Queen Anne News 3-27-2024

Little Leaguers start seasons with annual parades

By Laura Marie Rivera Contributing Writer

This weekend, baseball lovers young and old came together to celebrate the time-honored tradition of Opening Day. Queen Anne Little League and Magnolia Little League kicked off their seasons with a grand parade in each neighborhood.

Magnolia Little League has been hosting a parade through Magnolia Village for the last 50 years and this year was no exception. With more than 500 players in the league, the streets were full with all of the teams that came out to march. Players chose creative names

Paula Mueller honored for her community service

More than 75 neighbors came together on March 16 at the Queen Anne Community Center to honor Paula Mueller, a longstanding member of the Queen Anne community who recently retired as chair of the Queen Anne Community Council (QACC).

Upon retirement, Paula relocated to Edmonds with her husband of 39 years, Alan. With District 7 Councilmember Bob Kettle

Courtesy Julie Bennett

The Unicorn Team sponsored by Seattle Pediatric Dentists passed out lots of candy during the Magnolia Parade.

Courtesy Laura Marie Rivera

The Queen Anne Parade and Seattle Seahawks Blue Thunder Drumline paused in front of Bethany Presbyterian Church for remarks from Event Announcer Kirsten Kendrick and City Councilmember Bob Kettle.

Queen Anne & Magnolia Worship Services

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

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Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons

Our weekly Bible Lesson Sermon may be found here:

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Additional Healing Resources:

ChristianScience.com

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For additional assistance, please contact us at seattle12cs@gmail.com or 206.283.2300 ChristianScienceTwelfthSeattle.com

Queen Anne Dental Group

Salmon recovery proponents say several bills got away this legislative session

By Carleen Johnson The Center Square

Supporters of salmon recovery efforts in Washington state were optimistic going into this year's short 60-day legislative session.

There was bipartisan support for habitat restoration, with several bills being offered by Republicans and Democrats. Lawmakers had a lot of money to apply to salmon restoration, with the carbon auctions under the Climate Commitment Act having generated more revenue – portions specifically dedicated to environmental projects –than expected.

Legislators added about $2.1 billion in new spending in this year's supplemental budget but only $1.4 million, or .07%, was allocated to four small salmon recovery projects.

The market-oriented Washington Policy Center pointed in a blog that the budget also added $1.4 million for “additional staff and resources to implement the Climate Commitment Act,” meaning lawmakers allotted just as much to add staff to manage the CCA tax, as they did to salmon recovery.

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The Puget Sound Partnership in an end of session report made clear its frustration.

“Several bills were crafted by a bipartisan group of legislators and looked for non-regulatory solutions to advance salmon recovery," the report said. "Only two of these bills passed in the 2024 session..."

WPC called it "A big, missed opportunity."

Two of the salmon recovery bills had bipartisan support, but did not make it past the initial cut.

House Bill 1365, sponsored by Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, would have established a new office of Puget Sound Water Quality within the Department of Ecology to provide provide technical assistance and grants to wastewater treatment facilities for producing nutrient discharges into Puget Sound. The office would also be tasked with awarding grants for discharge reduction projects.

Other than getting a staff briefing, the bill died in committee.

Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, introduced House Bill 2286, which also failed to get very far during session. HB 2286 would have created a capital

unavailable the day of the event, Councilmember Sara Nelson graciously stepped in to present a formal proclamation signed by Mayor Harrell and all nine City Council members, declaring March 16, 2024, “Paula Mueller Day.”

Mueller has been deeply committed to emergency preparedness planning and previously partnered with the Seattle Hub Captains and MIQA Hub Captains members to hold an Urban Survival Skills Fair. With 25 education stations and 75 volunteers on hand, this event, along with the continual updates provided by the QACC, modeled community-lead engagement on emergency preparedness.

Mueller also appreciates the importance of neighbors working together to address public safety concerns, first leading a block watch on her own block and later co-founding a Block Captains Network which today includes more than 60 block captains located across Queen Anne and

grant program to support recovery of salmon and steelhead stocks

“Almost everybody understands we’ve been putting dollars into salmon recovery for many, many years, and we’ve been failing, so not only is that a waste of money, which we should care about," he said. "It also has created a number of serious impacts on people in our state, beginning with Washington state tribes.”

Years of knowing how bad the problem is, but failing to address it, has created unnecessary bitterness,

Uptown and is the first and only one of its kind in the City of Seattle.

Mueller’s community stewardship extends to the environment, with her cofounding of the Friends of MacLean Park, a group supported by nearly 100 neighbors that holds twicemonthly activation walks and trash cleanups, and collaborates with the City and non-profits to ensure that individuals in the Greenbelt are provided necessary outreach.

The event was a great way for the community to celebrate Paula’s contributions and forge plans for sustainability. Everyone was also delighted by closing songs from the Seattle Seachordsmen. New QACC chair, Nicole Friedman, commented that “Acknowledging individual contributions and coming together as a community is deeply impactful.”

The QACC meets virtually the first Wednesday of the month, and regularly organizes events and public speakers. Get in touch via queenannecc@gmail.com.

according to Wilcox, who is not running for re-election.

“We’ve seen bitterness between land owners and tribes, farmers, ranchers and timber owners, and the result isn’t usually good solutions," he said. "It ends up being the demand for further prescriptions, further regulations that still have not been effective.”

Some salmon recovery legislation passed the Legislature this session, including a bill to study the impact of birds that prey on salmon and a bill to look into the

for their teams and worked together to decorate banners to carry. The streets were packed with parents and friends and siblings, even though it rained throughout the parade. Kids and adults passed out candy along the route. One player remarked, “This is more candy than I got on Halloween!”

Magnolia Little League has a strong booster program and offers scholarships so that every child within their league boundary can have a place to play. They also partner with Seattle Parks & Recreation to fund many of the improvements to the fields and facilities that will benefit all Seattle citizens.

This year marked the second annual parade for Queen Anne Little League – who modeled their parade and pancake breakfast after the Magnolia events. The players range from four- and five-year-olds in T-Ball, to the All-Star levels of baseball and softball, and a Challenger Division that includes players of

There were however some gains made in salmon restoration and recovery, including a bill to study the impact of birds that prey on salmon and another that requires looking into the rubber tire chemical known as 6PPD, which is known to, at low concentrations, kill coho salmon. Per the bill, the Department of Ecology will create regulations to address the impact of 6PPD, and require staff to “specifically consider the effect of regulatory actions on driver and passenger safety.”

all abilities age 4 to adult.

The pancake breakfast was powered by volunteer parents and coaches making hundreds if not thousands of pancakes to pair with the pounds and pounds of bacon and fruit. Guests were serenaded by a bagpiper and also had the chance to peruse a display with vintage QALL jerseys.

The parade down Queen Anne Avenue was led by the engine from Seattle Fire Station 8 and the Seattle Seahawks Blue Thunder Drumline. Even the rain could not dampen their excitement.

New City Councilmember and former T-Ball Coach, Bob Kettle, offered remarks on the important lessons of baseball and how the community can work with the city for the needed improvements for the fields.

Queen Anne Little League also thanked the community for coming out, Emy Chow-Greiner for planning, and their longtime sponsors, estimating that Ken’s Market had been sponsoring teams for 30 years!

Adobe Stock

MUELLER from Page 1

PARADE from Page 1Æ

Courtesy Lynda Balslev

Butterfly your meat for ease and flavor

By Lynda Balslev

This simple yet elegant lamb recipe is a wonderful way to ease into spring. The lamb is butterflied, a method that prepares meat for easy roasting or grilling. Butterflying involves making small cuts in the flesh of the meat and opening it up, a bit like a book, into a wider, flatter piece of meat. Since it will be slightly irregular in thickness, it ensures a cut of meat for everyone's taste, whether rare or more well-cooked, while it also reduces the overall cooking time. Not only that, but once spread out, there is a greater surface area exposed to the heat or fire, guaranteeing brown and crispy cooking. And who doesn't like the crispy bits?

Begin marinating the meat the night before to tenderize and drive in flavor. This will also lighten your workload before the meal. Serve with any collected juices and, if you like, a sauce on the side, such as the minty yogurt sauce below.

This recipe specifies oven roasting. If you prefer to grill, then sear the lamb over direct medium heat, fat side down first, then flip. Once evenly browned on both sides, continue to grill the meat, fat side up, over indirect heat until it reaches your

desired temperature.

BUTTERFLIED LEG OF LAMB WITH YOGURT MINT SAUCE

Active time: 15 minutes

Total time: about 1 hour, plus marinating time

Yield: Serves 6

Lamb:

▶ 1 boneless leg of lamb, about 3 1/2 pounds, butterflied, trimmed of excess fat

▶ 2 teaspoons kosher salt

▶ 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

▶ 4 garlic cloves, minced or pushed through a press

▶ 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

▶ 1 tablespoon olive oil

▶ 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

▶ 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary

▶ 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme

Yogurt Sauce:

▶ 1 1/2 cups whole milk Greek yogurt

▶ 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped

▶ 2 garlic cloves, minced or pushed through a press

▶ 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

▶ 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

▶ 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

▶ 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

▶ Dash of hot sauce, such as Sriracha, or more to taste

Evenly season the lamb with the salt and black pepper. Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Smear the mixture all over the lamb and in any folds or crevices. Cover the meat with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or preferably overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before roasting.

Heat the oven to 425 degrees.

Place the lamb in a roasting pan. Roast in the oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat reaches 125 to 130 degrees for medium-rare, about 40 minutes, depending on the thickness of the lamb (the internal temperature will increase slightly while resting). Transfer the lamb to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes.

While the lamb is roasting, combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl.

Carve the lamb in thick slices. Serve with the yogurt sauce.

Lynda Balslev is an awardwinning writer, cookbook author, and recipe developer based in northern California. Visit TasteFood at TasteFoodblog.com.

Seattle to spend $3.5M expanding citywide preschool program

By Spencer Pauley The Center Square

Seattle will spend $3.5 million to expand its Seattle Preschool Program, which focuses on advancing educational equity and reducing race-based opportunity gaps in kindergarten readiness.

With the $3.5 million, the city will build 16 new preschool classrooms, nine of which are in brand new Seattle Preschool Program locations. Five of the classrooms will be at existing locations, and two classrooms are graduating from a Seattle Preschool Program Pathway classroom to full implementation models, according to a press release.

The funds stem from the seven-year Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy. Seattle property owners would pay a rate of $0.37 per $1,000 of assessed value in property taxes, according to the city. A homeowner in Seattle with the median home value of $847,419 would pay approximately $314 a year.

“Providing affordable and high-quality education programs for our city’s kids ensures they are set up for success as they embark on their academic journey,” Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said in a news release. “By continuing to invest in more Seattle Preschool Program classrooms with inclusive curriculum and dedicated educators, we will reach even more families next school year.” The Seattle Preschool Program plans to have 27 partner organizations in 2024-2025. Through these organizations, there will be 97 preschool sites and 151 classrooms that can serve nearly 2,500 children citywide. That is approximately 7% of the Seattle population under the age of 5, according to data from Neilsberg Research.

When the program first launched in 2015, it served 283 children in 15 classrooms. The program has expanded every year since then.

The Seattle Preschool Program model funds preschool tuition for families on a sliding scale based on household income. It also accommodates children with behavioral or developmental needs.

According to the city, nearly 70% of families that are part of the program pay no tuition.

LOCAL AGENTS with a Queen Anne + Magnolia Focus

Cell (206) 779-7325 Office (206) 283-8080

fees and advances, if any, made pursuant to the terms of the obligation and/or Deed of Trust, and curing all other defaults. VI. A written Notice of Default was transmitted by the current Beneficiary, Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC or Trustee to the Borrower and Grantor at the following address(es): ADDRESS SUSAN KAUFER 7051 39TH AVENUE

NORTHEAST, SEATTLE, WA 98115-6001 by both first class and certified mail on October 18, 2023, proof of which is in the possession of the Trustee; and the Borrower and Grantor were personally served with said written Notice of Default or the written Notice of Default was posted in a conspicuous place October 17, 2023 on the real property described in Paragraph I above, and the Trustee has possession of proof of such service or posting. VII. The Trustee whose name and address are set forth below will provide in writing to anyone requesting it, a statement of all costs and fees due at any time prior to the sale. VIII. The effect of the sale will be to deprive the Grantor and all those who hold by, through or under the Grantor of all their interest in the above described property. IX. Anyone having any objections to this sale on any grounds whatsoever will be afforded an opportunity to be heard as to those objections if they bring a lawsuit to restrain the sale pursuant to RCW 61.24.130. Failure to bring such a lawsuit may result in a waiver of any proper grounds for invalidating the Trustees’ Sale. X. Notice to Occupants or Tenants. The purchaser at the Trustee’s sale is entitled to possession of the property on the 20th day following the sale, as against the Grantor under the deed of trust (the owner) and anyone having an interest junior to the deed of trust, including occupants who are not tenants. After the 20th day following the sale the purchaser has the right to evict occupants who are not tenants by summary proceedings under chapter 59.12 RCW. For tenant-occupied property, the purchaser shall provide a tenant with written notice in accordance with RCW 61.24.060. Notice to Borrower(s) who received a letter under RCW 61.24.031: THIS NOTICE IS THE FINAL STEP BEFORE THE FORECLOSURE SALE OF YOUR HOME. Mediation MUST be requested between the time you receive the Notice of Default and no later than 90 calendar days BEFORE the date of sale listed in the Notice of Trustee Sale. If an amended Notice of Trustee Sale is recorded providing a 45-day notice of the sale, mediation must be requested no later than 25 calendar days BEFORE the date of sale listed in the amended Notice of Trustee Sale. DO NOT DELAY. CONTACT A HOUSING COUNSELOR OR AN ATTORNEY LICENSED IN WASHINGTON

NOW to assess your situation and refer you to mediation if you might eligible and it may help you save your home. See below for safe sources of help.

SEEKING ASSISTANCE Housing counselors and legal assistance may be available at little or no cost to you. If you would like assistance in determining your rights and opportunities to keep your house, you may contact the following: The statewide foreclosure hotline for assistance and referral to housing counselors recommended by the Housing Finance Commission: Telephone: (877) 894-4663 or (800) 606-

Sneaky ways to get more veggies

There’s a new diet introduced every three minutes. I made that number up, but watching the news and social media it seems that way. There have been swings in protein, carbs and fats, but vegetables are usually a constant.

After writing several books on the food and diet industry, writer Michael Pollan summed up his simple recommendation for healthy eating in “Food Rules: An Eater’s Manifesto”: “Eat foods, mostly plants, not too much.” Meaning unprocessed foods, mainly plants.

A new study in the journal Science says that city-dwelling humans are losing their ability to digest vegetables, contributing to a decline in metabolic and gut health. The scientists measured levels of bacteria needed to break down cellulose, which were only discovered in 2013. They found the highest levels in nonhuman primates, followed in order by Paleolithic humans, current hunter-gatherers, rural societies, and the lowest in urban industrialized ones. The evidence showed Paleolithic humans and modern non-human primates share comparable levels of the bacteria at 30-40 percent. Hunter-gatherers like the Hazda of Northern Tanzania and people living in rural areas who eat higher fiber diets showed a 20 percent frequency of the bacteria, while industrialized countries measured at under 5 percent.

People have long questioned how humans digested cellulose without a specific system to do so. This study indicates the body employs bacteria some borrowed from ruminants over time to help break down that fiber.

The abstract concludes, “Collectively, these species are abundant and widespread among ancient humans, hunter-gatherers, and rural populations but are rare in populations from industrialized societies thus indicating potential disappearance in response to the urban lifestyle.

Diversity in your diet breeds diversity in your gut bacteria – this was not an issue for ancient humans because of the way they lived.

For centuries, before supermarkets, humans foraged and ate seasonally based on the plants

available at any time of year. They had berries in summer, nuts and tubers in winter. Think back to the vegetables you buy each week, and I think you’ll see they are remarkably similar from month to month. On the plus side, commerce gives us greater availability of popular plants yearround, but after being trucked or flown across the world, they are likely not as nutritious as locally grown versions. With the explosion of artisanal food, some markets offer unique choices, like dandelion greens or nasturtium blossoms, but they are still the exception.

Nutritionist Dr. Megan Rossi, author of “How to Eat More Plants and Love Your Gut,” recommends eating 30 unique plants a week to increase the diversity in your gut microbiome.

She suggests focusing on six super groups: whole grains (such as quinoa or fresh sourdough bread), nuts/seeds, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and spices.

I’ve tried counting for a few days, and spices really helped put me over the top (of course the dosage in a shake of “Everything Bagel” spice is miniscule. Here are some other strategies that might help you.

START WITH THE THREE S’S

Nutritionists and parents love the three S’s: soups, salads, smoothies, which easily absorb a multitude of plants. When my kids were young, they would run from the table at the sight of a visible mushroom atop a pizza, but diced in a lasagna or a stew? No problem.

I shoot for having a green smoothie at least twice a week, especially when traveling, when foraging for unprocessed food at hotels and airports or on the road is more difficult. My smoothie cheat is using a green juice powder. Mine is Green Juice by Organifi, and many recommend Athletic Greens’ AG-1. It’s flavored with mint, monk fruit, lemon and coconut water, which help counter the earth/grass/ sea notes of ashwagandha, moringa, spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass, red beet, matcha green tea, and turmeric. I can drink it solo with water or

coconut milk, but I prefer to add banana, vanilla, and cinnamon (three more plants!).

You can also incorporate a lot of vegetables in homemade broth. Simmer leftover onions, carrots, and greens with spices in water and make a vegetable or bone broth with chicken. Blend and freeze in an ice cube tray for an easily incorporated flavor-fest for future meals.

To these three I would add a fourth “S” – stirfries. Bitter and spicy greens like chard, kale, and mustard greens that might be a bit much raw become intriguing when gently cooked in soy, ginger, and garlic (more plants).

Pesto is another great equalizer of vegetables. Blend up almost anything with some oil and salt and serve up on pasta or with some bread or crackers, and yum. You don’t have to wait for your basil harvest – you can make pesto with beets, arugula, and stinging nettles.

THINK OUTSIDE THE (BIG) BOX WHILE SHOPPING

To expand your horizons, find new ingredients to play with. Asian supermarkets offer a world of spicy mustard greens, roots, and brassicas to try. Bok choy and Chinese broccoli are two of my favorites. Farmers’ markets – which we are lucky enough to have year-round – will have a true seasonal rotation of locally grown food. Have you ever cooked fiddleheads?

Another region to explore is safely foraging the “weeds” in your yard, like nutrient-packed dandelions. Of course, only do so if you can identify the plants 100% and you know they haven’t been impacted by chemical herbicides or toxins.

Trying new foods will broaden your palate, enrich your daily experience, and feed your metabolism and immune system. What will you try this week?

SOURCE

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/03/ human-gut-bacteria-that-can-digest-plantmatter-probably-came-from-cows/?fbclid= IwAR03mw78teEkCxhegxilhsb9MMcWJl_ zB9YsEw6PhS83DgJX0ZHjz9HJCms

Study

10.1126/science.adj9223

https://fortune.com/well/2023/03/20/improvegut-health-diversity-diet-eat-30-plants-a-week/

Ahead of spring, gas prices on the rise in Washington state

By Carleen Johnson The Center Square

Washington state drivers may have noticed an increase in the price at the pump recently.

On Monday, the average cost for a gallon of gas in the Evergreen State increased to nearly $4.31 per gallon — up 40 cents compared to a month ago, according to AAA.

The national average is $3.46 a gallon.

There are several factors at play when it comes to rising

gas prices in Washington, including the fact that Tuesday marks the official start of spring. Historically, March and April bring higher gas prices as demand rises due to milder temperatures that bring about more road trips this time of year, a precursor to the summer driving season. Increasing geopolitical instability in Eastern Europe, a persistent global supply crunch, and workforce constraints also impact gas prices, per the American Petroleum Institute.

U.S. refineries have also been less active so far in 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In fact, BP's 435,000 barrel-per-day Whiting, Ind., refinery just recently returned to normal operations for the first time since a February plantwide power outage.

Then there's the impact of the 2021 Climate Commitment Act that created a market-based cap-and-trade program to require the state's largest polluters to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon auctions started in 2023 and have brought in more than $2 billion so far.

CCA opponents argue carbon auctions have driven up gas prices as much as 50 cents a gallon, costing drivers hundreds of dollars a year.

Critics contend Gov. Jay Inslee was less than truthful when he predicted the CCA's impact on gas prices would be "pennies" per gallon, even though there seems to be some evidence he knew long before the CCA became a reality that it would significantly hike the

cost of gas.

Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane, is a supporter of the CCA. He told The Center Square the 50-cents-a-gallon figure is not accurate and that Washingtonians support the environmental goals of the CCA.

“What affects my constituents is climate change," Billig said. "I mean six or seven years ago, there was no wildfire smoke and now it’s one of the biggest public health and negative events that we have each year.”

Erica Browne Grivas Your Best Life

Tips for containers that last

Do you, like me have some windowboxes that need refreshing?

With the rising cost of plants, it can be pricey and time-consuming to replant main containers every few months. First you find and purchase new plants –which, for me is fun, but it may not be for everyone. This also includes picking a color scheme, but more on that later. Then it’s time to remove any sad, withered former plants to the compost, and topdress with either new potting mix or compost to give the old soil a little boost of nutrients. That plus the cleanup could take several hours every few months.

Most people think of annuals for long-lasting container color – and it’s true, they will keep their flowers longer than other plants. However, they also need to be replaced when the weather stops suiting them.

So what’s the answer?

Read on.

I had the pleasure of working for several years with a container master, Ravenna Gardens designer Barbara Libner and gleaned a fraction of her techniques, if not her artistry. To learn much more, check out her online course in container design with Fine Gardening magazine (finegardening. com).

One thing Libner does to create four-season interest with less hard work is focus on perennials and evergreen foliage over short-lived annuals. She will often start with a centerpiece or backdrop that is an evergreen or persistent plant with winter interest. Depending on the size and location of the design, some examples might be a small upright Euonymous, a dwarf conifer, a Japanese maple, a lavender, rosemary, or evergreen sedge (Carex).

Supporting cast members can include other perennials that keep their leaves all winter, like Heuchera (coral bells), sedges, creeping sedums, or a prostrate rosemary. Seek out ones with beautiful or unusual foliage, which lasts much

longer than flowers.

For eye-popping design look for elements that match and contrast. Pick a narrow color palette, ideally two colors and stick with it. Use leaf veins and stems as well as flowers to create color echoes, like a calibrachoa with gold foliage and a lemon eye can be paired with a chartreuse carex. Add spice with some strong contrasts too – if your palette is reds, add sultry burgundy or black foliage to create depth.

Try to contrast shape of blooms, plant habit, and foliage. A white ranunculus looks a bit too much like a geranium to be neighbors – they’re both globes. But spiky grape hyacinth looks great with ranunculus.

Yes, you can still do the popular “thriller-spillerfiller” formula – which translates to a vertical or splashy accent, a trailing plant on the edge, and filler for the middle ground.

Cram the plants much tighter together than you’re used to doing in flower beds.

They won’t mind. Once you’ve got your palette of nicely contrasting longlasting foliage, you can add the sparkle – one or two annuals in your chosen palette. In early spring (and fall), the first available will be pansies and violas, followed by geraniums, petunias and calibrachoas, then snapdragons and a host of specialty annuals in early summer. These are mainly plants thriving in full or partial sun — 4- 6 hours of direct sun.

If you’ve got a shady container, your best bets for annuals are pansies and violas, then begonias and/ or fuschias. For the coolest

foliage, look to perennial hostas and heucheras, or annual caladium and coleus. You can find nearly every color in the rainbow among these – and the color lasts for months. In winter, consider annual ornamental kale in a trippy purple or warm white.

Most fuchsias for sale are annuals for hanging baskets, but did you know there are perennial and nearly perennial fuschias? The true perennials tend to be large shrubs, but a favorite upright fuchsia for containers in partial shade is Fuchsia ‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt’ which has amazing dark gray-green foliage with bronzy veins and coral flowers. This one can bloom for months, and with protection (indoors or possibly wrapped), has a chance of making it through the winter in Seattle.

One container winner that has amazed me is a

tiny native Gilia capitata, growing in a windowbox style planter near my front door. It doesn’t get more than 5” tall even in bloom, but its basal rosette stays evergreen through the winter. It creates little buttons perhaps a ¼” wide in the richest blue-purple starting in March. I should probably fill the whole box with them – or perhaps with a line of gold carex in the back, for the contrast.

If you enjoy starting plants from seed and don’t mind some gaps in your containers occasionally, you could use half-hardy annuals to provide some flower power. With deadheading, calendula flower a long time in spring, often repeating the performance when weather cools down again in September. Another choice are fast-growing annuals like alyssum, which makes a frothy, fragrant edging or skirt for other plants. I am

winter-sowing some now in recycled containers outdoors for that very purpose.

I like to add slow-release organic fertilizer at planting, and if they need some help mid-season, supplement with liquid organic fertilizer whose nutrients are available to the plants instantly. Containers need much more water than their in-ground counterparts, and if you are growing perennials and mini-shrubs as we just discussed, they’ll need regular watering for at least two years to become established. In hot summer weather that can mean daily. Mulching or growing groundcovers can help preserve moisture in your pots.

There are as many strategies for containers as color preferences, but these will get you started to a fussfree relationship with your windowboxes and entry containers.

Courtesy Erica Grivas Ravenna Gardens container shows contrast in foliage and flower, with a narrow palette of green, silver and white. The tall euphorbia, lemon cypress and ajuga are reliably perennial in Seattle. The zinnia, flowering euphorbia corollata and possibly the Senecio 'Angel Wings' would need replacing in winter.

Erica Browne Grivas Get Growing