Parks

Celebrate the Original Slow Food: Apples

Show your support for local folks who take the long-term view of food production. Thursday (11/3) from 5-8 pm, join City Fruit, Northwest Cider Association, and Northwest Sustainability Collaborative for a night of cider tasting from some of the best hard cider makers in the region. For $20 you get 5 tastes. Get your ticket on-line or at the door at 314 First Ave. S.  Every dollar goes toward helping feed hungry people in our community. To learn more and purchase…

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Wallingford Playfield play area closed for one week

Last night as I was walking the dogs through Wallingford Playfield, I noticed a chain link fence around the perimeter of the play area. It was too dark to snap any pictures, so I emailed Dewey Potter, the Communications Manager at Seattle Parks and Rec and asked her what was up. She replied: Hi Margaret— Our crew is repairing the pathways inside the play area, and they are posting signs today that explain that. Reader Kimberly went to the Playfield this…

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You Don’t See One of These Every Day

I haven’t received any urgent garden questions from Wallyhood readers lately, so I decided to take a tour around to see if there were any notable horticultural wonders. Sure enough, I spotted something. More on that below, but first, a reminder to send your garden questions anytime to me, Jeanie, at [email protected]. So, the horticultural wonder: when they're not in bloom Chilean fire trees (Embothrium coccineum) blend in to the green background we Seattleites are used to. They tend to be…

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Wallingford swings!

Next time you're at the Wallingford Playfield or Meridian Park, you'll notice a a bright cheery, yellow addition to the swings.  The Fremont Rotary Club has donated one ADA accessible swing for each park that are designed for kids with special needs.  The donation is part of the Fremont Rotary's "Yellow Swing Campaign" of which a total of four swings were donated to local playgrounds. The Fremont Rotary aligned themselves with the "Seattle Children's Playgarden" organization which serves to provide children…

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Come Wassail Away

Used to be, when I thought of wassailing, I'd picture Christmas carolers in full Victorian-era costume, going door-to-door to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  But in reality, as I've come to learn, wassailing is a centuries-old English tradition, with one form that's deeply-rooted in apple trees. Apple Wassailing dates back to the 16th century, though some may believe the tradition began as a Pagan ritual. This type of wassailing is to pay homage to apple trees…

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Tennis anyone?

Two years ago, when the tennis courts at nearby Woodland Park were resurfaced, I was green with envy.  Seeing those bright blue rectangular boxes outlined in brilliant white made me wish our tennis courts at the Wallingford Playfield would get an upgrade, too. Well, if you’ve recently been to the Wallingford Playfield, you’ll know my wish came true.  Our two little courts have been repainted.  And they look mah-velous! But wait!  Before you get too excited in thinking that our courts…

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Hula hoops and devil sticks

During one of my daily walks this week, I spotted this flier next to the east entrance of the Wallingford Playfield.  Not only was I drawn to the elaborate detail on the flier, but I was intrigued by the items listed as missing:  hula hoops, frisbees, and devil sticks.  I figured, someone took a lot of time to create such a flier, and so these items must have sentimental value for that person. When I got home, I called the number…

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