Where there’s smoke…

Where there’s smoke…

Forest Fires and Climate Change Photo: Forest Fire/Shutterstock Over the month of August, a change in the natural environment invaded King County. From the first sunset made more vibrant from hanging smoke, to the loss of our mountain views and air quality, it was...
Dry Photo Tour

Dry Photo Tour

Wetlands, like Shadow Lake Bog, expand and contract annually in response to our rain patterns. With the drier weather, the bog has been contracting – giving up its water to the surrounding areas and keeping our neighborhood green and growing, despite the summer heat....
Native Plant of the Month: Ocean Spray

Native Plant of the Month: Ocean Spray

The rocky outcroppings and coastal bluffs of the Salish Sea cast up a misty white sheen in the churning surf. But you don’t have commute to the coast to catch a glimpse of the ocean surf crashing on the rocks. Look no further than the well-drained hill tops and rocky...
Animals in Summer: Coyotes

Animals in Summer: Coyotes

Wily coyote is a familiar figure in American folklore. He’s a clever trickster – often mischievous and always seeking personal gain. Real-life coyotes also have a bad reputation – infamous for stealing chickens, house cats, and anything else they can...
Animals in Summer: Pacific Chorus Frogs

Animals in Summer: Pacific Chorus Frogs

Here at the Nature Preserve, summer means listening to the Pacific Chorus Frogs sing in the evening as we pack up for the day. Also known as the Pacific Tree Frog, these amphibians have a reputation for being some of the loudest singers in Washington’s forests....
Native Plant of the Month: Columbines

Native Plant of the Month: Columbines

With curling petals and dramatic coloration, the columbine flower is one of the most stunning native wildflowers in Washington state. These perennial beauties are identified by the petals that give them their scientific name. Columbines are members of...
The Cedar River Watershed

The Cedar River Watershed

Washington State is home to two coastal mountain ranges. When alpine peaks bud up against the open ocean, the result is lots of precipitation! King County is among a limited number of lucky communities in the United States who draw drinking water from an unfiltered,...
Native Plant of the Month: May Flowers

Native Plant of the Month: May Flowers

Spring has most certainly sprung at SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve and our staff cannot get enough of the beautiful wildflowers that are popping up all over the grounds. In fact, there are so many exquisite, perennial native plants in bloom at the moment that we have...
Earth Day: A Native Plant Celebration

Earth Day: A Native Plant Celebration

This Earth Day SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve hosted a native plant celebration! This was an opportunity for participants of all ages to learn about the plants that are native to the Western Washington Coast and how they help to support our complex local ecology. From...
Tahoma Field Trips Underway!

Tahoma Field Trips Underway!

As part of Next Generation Science Standards of Washington State, all fourth graders learn about the processes that shape the surface of the earth. This month, fourth graders from the Tahoma School District are taking this requirement out of the classroom to see the...