Monthly Activities

General Overview:

• 160 yds of debris collection removed this summer, with almost 20 yds collected since dumpster removal (our volunteers work HARD!)

• 18 hours mowing in Nov.

• 26 hours blowing and clearing footpaths and drives of leaf and needle drop.

• 8 hours spent moving wood chip mulch to various property locations.

• 42 hours spent in General Volunteering and organizing volunteer activities.

We have had a very busy month maintaining and clearing the Arboretum, and I wanted to take a moment to start documenting on a monthly basis what actions were taken. I feel it to be a good habit to start communicating all the work that is done to help inform, and guide future decisions to be made.

The "Curb Appeal" clean-up is almost finished. A strong edge has been cut along Evergreen Hwy from Image to the eastern property edge, as well as  the northeast lawn to prohibit grass overgrowth into developed beds. Invasive removal to include Shiny geranium, Himalayan and Native Blackberry, and clover among others. A heavy layer of mulch was added to prevent weed growth and dress up the established growing areas. The heavily overgrown junipers in the Betty Avery Garden have started to be trimmed up and the trunk structures are just glorious. New mulch was added to the Strawberry tree grove to maintain the surface and prevent overgrowth.

The NE Access trail area has seen much work with all invasives removed from the ravine edge from the northern pond all the way to the northern bridge. The area was covered with a heavy layer of mulch to prevent weed regrowth. 

The Bracken surrounding the eastern slope of the main pond has been removed and cleared. At one time this area was covered with mature azalea bushes but has since been overtaken with Bracken and only two struggling shrubs remain. This would be a good area to quickly re-plant with desired material.

Autumn is a very busy time of year, and this year's Leaf collection and removal from the greenways and pathways is mostly complete with only a few fruit trees still holding onto their leaves. 5 yds of leaf material was collected and reserved to shred for leaf mould (a product used to mulch plants and create compost) with another 5 yds sent to the debris pile for removal.

The Pine straw (Long needles from the Western white and Ponderosa Pines) collection is also complete with two of the five collected yds having been used to ring-mulch established trees to prevent competition with grass and invasive weed growth. 

Removal of the heavy Shiny Geranium growth under the evergreens along Image continues, utilizing the weed torch to remove all surface growth. The hope is that using the torch will destroy the newly dropped seed, and prevent the need to spray herbicide next spring. We shall see how that process works come spring. I sprayed a portion of that area last spring, however a large amount of very expensive herbicide was used due to the size of the area, and minor regrowth still occurred. Hopefully the torching method provides better results.

Mowing for the year is mostly complete. I am still debating on whether to give one final mow as the grass has not yet become dormant and continues to grow (an unusual occurrence this late in the year), however the saturation of the ground makes mowing a dicey practice due to surface damage and tractor slippage.

The grading and leveling of the footpath along the back side of the Weber House continues as well. Two yards of fill dirt has been added to create a level footpath, however retaining structures still need to be added to prevent erosion. 

The Cedar tree at the Power pole leading to the Stanger House has been removed to the best of my ability. I limbed the tree up twenty feet, and was able to remove one of the three co-dominant structures; however the proximity of the remaining branches and trunks to the live power supply make the risk of electrocution too great for my comfort. We have two other branches in the NW greenspace crossing lines belonging to PUD, so it is my recommendation that PUD be contacted to finish the removal.

Removal of the Blackberry Root Balls from the Bonker Grove area on the east side of the ravine is almost complete as well. This area should be ready for development and planting in early spring.

Sediment removal from the North collection pond continues, however it is quickly replaced with heavy rain events. This is a good practice as removal of the sediment from the northern pond ceases the downstream collection of MORE sediment.  Working closely with the city when the highway is improved to re-establish the sediment collection pond will be paramount to the future health of the entire creek downstream from the highway. 

Erosion of certain footpaths is still a concern. Visitors and volunteers are required to cross a steep traverse on certain sections greatly increasing the risk of a fall. Retaining structures and gravel replacement should be a spring focus.

Vegetable garden clean-up and spring prep is as well, almost finished with six rows cleaned and mulched. 

Fall planting of Knick-Knick, Oregon Grape, and Sword fern was completed along the western side of the ravine from the Arbor Day planting, to just south of the Ice House Bridge. Mulch to be added to prevent invasive re-growth.

Gary planted the Scoullier Willow discussed in previous meetings in the south parcel near the creek. Possible relocation closer to the creek to ensure success may be considered.