Ecology

Spring – Season for Pests

And I don't mean the annoying neighbors partying into the wee hours. Nancy writes that there are some recent Wallyhood Forum questions about aphids. Upon reading the various comments, it appears that aphids, whiteflies, midges, flies, or other winged creatures may be causing consternation among gardeners and homeowners alike. The key to putting one's mind at ease regarding creatures is Make sure you get a good i.d. This is THE most important thing to do. Without a proper identification, you can't…

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Celebrate Earth Day at Chroma Salon

In honor of Earth Day tomorrow (4/22), Wallyhood sponsor Chroma Salon and and Spa will host it’s first annual cut-a-thon.  The event will take place at their Wallingford location, 1905 N 45th St., from 1 to 6 p.m. All proceeds from haircuts and spa services will go to benefit the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, whose mission is to stop pollution from entering Puget Sound.  Puget Soundkeeper Alliance actively patrols and monitors the waters of Puget Sound, the only environmental group to do so. Chroma Salon and Spa works exclusively with AVEDA, whose…

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Moles – do we love them or hate them?

The signs are familiar: mounds of fresh crumbly soil, raised shallow ridges of earth, or a lumpy area in the garden that collapses when you flatten it down; moles are busy. Some people have especially sharp reactions to moles - or mole-signs more precisely. Those of a tidy nature tend to think that mole hills and tunnels ruin the perfect greensward of a lawn. There is often a suspicion of plant damage. I am happy to accept the little guys as…

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Wallingford Weed

 Noxious weeds are non-native plants that, once established, are highly destructive, competitive and difficult to control. They have economic and ecological impacts and are very difficult to manage once they get established. Some are toxic or a public health threat to humans and animals, others destroy native and beneficial plant communities. --King County Noxious Weed Control Program I frequently try to persuade people not to kill things just because they are inconvenient (animals, insects, you may remember my moss post). I…

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Dr. Doo’s Holidoo

Kisses might begin with the letter "k," but they don't begin with "Kay."  And I will not be adding the Lexus ringtone to my partner's phone Christmas Eve (sorry, honey!). I just spent a week at a hotel/mall that's been overtaken by holiday-themed consumerism.  They charge $30 to decorate gingerbread cookies with "Gingy" while waiting to have a photo taken with Santa. The 19-story atrium is decked out in twinkly Christmas lights.  Christmas trees line the hotel lobby. Parking valets wear…

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The Garden in Winter

Getting the garden ready for winter is often enlightening. As you are out cleaning up old stalks, raking leaves, or picking up wormy apples, you might also find some interesting ground beetles or other insects searching for food on a semi-dry or warm day. It’s often the first clue that there is more going on out there than it seems. This is a good time to think about how your garden serves the creatures who stay here for the winter –…

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You heard it here first – plus herbs for beginners

Moss update: after the post on Wallyhood about moss, there were two more mossy articles – one in the Seattle Times, and one in the NY Times. However, we can proudly say that Wallingford residents had their fingers on the pulse (also Ciscoe, who mentioned moss in his column on the same day) because our moss articles came out first! Marina writes: Could you write a beginner's guide to growing herbs (ideally on a porch) here? Are some herbs better than…

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