The beautiful, vast and storied clan of hydrangeas is full of mysteries.
Judging by the annual flood of questions in social media gardening forums, it’s one of the most confounding groups in the plant kingdom. I could write a year of columns alone on identifying varieties and pruning strategies.
Today, however, let’s tackle the most fun hydrangea question of them all – how to harness the kaleidoscopic power some hydrangeas must shift color.
Has this happened to you? You buy a hydrangea with a glowing blue or purple blossom on the plant tag, that in your yard, blooms some version of pink – blush, raspberry, or magenta. Then you pass a hydrangea in your travels that is almost surreal – a deep violet color, recalling royal cloaks of old in ermine and velvet. You wonder, can your pink hydrangea be coaxed to this magical feat?
Let’s find out.
Not all hydrangeas change color
So, first things first. Although the hydrangea family is vast, some hydrangeas have this superpower, some don’t. These are: Hydrangea
GRIVAS, 4
By Spencer Pauley The Center Square
Starbucks is ordering its corporate employees to move closer to the city and work in-person four days a week as the coffee giant is the next major Seattle-based company to make employees return to the office.
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol recently sent a letter to employees that the company will require support center employees and managers to shift from a required three days in office to a minimum of four days in office starting in the upcoming fiscal year.
This will apply to the company’s Seattle and Toronto
support center employees.
In February, the company asked all of its corporate leaders to relocate to Seattle and Toronto offices. Niccol is now extending this requirement to all leadership positions within the company’s support centers. They will be expected to be based in Seattle or Toronto within 12 months.
In Niccol’s letter, he said working in person helps the company strengthen its culture and “turn the business around.”
“We are reestablishing our in-office culture because we do our best work when we’re together,” Niccol said in the letter. “We share ideas more effectively, creatively solve hard problems, and move much faster.”
Starbucks’ headquarters are located in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood and just under two miles away from the downtown area. The company’s announcement points to a continuing progression of
workers returning to Seattle’s commercial area.
This year, Amazon required its Seattle-based workers to return to working in-office five days a week. As a result, the downtown area has seen worker foot traffic reach 66% of June 2019’s daily average, according to data from the Downtown Seattle Association. That is the highest rate of monthly worker foot traffic recovered since March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began. The Center Square previously reported on Niccol being hired as the Starbucks CEO in August 2024, noting that he was not ordered to move to Seattle. At that time, Niccol avoided Washington’s 7% capital gains tax on the sale or exchange of long-term capital assets, such as stocks, bonds and business interests above $270,000.
However, since then, Niccol has both an office and residence in Seattle, according to Starbucks.
Sunday Worship at 10am
Twelfth Church of Christ, Scientist
In Person and Online Church Services
All are welcome & warmly invited to join these healing services
For best audio results, please join by clicking on the link from your computer or smartphone and choose “Call Over Internet”
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Sunday Services 11:00am – 12noon Pacific
Wednesday Testimonies 7:30pm – 8:30pm Pacific
Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons
Our weekly Bible Lesson Sermon may be found here: https://quarterly.christianscience.com/
Additional Healing Resources: ChristianScience.com CSWashington.com SeattleMetroReadingRoom.org
For additional assistance, please contact us at seattle12cs@gmail.com or 206.283.2300 ChristianScienceTwelfthSeattle.com
Queen Anne Dental Group
Dr. Frank J. Calvo & Family Cosmetic, Implant, & General Dentistry
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By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior
What kinds of treatments are available to combat dry eyes? Since I turned 55, my eyes have become increasingly dry and sensitive.
Blinking Brenda
Dear Brenda, Dry eye is a very common problem that affects an estimated 16 million Americans. But you don’t have to just put up with it. There are lifestyle adjustments and multiple treatment options available to keep your eyes moist and healthy. Here’s what you should know.
DRY EYE PROBLEMS
Dry, red, burning, irritated eyes are one of the most common reasons for visits to the eye doctor, but discomfort isn’t the only problem of dry eyes.
Light sensitivity and blurred or fluctuating vision are common problems too, and worse yet, dry eyes are more likely to get scratched or infected, which could damage your vision permanently.
The reason people get dry eyes are because they either don’t produce enough tears to keep their eyes properly lubricated, or because they produce poor quality tears.
In some cases, dry eyes can be triggered by medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid diseases, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome. It can also be brought on by age (tear production tends to diminish as we get older), eye conditions, eyelid problems, certain medications, environmental factors and even LASIK and cataract surgery. Dry eyes are also more common in women, especially after menopause.
LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENTS
The first step experts recommend in dealing with dry eyes is to check your lifestyle and surroundings for factors that might be contributing to the problem and make these adjustments:
■ Avoid blowing air: Keep your eyes away from air vents, hair dryers, oscillating and ceiling fans and consider buying a home humidifier.
■ Blink more: When you’re reading, watching television, or using a smartphone, tablet or computer, take frequent breaks because these activities cause you to blink
By Spencer Pauley The Center Square
The King County Council voted 8-1 on Tuesday to approve a new sales tax that broadly goes toward public safety programs, despite concerns about approving another regressive tax without a defined spending plan.
less often.
■ Avoid irritants: Avoid smokefilled places and if you swim, wear goggles to cut down exposure to chemicals.
■ Use moisture chamber eyeglasses: These goggles/glasses wrap around the sides of your face to seal off your eyes from wind, dust and other drying irritants. These are available in many styles, and some in the Airshield collection from 7Eye.com can be made with prescription lenses.
■ Check your meds: Dozens of prescriptions and over the counter (OTC) drugs like antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics, betablockers, antidepressants, tranquilizers, and Parkinson’s medications can all cause dry eyes. If you’re taking any of these, ask your doctor about alternatives.
■ Get more omega-3s: Studies show that eating more fish and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (or take a supplement) helps some people.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
If adjusting your environment and habits doesn’t do the trick, there are a variety of OTC eye drops called artificial tears, along with moisturizing gels and ointments that may help your eyes feel better.
If you experience a lot of burning, try another product or opt for a preservative-free formula. Or, if you have itchy dry eyes, you may get more relief from antihistamine eye drops, like olopatadine (Pataday) and ketotifen (Alaway, Zaditor), or decongestant eye drops like naphazoline/ glycerin (Clear Eyes).
If the lifestyle and OTC treatments don’t help, see an ophthalmologist. He or she can offer additional advice and may prescribe a medication. There are several FDA approved medications for dry eye like Restasis, Xiidra and Miebo. If your dry eye is severe and does not improve, you doctor might recommend some office procedures like punctal plugs, thermal pulsation, meibomian gland expression, and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy.
These procedures target the underlying causes of dry eye, such as meibomian gland dysfunction or tear drainage issues.
Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
The newly-approved 0.1% – or 10 cents per $100 spent – sales and use tax was authorized by House Bill 2015, which state legislators approved and Gov. Bob Ferguson signed into law in May.
King County is facing a general fund deficit of $180 million in the upcoming 2026-27 budget cycle. The proposed tax’s annual $95 million in revenue is anticipated to be sufficient to offset the deficit over the next two years, as nearly 75% of the county’s general fund is dedicated to public safety and the criminal legal system, according to King County Executive Shannon Braddock.
In a statement, Braddock said the sales tax will help prevent deep cuts across the county budget and protect core services.
Prior to the council’s vote, King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski called the sales tax “affordable,” and said that it is necessary to provide funding for law
enforcement in unincorporated King County. This comes amid a target reduction of $30.2 million from the King County Sheriff’s Office that could result in a minimal law enforcement presence in unincorporated parts of the county. The sales tax intends to avoid those cuts.
“Without these dollars, we’re going to be cutting patrol services in the unincorporated area, we’re going to be cutting prosecutors ... there is not an alternative,” Dembowski said during Tuesday's King County Council meeting. “I know we don’t like taxes, but this is a dime on a $100 taxable purchase, we don’t tax your rent, medicine [or] food.”
King County Councilmember Claudia
Balducci said the county is preliminarily set to spend all of the expected revenue from the sales tax, but that if state legislators do not find long-term solutions, the county will face budget shortfalls again.
“This only fills the budget gap for I think the next biennium [and] barely into the biennium after that and then we will be right back to shortfalls again,” Balducci said.
Reagan Dunn, the lone no vote on the sales tax, called out the county for raising taxes on residents by more than 40% over the last 10 years.
Dunn also noted that there is not a plan set out for how generated revenue will be used, despite the tax being approved by the county council.
“Folks want [the sales tax] to be used for housing, human services, and more diversion and restorative pathways. We already have dedicated services for those, and this sales tax is expansive in its use,” Dunn said. “It’s going to be decided later what exactly specific programs this goes for.”
Braddock’s Press Secretary Amy Enbysk told The Center Square that the spending plan is determined as part of the budget process and will be included in transmittal in September for council consideration and approval.
King County has five taxes up for voter approval this year alone, including a 23% increase in its Parks Levy that is on the upcoming August ballot.
the worst budget crisis we've ever had’
By TJ Martinell The Center Square
Last month, the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council reported that Washington faced running out of money by 2027. With the passage of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the state now faces the loss of billions in Medicaid funding that could exacerbate Washington’s fiscal woes in the upcoming legislative sessions.
“We're in the worst budget crisis we've ever had,” Gov. Bob Ferguson’s Senior Health Policy Advisor Caitlin Safford told the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee at its Tuesday meeting.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act enacts changes to Medicaid eligibility, which is expected to significantly reduce the number of Washington residents on the program, known in the state as Apple Heath. While Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., recently claimed 250,000 would lose coverage and cause more than a dozen hospitals
to close, Health Care Authority
Medicaid Director Charissa Fotinos told the Health & Long-Term Care Committee she estimated 100,000 would lose coverage.
While she said that “we can't say with any certainty how many people will lose coverage and how much money it will cost the state over the 10-year period,” she added that “the impacts will be significant.”
Safford said that “between a combination of federal rule, HR1 and the potential expiration of the enhanced advanced premium tax credits, we are going to start seeing coverage losses in January. That’s going to take an immediate hit to our uninsured rate. It'll be a hit to providers; we'll probably see some counties that don't have individual market coverage, which is going be really tough. There's going to be some tough decisions that are going have to made on the ground around how we're structuring our health care system.”
She also said that “from the Governor's Office, this from our perspective, this is a partnership we're
going to be having with the Legislature on how we are accomplishing everything we have to accomplish. Likely a lot of that coming in the next 60-day short session and then whatever else we need to do in a 105-day’s session in 2027.”
Medicaid spending in Washington state has increased fivefold since 2013, when there were 1.3 million residents enrolled. Almost a decade later and after the program was expanded by the Affordable Care Act, there were there were 2.17 million residents enrolled in Apple Health. That program now includes an expansion for illegal aliens funded solely by the Legislature operating budget at a cost of $150 million for taxpayers.
Overall spending by the state Legislature has increased 116% since the 2013-15 biennium. After facing a budget shortfall in the billions of dollars despite record revenue levels due to increased spending, the Legislature passed the largest tax increase in state history.
Music in the Arboretum returns in August with two free, outdoor performances at Washington Park Arboretum.
Ben Hunter & The Intraterrestrials will share folk music from the Black diaspora from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13.
Jose Gonzales Trio will perform creative, bluesy variations on jazz favorites from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20. The trio features the talented jazz pianist and Seattle Japanese Garden horticulturist Jose Gonzales. All ages are welcome.
Performances will take place at the Graham Visitors Center in the Arboretum, 2300 Arboretum Dr. A limited number of seats will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs, a cushion or blanket.
Parking is free, but spaces are also limited. Attendees are encouraged to carpool or come by foot, bicycle, or public transportation.
For information, email info@ arboretumfoundation.org or call 206-325-4510. To RSVP, visit arboretumfoundation.org/events/ music-in-the-arboretum. Staff Reports
From page 1
macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea) and Hydrangea serrata (lace-cap hydrangea). They flower in either blue or pink, ranging from pale sky or blush to violet and magenta.
According to Master Gardener Mary Jane Duford, (https://homefortheharvest.com/hydrangeacolor-chart/) some cultivars seem more amenable to “bluing,” because they release more citric acid, opening the way to absorbing aluminum). Others, like ‘Summer Crush,’ tend to stay pinker despite lower pH levels.
White-flowered hydrangeas, although oak-leaf and panicle hydrangeas may morph to pink as the blossom ages but won’t change their initial blossom color.
Also important: you can’t make a pale-flowered variety vivid. Each plant has built-in pigments and there’s a limit to how much aluminum it can absorb. So, blush may shift to sky blue, but not magenta or violet.
What causes the color shift?
The magic lies in the pH of the soil and how that affects the availability of aluminum. Aluminum becomes more available in acidic soils – those with of 6.5 and below.
For blue flowers, you’ll need soil with a pH of 5.5 or lower, purple comes in at 5.5 -6.5, and pink is above 6.5.
Check your soil
Use a pH testing kit to measure your soil around your hydrangea in several places. I like the kinds with metal rods that also measure soil moisture or temperature.
Before you try to change your soil’s chemistry (which will affect surrounding plants as well), there are a few reasons you may not want to change your soil pH.
For example, Duford writes (https://homefortheharvest.com/ hydrangea-color-chart/) that a range of 5.5-6.5 is ideal for overall
nutrient absorption and plant health.
Also, the change isn’t instant or permanent. Think of it as semi-permanent hair dye – you may need to apply every two months for up two growing seasons to see results. Ongoing touchups will be necessary. Remember, the soil in an open garden bed is a living system connected to water, microbes, wildlife, and plants. That’s why you might see a single hydrangea producing both pink and blue blossoms - like mine did after I added aluminum sulfate once.
Adjusting hydrangea color
If you do want to change your hydrangeas, measure your current pH. For bluer and more violet tones, add aluminum sulfate. Make sure not to over-fertilize otherwise, because high levels of phosphorus can prevent aluminum uptake. Garden Design magazine recommends (https://www.gardendesign.com/ hydrangea/how-to-change-color. html ) shooting for low phosphorus, moderate nitrogen, and high potassium.
For pink tones, add garden lime while maintaining high nitrogen and low phosphorus. Garden Design suggests applying in fall and early spring. Always follow directions, don’t allow the amendment near the plant crown, underapply when in doubt, and water in well. You’ll likely need to do it over a couple of years and then reapply if it starts reverting.
If you’re thinking this sounds like a lot of work – it is! You may decide it’s not worth it for in-ground plants, especially if you prefer working with natural conditions and creating a resilient, low-input garden. Instead, try your color-changing experiment in a container. Potting mixes usually fall in the 5.5-7.0 pH range (again, measure to confirm), and it’s easier to control condition. You’ll use fewer inputs, see results faster, and protect the integrity of your garden’s soil and groundwater.
By MetroCreative
Grillmasters are always looking to push the envelope and expand their grilling horizons. While standard fare like hot dogs and hamburgers will always find its way onto a backyard barbecue's menu, some grillmasters prefer to try new things and surprise their friends and family members along the way.
Ambitious grillmasters hoping to surprise their guests should consider the following recipe for "Grilled Herb-Rubbed Game Birds" from Peggy Knickerbocker's "Simple Soirees" (Stewart, Tabori & Chang).
GRILLED HERB-RUBBED GAME BIRDS
Serves 6
Ingredients
■ 6 game hens, squab, or poussins, cut in half
■ 1 teaspoon salt
Ingredients for the marinade
■ 3 cloves garlic, minced
■ ¼ teaspoon salt
■ ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
■ ¼ cup chopped fresh thyme or rosemary leaves
■ 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
■ Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, optional
■ Herb sprigs for garnish
DIRECTIONS
Pat the birds dry and season them generously with salt. In a small bowl, stir together the garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, olive oil, and red pepper flakes.
Do not rinse the salt from the birds, but make sure they are
very dry, pat with paper towels. The secret to crispness is very dry skin. Stuff a little of the marinade under the skin of the birds and rub the rest on the outside.
Cover, refrigerate and marinate the birds for 30 minutes or overnight. Save any remaining marinade. Prepare a charcoal fire or preheat a gas grill to medium. When the coals are medium-hot, place the birds on the grill, skinside down.
Cook for about 15 minutes, until they are brown and crisp.
Turn and continue to cook for
another 15 to 20 minutes, brushing with a little of the remaining marinade.
To check for doneness, make an incision at the point where the thigh meets the body of the bird, if the juices run clear and there is no visible redness, take them off the grill.
Smaller birds will take a little less time, about 15 minutes on the skin side and only about 10 minutes once flipped. Transfer the birds to a warm platter and scatter a few sprigs of herbs over the tops.