Getting to the Root of the Matter
October 28, 2023
Today was a perfect day for shoveling! Cool temperatures and a warm sun. Best of all, the soil was moist and loose.
Volunteers were willing to follow up on a hunch and dug down to the concrete fence footing next to a poorly…
To Net or Not
September 30, 2023
To Net or Not
This year I got the hang of netting fruit trees. Not by choice. Our fruit trees were hit by apple maggot fly larvae damage two years ago. The larvae tunnel throughout the apple and ruin the taste (unlike…
Stop and Stare
August 29, 2023
To stop and stare at the plants and trees in the orchard is not only a connection with nature, it is a pathway for better plant care. In recent years, I walked briskly past the plants, like a race horse with blinders on, to…
FECO’s Watershed and its History
July 23, 2023
Eight walkers joined Nancy Helm to learn about the watershed that FECO drains into and to hear about the people who historically used the Ravenna Creek area. Participants added to the history walk with information about native…
State of the Onion – 2023
June 28, 2023
The State of the Onion - 2023
To offer a quick snapshot of the State of the Onion at FECO, we will get the perspective of a few of our residents.
from the voice of the newly hatched Southern Green stink bug ( Nezara…
God Save the King
May 27, 2023
Fruiting spurs on apple trees push out six buds in the spring. The center bud blooms first and will become the largest fruit - the King Blossom! When we thin fruitlets, we usually save the King and discard the others.
There…
Wapato – Against All Odds
April 26, 2023
Hang on to old wash basins, especially if they have a small leak. You never know when you might need to make a water garden!
I am intrigued by wild native plants* that served as food for the Coast Salish Peoples. The food…
The Lovely Lacewing
March 19, 2023
I approached a bush bean plant last year and spotted an insect on a leaf. I waved my hand to shew it away! Then I saw another, but this time I looked closer. A lacewing!
"Come back!", I yelled to the first one, in vain.
How…
Practical Planting Precursers and Phenology
February 17, 2023
If you love nature and are looking for a field of study, consider Botanical phenology. Check out the programs at the University of Arizona, Brandeis, or Northwestern.
Phenology involves noting the dates of seasonal events…