Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail

Middle Fork Snoqualmie River July 2012

Oplopanax horridus (Devil's Club) Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail July 2012

Hylocomium splendens (Step Moss) Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail July 2012

Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail July 2012

Dingford Creek Bridge, Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail July 2012

Click here for more pictures of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail.

The Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail follows the river very closely through the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest northeast of North Bend in King County.  Even though this is a recently disturbed, definitely not old growth forest, it is still quite beautiful.  The land is moist & lush.  The flora is varied & abundant.  The understory here is much more interesting than the trees.  The sight & sound of the river are constant companions.  There are often views of nearby mountains.  The elevation gain is only a few hundred feet, starting at about 1,000 feet above sea level.  It is possible to connect to other trails & continue hiking into steeper country for many miles.  About 4 miles from the trail head is a large & sturdy bridge crossing the roaring falls of Dingford Creek.  This is where I turned back.

Construction of the Ell Alley Garden

The native soil is clay.  

The first pile of compost.

At NurseryTrees.com in November 2013

Stone wall with utilities meters behind.

Ell Alley Garden in November 2013

I moved into Ell Alley with Rusty & Steve on Saturday, November 2, 2013. It was a new townhome at the north end of a building of 5 units, within a development of 41 units in 10 buildings, plus 20 single family homes. Ell Alley is bounded on 2 sides by alleys lined with single-car garages. Because these alleys form an ell (a configuration in the form of the letter L) we decided to name our new home Ell Alley. Ell Alley is located in the Rainier Vista neighborhood, in the Rainier Valley of Seattle. Rainier Vista is comprised of 65 acres of land controlled by the Seattle Housing Authority, which manages apartments rented to people with low incomes, many of them refugees from Somalia & Ethiopia. There are also a number of developments like ours, which are privately owned. The Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) maintains control of the land-use issues for all of Rainier Vista.

The story of the Ell Alley Garden starts at the offices of the Seattle Housing Authority, in Uptown. I met with the project lead on June 1, 2013 to discuss the guidelines for landscaping at Rainier Vista. Screening was strictly prohibited. Shrubs over 4 feet were allowed only against the walls of buildings. It was impossible to place tall shrubs against the walls of our particular townhome, because the utilities meters (gas & electricity) as well as cable boxes for internet & television, for every unit in our building, took up the only blank wall. There was space for planting taller shrubs on 2 walls of the garage. Plants cannot exceed 3 feet in the front yard, or 4 feet in the back yard. After some consideration by the project lead & one revision of my landscape, we were allowed 4 trees spaced 12 feet apart.

10 cubic yards of Cedar Grove compost was delivered on Monday, 11/4. It didn't rain that day & rained very little on 11/5 & 6. I spread most of the compost during that time. It rained fairly heavily on 11/7. It didn't rain on 11/8 & another 5 cubic yards of compost was delivered. That was spread during the next few dry days. There was very little rain until 11/18. I had completed most of the planting & stonework by then. Temperatures were mostly in the 40s & low 50s. Saturday, 11/23 was a beautifully sunny day. Rusty, Steve & I went to NurseryTrees.com in Snohomish to buy 3 Acer circinatum (Vine Maple) & 1 Thuja plicata 'Excelsa' (Excelsa Cedar). Rusty helped me place them in the holes I had already dug. The trees were 7 feet tall with root balls 2 feet in diameter. On 11/25, I bought bark & spread it on the paths. In the evening of 11/26, Rusty helped me place pavers for the walk between the front door & the alley. By Thanksgiving Day on 11/27, the initial work on the garden was done.

We had been planning make a garden of native plants in the area beside the house & garage. We loved the native plants at our private campground & along the trails of the Mountain Loop Highway in the Cascade Mountains. The ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest Coast extends from northern California into the Alaskan pan-handle. I decided to use a few plants that were not native to Washington, but to the region. I moved many from the Cascadia Garden. Some of those had been moved from the Phantom Lake Garden at the home of my grandparents in Bellevue to the Cascadia Garden in 1961. That garden was largely a second-growth forest of 60 acres. We collected other plants from our private campground. I bought more from the Washington Native Plant Society plant sale & from Go Natives!Nursery.

I left our small Patio Garden open to plants from around the world. I ordered quite a number of different bulbs, adding Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop' & Sedum spathulifolium 'Cape Blanco' as ground cover. Hebe recurva, Hemerocallis 'Bela Lugosi, Hemerocallis 'Rootbeer' & Luzula sylvatica 'Aurea' was moved from the Cascadia Garden. I bought Alchemilla mollis, Campanula 'Birch Hybrid', Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwood's Column', Daboecia cantabrica, 3 more types of Hebe (H. ochracea 'James Stirling', H. pinguifolia 'Pagei' & H. 'Red Edge') & Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'. The patio garden includes a wall of cement blocks, in 2 tiers, down to the parking pad. I placed Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Massachusetts', Juniperus conferta & Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus' to trail down from the upper tier.

The area in front of our unit was landscaped by the builder with a wide swath of Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis & Juniperus conferta, along with a single Hydrangea quercifolia. This garden is shaded by a large ash tree (Fraxinus sp.) of undetermined species. Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove) Dryopteris erythrosora (Autumn Fern) hellebores (H. foetidus, H. x hybridus & H. 'Ivory Prince') & Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver' were added to the Ash Tree Garden.

Native Garden Plant List

Trees

Acer circinatum (Vine Maple)

Thuja plicata ‘Excelsa’ (Western Red Cedar)

Shrubs

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Glauca Compacta’ from Forest Farm 2008 via the Cascadia Garden 2013

Mahonia repens (Creeping Mahonia) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Ribes sanguineum ‘White Icicle’ (White Flowering Currant) from cuttings taken from the Cascadia Garden 2012

Rubus parviflorus (Thimbleberry) from TRC 2012

Sambucus racemosa ssp. pubens var. arborescens (Red Elderberry) from TRC 2012

Thuja plicata 'Grune Kugel' (Globe Western Red Cedar) from West Seattle Nursery 2013

Perennials

Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) from WNPS 2013

Achlys triphylla (Vanilla Leaf) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Aruncus dioicus (Goatsbeard) from WNPS 2013

Aster chilensis (California Aster) from seed collected where? 2013

Athyrium cyclosorum (Lady Fern) from Cascadia Garden & TRC 2013

Blechnum spicant (Deer Fern) from City People’s & TRC 2013

Camassia quamash (Camas) from John Scheepers 2012

Erigeron speciosus (Showy Fleabane) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Erythronium oregonum (Fawn Lily) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Geum macrophyllum (Largeleaf Avens) from WNPS 2013

Gymnocarpium dryopteris (Oak Fern) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Lilium columbianum (Tiger Lily) from WNPS 2013

Iris douglasiana (Douglas Iris) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Luzula piperi (Wood Rush) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Penstemon serrulatus (Coast Beardtongue) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Penstemon venustus (Blue Mountain Penstemon) from WNPS 2013

Polypodium glycyrrhiza (Licorice Fern) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Polystichum munitum (Western Sword Fern) from Cascadia Garden & TRC 2013

Potentilla anserina var. pacifica (Silverweed) from WNPS 2013

Smilacina racemosa (False Solomon’s Seal) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Stachys cooleyae (Cooley’s Hedge Nettle) from WNPS 2013

Tellima grandiflora (Fringe Cup) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Trillium ovatum (Western Wakerobin) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Groundcovers

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Massachusetts’ from McClendon’s 2013

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Vancouver Jade’ from McClendon’s 2013

Asarum caudatum (Wild Ginger) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Dicentra formosa (Pacific Bleeding Heart) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Fragaria vesca (Woodland Strawberry) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Maianthemum dilatatum (False Lily of the Valley) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Oxalis oregana (Redwood Sorrel) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Smilacina stellata (Starry False Solomon’s Seal) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Patio Garden Plant List

Plants in Pots

Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple) seedling found in Cascadia Garden 2012

Alnus rubra (Red Alder) from TRC 2012

Callistemon pallidus from Pat Calvert Greenhouse 2005, moved from Cascadia Garden 2013

Callistemon subulatus seedling found in potted plants brought from Cascadia Garden 2013

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (Port Orford Cedar) seedling found in pot at Rusty’s house 2011

Cupressus lusitanica (Portuguese Cypress) from seed collected at Castelo de São Jorge in Lisbon in 2012

Cupressus sempervirens (Italian Cypress) from seed collected at Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, Italy in 2006

Eriogonum umbellatum (Sulfur Wild Buckwheat) from WNPS 2013

Fritillaria pudica from seed from WNPS 2002

Hebe recurva seedling found in Cascadia Garden 2012

Lewisia leana from Mt Tahoma Nursery 2005 & 2008

Maihuenia poeppigii from Kerston’s Nursery @ NHS Fall Sale 2005

Phlomis fruticosa from seed collected on Cascadia Avenue 2011

Pinus bungeana (Lacebark Pine) from Forest Farm 2008

Pinus edulis (Pinyon) from Forest Farm 2005

Pinus leucodermis (Bosnian Pine) from Forest Farm 2006

Pinus peuce (Macedonian Pine) from Forest Farm 2008

Quercus gambelii (Gambel Oak) from Forest Farm 2005

Quercus kelloggii (California Black Oak) from Forest Farm 2008

Thuja plicata (Western Red Cedar) seedling found in Cascadia Garden 2012

Tsuga heterophylla (Western Hemlock) from Copper Creek 1993

Shrubs

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwood’s Pillar’ from Wells Medina 2013

Daboecia cantabrica ‘Atropurpurea’ from City People’s 2013

Hebe ‘Red Edge’ from City People’s 2013

Hebe ochracea ‘James Stirling’ from City People’s 2013

Perennials

Alchemilla mollis ‘Auslese’ (Lady’s Mantle) from McClendon’s 2013
Allium cristophii (Star of Persia) from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Allium karataviense from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Allium nigrum from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Campanula ‘Birch Hybrid’ from Wells Medina 2013

Calochortus venustus (Mariposa Lily) from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Chionodoxa luciliae (Glory of the Snow) from McClure & Zimmerman 201

Crocus sieberi from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Euphorbia rigida from Cascadia Garden 2013

Hemerocallis ‘Bela Lugosa’ from Roots & Rhizomes 2004

Hemerocallis ‘Root Beer’ from Roots & Rhizomes 2010  

Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Woodstock’ from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Iris ‘Blue Magic’ (Dutch Iris) from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Iris bucharica from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Leucojum vernum from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Lewisia cotyledon from City People’s & Wells Medina 2013

Lilium ‘Ariadne’ from The Lily Garden 2013

Lilium ‘Copper Crown’ from The Lily Garden 2013

Lilium ‘Yellow Whoppers’ from The Lily Garden 2013

Lilium ‘Pizzazz’ from The Lily Garden 2013

Lilium ‘Silk Road’ from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Luzula sylvatica ‘Aurea’ from Cascadia Garden 2013

Narcissus ‘Baby Moon’ from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Narcissus ‘Beersheba’ from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Narcissus ‘Hawera’ from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Narcissus ‘Jack Snipe’ from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Narcissus ‘King Alfred’ from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Narcissus ‘Little Gem’ from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Narcissus ‘Minnow’ from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Narcissus ‘Thalia’ from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Narcissus ‘W. P. Milner’ from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Ornithogalum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem) from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Paeonia mascula (Peony) from Botanica 2013

Paeonia veitchii (Peony) from Heronswood 2004 & Botanica 2013

Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’ from Wells Medina 2013

Scilla peruviana (Giant Squill) from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Tulipa batalinii ‘Red Jewel’ from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Tulipa ‘Little Princess’ from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Tulipa tarda from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Tulipa turkestanica from McClure & Zimmerman 2013

Groundcovers & Trailers

Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ (Carpet Bugle) from West Seattle Nursery 2012

Hebe pinguifolia ‘Pagei’ from City People’s 2013

Lamium maculatum ‘Beacon Silver’ from Cascadia Garden 2013

Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’ (Trailing Rosemary) from City People’s 2013

Sedum divergens (Spreading Stonecrop) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Sedum oreganum (Oregon Stonecrop) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Sedum oregonense (Cream Stonecrop) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Sedum palmeri (Palmer’s Stonecrop) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Sedum spathulifolium ‘Cape Blanco’ (Pacific Stonecrop) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Sedum spathulifolium ‘Carnea’ (Pacific Stonecrop) from Cascadia Garden 2013

Thymus vulgarus (Culinary Thyme) from City People’s 2013

Ash Tree Garden

Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’ (Autumn Fern) from McClendon’s 2013

Helleborus foetidus (Stinking Hellebore) from McClendon’s 2013

Helleborus ‘Ivory Prince’ from McClendon’s 2013

Hydrangea quercifolia installed by builder 2013

Juniperus conferta (Shore Juniper) installed by builder 2013

Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis (Himalayan Sweet Box) installed by builder 2013

November in Seattle

Araucaria araucana (Monkey Puzzle Tree) on Leticia Ridge in November 2013.

Houses built in the 2000s on Leticia Ridge (with Cascadia Ridge beyond) in November 2013. 

House built in the 1920s on Leticia Ridge in November 2013.

Apartments built in the 2000s in Rainier Vista East in November 2013

Houses recently completed in Rainier Vista East in November 2013

November 2013 in Seattle was significantly warmer & much drier than normal.  The mean temperature was 47.9F/8.83C.  The normal mean temperature is 45.4F/7.44C.  Total precipitation was 3.79 inches/96.27mm.  Normal precipitation is 6.57 inches/166.88mm.  The highest temperature was 64F/17.78C on 11/1.  The lowest 31F/-0.56C on 11/21.  There was 1 day with heavy rain, 5 days with rain, 18 days with light rain, 16 days with fog (4 of them with visibility at less than 1/4 mile) 1 day with haze, 19 cloudy days, 7 partly cloudy days & 4 fair days.   It was about as beautiful as November in Seattle can possibly be. 

The photos above were taken within a few blocks of my new home in Rainier Vista, in the Rainier Valley.  I moved into the house on November 2, 2013.  By Thanksgiving Day (11/27) I had made a new garden, mostly of west coast native plants.  I brought plants from the Cascadia Garden, collected more at a private campground in the Cascade Mountains & bought even more from Go Natives! Nursery in Shoreline.  Trees came from NurseryTrees.com in Snohomish.  Below are photos of the new garden.

Ell Alley Garden in November 2013.

Wahkeena Falls

Wahkeena Falls December 2012

Wahkeena Falls December 2012

Wahkeena Falls December 2012

Wahkeena Falls December 2012

Wahkeena Falls can be found along the Columbia River Gorge in Multnomah County, Oregon.  It is not far from the City of Portland, on the Historic Columbia River Highway. A short trail from the parking lot leads to a stone bridge crossig the main part of the falls. The trail continues east to Multnomah Falls, where there is a much larger parking lot, & a lodge with a restaurant & restrooms.  Although Multnomah Falls is more famous & has a longer drop, I think Wahkeena Falls is more immediate & exciting.  You can get quite close to the water, which sends great clouds of mist across the bridge.  The rock formations remind me of a Chinese scroll painting.  It is also much less crowded with tourists.  But please see both falls while you are here.  You can walk or drive between them.  The falls are most abundant in winter & spring.