TRIP PLANNER: ORCAS ISLAND PG. 78
Rhubarb: More Than Just Dessert
An Olympian Reflects on Her Career
Northern State Hospital’s Legacy
SUMMER CAMPS FOR ADULTS
BRINGING MINDFULNESS TO GOLF
SCENIC TREKS FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS
GARDEN UPGRADES: BACKYARD HABITATS + PLAYFUL DECOR
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WASHINGTON April | May
volume 36
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BACKYARD HABITAT SURELY, YOU’VE SEEN the signs. Tucked unobtrusively into front yards and gardens, they will refer to the premises as either a “certified habitat” or “habitat in progress.” What’s it all mean? Such markers represent the work of home habitat certification programs, led by organizations like the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Habitat at Home, and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), in an effort to decrease habitat loss. “By creating habitat for wildlife at home, you are helping to offset the acres of habitat that are lost to housing and urban development each year in Washington,” noted the Habitat at Home program website. As of 2022, NWF estimated 11,000 Certified Wildlife Habitats across Washington. Let’s see what it takes to become one of them. THE BASICS Every habitat needs to provide the basics to encourage local species to grow and flourish, including: food, water, shelter, and space to raise young. There should also be a form of resource conservation or sustainable practices at work. Yards of different sizes will have modified requirements. For instance, a small space will need to provide two habitat elements, including food and plants for shelter, while bigger residential spaces need three elements.
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home + design
FOOD Native plants will be the best source of food, and some varieties can double as shelter and a place to raise young. Feeders supplied with seeds, nuts, berries, suet cakes, or pollen are also allowed. Habitat at Home recommends a variety of plants and food sources in order to foster access year-round.
WATER This will be a spot for animals to bathe and drink water, like a bird bath, garden pond, or river, lake, or stream. SHELTER AND A PLACE TO RAISE YOUNG Shrubs, log piles, and evergreens are all natural ways to provide shelter for animals to rest, escape weather or predators and raise their young. These can be supplemented with creative interventions on the part of the homeowner, such as a bird house, bat house, insect hotel or a mason bee house.
GARDEN GOODS Bring whimsey to your yard
RESOURCE CONSERVATION These don’t have to be that advanced or complicated: pick an option that appeals to you. For instance, create a rain garden to conserve soil and water. Capture roof water via a rain chain. Reduce or eliminate a grass lawn, and plant a “bee lawn” instead. (That’s flowering ground cover that attracts pollinators.) Add mulch or compost to garden beds. Reduce and eliminate chemical use, and choose plants that have not been treated with neonicotinoid pesticides, which can infiltrate the whole plant, including floral nectar and pollen and impact pollinators. Neonicotinoids can also be referred to as imidacloprid and clothianidin. Keep house cats indoors.
When it comes to garden statuary, it can feel like you’re always seeing the same old thing: basic birdbath, a buddha, etc. Not so at Greenman Stone, a collection of artists in Leavenworth who are making by hand all sorts of fun stone statues for the garden, from a cosmic alien head, to a sea serpent that looks like it’s swimming in the grass. www.greenmanstone.com A birdhouse is a backyard staple, perhaps because even the laziest among us can easily hang one and call it done. This hand-felted, natural wool option, available via the Chihuly Garden and Glass store, is a delightful departure from the usual varieties, thanks to its whimsical designs, like a hot air balloon and a beehive. www.chihuly-garden-and-glass. myshopify.com/collections/garden Jandellyn and Johnathan Ward have been making metal home and garden art from their studio on Whidbey Island since 1997. Choose from a range of custom signs or decorative garden stakes to add a little personal flair to your landscape, from the cheerfully painted dragonflies to the more abstract “swirl puffs.” www.winfielddesigns.net
APPLY FOR A SIGN Send in an application for a yard sign to raise awareness for the program. When it comes to habitats, every little bit helps.
With a name like the Shroomyz Funtasmic Collection, really, how do you resist? These ceramic mushrooms are made in the United States, frost proof so as to be kept outside all year long, and come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Pick your pleasure at Inside Out Home & Garden in Winthrop. www.insideoutwinthrop.com
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Five waterfall hikes to try this spring and summer, plus nearby cabin lodging // written by Ryn Pfeuffer
CHASING WATERFALLS
WASHINGTON IS HOME to many beautiful waterfalls that are well worth exploring. Snoqualmie Falls is perhaps the most famous waterfall in the state. But, beyond this 268foot beauty, Washington offers many other waterfalls accessible by foot. So whether you’re a low-level hiker or a hard-core enthusiast, our beautiful state has many photo-op options. And since you can never get too much natural beauty in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve scouted out some nearby cabin stays for each hike. Here are five of our favorites worthy of a weekend getaway
The reward is at Panther Creek Falls in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. (photo: Jason Hummel Photography/ State of Washington Tourism)
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trip planner
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Orcas Island Where to go for whales, shellfish and to be selfish written by Ryn Pfeuffer ORCAS ISLAND IS KNOWN for its natural beauty, rugged coastline, dense forests and stunning views of the surrounding water and mountains. Located in northwestern Washington, the 57-square-mile island is home to approximately 5,000 residents. Fun fact: Until 2021, Oprah Winfrey had a 43-acre waterfront estate on the island. The best time to visit Orcas Island depends on your preferences and what activities you want to do while you’re there. Spring (March to May) is a bit quieter on Orcas Island, with fewer tourists and cooler temperatures. The weather, however, is still pleasant enough to enjoy outdoor activities, and you may be able to find better deals on lodging and activities. Plus, spring and fall are great times to see wildflowers and fall foliage, respectively. From state parks and whale watching to cocktails and coffee shops, here’s the best three-day itinerary to get the most out of your island stay.
Carina Skrobecki Swain/State of Washington Tourism
Day DRINKS • SHELLFISH • WATERFRONT STAYS There are a few ways to get to Orcas Island. You can take a Kenmore Air seaplane for a quick 45-minute ride. Or the Washington State Ferry system provides regular service from Anacortes to Orcas Island. You can drive or walk onto the ferry; the trip takes about an hour. The ferry also stops at other islands in the San Juan AT LEFT Moran State Park on Orcas Island has more than 5,400 acres and 30 miles of hiking.
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