by Joy Stewart | Nov 9, 2017 | Native animals
By: Guest Writer Michael Teton Photo by: Ray Owens Have you ever seen small mounds of wood chips at the base of trees? If you live in the Pacific Northwest, during the fall season that tree is probably the new home of a Pileated Woodpecker! This species of woodpecker...
by Joy Stewart | Nov 9, 2017 | Native plants
Snowberry – Symphoricarpos albus By: Guest Writer Michael Teton During the fall and winter seasons at Shadow Lake Bog you may have noticed that all the berries have disappeared except for one very distinctive white berry. This berry, known as the...
by Joy Stewart | Nov 9, 2017 | Goings on at SHADOW, Local environmentalism, Native animals, Native plants, News
If you have been for a walk on the grounds of the Nature Preserve or any Pacific Northwest forest in the last month, chances are you have spotted some mushrooms. Fall rain in this region brings about a generous crop and wide variety of mushrooms, which seem to pop up...
by Joy Stewart | Oct 12, 2017 | Native animals
Fall brings a sparking of dew to the Nature Preserve, and it’s impossible to ignore the cross spiders and their webs that dot the grounds. Although the sight of a spider makes some people cringe, these animals provide an important service for humans. Garden dwelling...
by Joy Stewart | Oct 12, 2017 | Native plants
If you’ve ever hiked beneath a living arch that bends over the trail, odds are you have spotted one of the most beautiful Washington shrub species – the vine maple. This relative of the big leaved maple happily grows in the dense, shady understory of coniferous...
by Joy Stewart | Oct 12, 2017 | Goings on at SHADOW
This year marked the 21st Annual Frog Frolic, SHADOW’s largest community celebration, and the party was hopping! Community members from throughout the Puget Sound region came out to show their support for the Nature Preserve, play games, make crafts, and enjoy...
by Joy Stewart | Oct 12, 2017 | Local environmentalism, Native plants
Have you ever wondered why the leaves change color? In order to understand this process, we have to think about what leaves do for the plant. Leaves are the site of photosynthesis – the chemical process that allows plants to create sugar (which is their energy...
by Joy Stewart | Oct 12, 2017 | Goings on at SHADOW
At this year’s Frog Frolic, we asked you to make the pledge to extend SHADOW’s famous Boardwalk Trail. Thanks to your generous support, we are now closer to our goal than ever! Witness the progress first hand and put your stamp on our new trail –...
by Joy Stewart | Aug 31, 2017 | Native animals
Birds of prey are scientifically classified as indicator species, meaning that the health of the entire ecosystem can be affected by their loss. Healthy ecosystems have birds of prey, but ecosystems under pressure rapidly lose these majestic creatures. Hawks are...
by Joy Stewart | Aug 31, 2017 | Native plants
Polystichum munitum Sword ferns are one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic species. They are native to the west coast and infamously difficult to grow outside of their natural range. Huge fronds radiate from a central base and each leaflet has a tiny hilt...
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