The Urban Meadow at the Bellevue Botanical Garden is an example of a pollinator-friendly planting. Next time you walk at the Garden, look at the plants and layout for ideas for your garden. Urban and suburban gardens are not too small to create habitat! Many pollinators have a small range, so…
By Kate Sorensen Education Program Manager Happy Earth Day and welcome to our first weekly Education Blog Post! The purpose of these blog posts will be to share thoughts about botanical and nature education for children and youth and to provide a few links to information and activities for families. I’m excited about this first link to a 30-day challenge from TED-ed…and it’s fun for adults too! The first one is about Eating Insects. Ted-Ed Earth School – 30 Day…
Need Inspiration or Gardening Help? These Online Resources Have You Covered! By Nita-Jo Rountree Heronswood Garden—Because Heronswood Garden is currently closed, Dan Hinkley is making weekly videos called “Bark-a-lounger Botanists,” showcasing plants at Heronswood and Windcliff (Dan’s personal garden). Dan gives a complete description of every plant shown. What an education! Longfield Gardens—A very good mail-order company that has a wealth of blogs on their website on a wide variety of topics. FloraTube—Fabulous British gardening videos including “Gardener’s World” with…
Words and Photo by Nita-Jo Rountree Roses are beginning to show us why they’re called the “Queen of Flowers.” The lovely, newly emerging foliage fills us with great anticipation for the scented floral beauty that will soon follow. This is a perfect time to plant containerized roses, and the nurseries are brimming with choices. The other day at Wells Medina Nursery, I saw a man unloading a cart full of roses and compost into his SUV. “You’re going to have…
Earth Day is April 22 Commemorate Earth Day’s 50th anniversary with STEM and environmental education wherever you are! Earth Day Network is committed to supporting parents and teachers in providing engaging environmental education opportunities. As students and parents all over the world face a new reality of learning from home and teachers work hard to transition to digital classes, Earth Day Network is here to help! They have compiled lessons, activities and ideas for students of all ages to engage…
By Daniel Sparler This article is a reprint from the spring issue of The Buzz – a 16-page quarterly newsletter that is mailed to all BBGS members. Enjoy this and several other member benefits by becoming a BBGS member! We’re all practicing social distancing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t work in your own garden! With the arrival of April and daylight saving time, this is the perfect time to get outside on these ever-lengthening, light-drenched afternoons and tackle a…