Native plant of the month: Oso Berry, Oemleria cerasiformis
Spring has finally sprung, here in the Pacific Northwest and there is no better herald of spring than our own native plant - Oso Berry, Oemleria cerasiformis. This time of year, Oso Berry is hard to miss - they are among the first plants to leaf out in spring...
5th Grade Fundraisers: Pint sized Conservationists take on Full Grown Problems
This winter, SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve hosted a Wilderness Adventure, field trip in partnership with the Woodland Park Zoo. The students and teacher were particularly concerned about the plight of amphibians and sought out SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve as a leader in...
SHADOW Recommend: iNatrualist App
SHADOW's staff have a new favorite app, available for iphone and android, and we recommend you check it out! If you were a fan of Pokémon Go, then iNaturalist is for you. This app allows citizen scientists to survey the flora and fauna around them and submit their...
Engaging Trees: Survey of culturally significant trees
Survey of culturally significant trees What do trees mean in your life? Can you think of any trees in South King County that are particularly significant in your memory? Have you ever used a distinct tree as a landmark? In the Pacific Northwest, we are blessed...
GiveBIG 2017
So far, 2017 has been a difficult year for the environmental community. The United States' new leadership has made it overwhelmingly clear that it plans to dismantle much of the existing infrastructure for environmental protection. This affront is aimed largely at...
Animals in Winter: The Banana Slug
Just like a true Washingtonian, the banana slug is not deterred by our winter weather and rain. Their cousins, snails, retreat into their shells and hibernate throughout the cold and rain; but not the slug! Despite their relative vulnerability in lacking a shell, the...
Bee My Valentine Celebration Recap
The start of amphibian season means that SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve is hopping! Just this February, the Nature Preserve hosted Bee My Valentine: A Native Pollinator Celebration. Together, we learned about the value of native pollinators and how individuals and...
Native Plant of the Month: Red Osier Dogwood
This native plant is especially eye-catching during winter months when the beautiful red coloring of its bark is especially prominent after a freeze. A fan of moist soil, this plant is often found along streams and in forested wetlands. Besides being beautiful, this...
Its Herping Season!
Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. Herping is the act of searching for these creatures in their natural habitats. Both of the words herpetology and herping come from the Greek root herpeton, meaning 'to creep". This Greek root is particularly...
Bee My Valentine: A Native Pollinator Celebration
If you enjoyed an apple today, you have a pollinator to thank for your snack! In fact, if you ate a strawberry, a lemon, an avocado, or even a batch of French fries, you have a pollinator to thank. One-third of all of the food we consume requires pollinations to get...
Animals in winter: The Douglas Squirrel
John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club and renowned 20th Century naturalist, famously said of the Douglas Squirrel, "He is the mocking-bird of squirrels, pouring forth mixed chatter and song like a perennial fountain; barking like a dog, screaming like a hawk, chirping...
Native Plant Society Classes
The Central Puget Sound Chapter of Washington Native Plant Society is offering a variety of free community classes around King County this winter. Whether you are a Native Plant expert or new to botany, these classes offer interesting information about the...
World Wetlands Day: Support a Local Wetland
Wetlands- the kidneys of a watershed! Wetlands are responsible for filtering water and slowing it down. Wetland complexes like the one at SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve are among the most productive ecosystems on earth. Their unique combination of shallow water, high...
Getting to know the Green/Duwamish Watershed
A raindrop falls in Howard Hanson dam. A raindrop falls in downtown Kent. Raindrops splatter across a Nature Preserve in Renton. How is it that all these raindrops - scattered across a diverse landscape - all make their way out into the Puget Sound? That is the magic...
Animals in winter: The black-capped chickadee
The black-capped chickadee is a common sight in Washington, even in the winter! These perching birds are year-log residents of Washington State. While other birds are heading south the avoid the cold, chickadees stick around and deal with the rain and snow just like...
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2016 Matching Gift Challenge
This winter, SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve challenged our community to help us make the most of an anonymously donated matching fund. The outpouring of support we received for the 2016 Matching Gift Challenged affirmed this community's commitment to environmental...
Last Restoration Work Party of 2016
Volunteers braved the snow and rain this winter to help SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve prepare for our seasonal closure! Together, we raked leaves, frost-proofed pipes, pulled invasive weeds, and prepared for a quiet winter. Thank you so much to all of our volunteers who...
Up Close and Personal: A Micro-Tour of Shadow Lake Bog
You might have heard the phrase, "stop and smell the roses" used to emphasize the importance of noticing the little parts of life. At the Preserve, we certainly have plenty of native nootka roses to stop and smell, but what about in the winter when there are no...
