The Pacific Northwest has an abundance of plant life in its ecosystem, and the Puget Sound communities have several ways to appreciate it.
As another snowy winter draws to a close and spring steadily approaches the Puget Sound, the local landscape of the region anticipates an outpouring of native flora roused from hibernation to return to decorate neighborhoods and gardens in the community.
One community member shares his thoughts on what urban foliage in the community is lacking.
“I am a man who enjoys a fine rose,” said Ryan McGeary, a former Highline Student who is currently attending Seattle University.
“I think our urban environments could use more flowerbeds and aesthetic foliage than it has. I drive down the road, and I see a shrub, another shrub, a tree, and more shrubs. I wanna see roses and lilacs, like, where is the good stuff?” he said.
“I appreciate the natural beauty, there’s something exquisite about the way nature roots its seeds, as opposed to the way man does it. Nature is undefined and chaotic, and there’s a beauty to that,” he added.
After several months of dry foliage, many find it uplifting to watch the region come alive with new greenery, enhancing the already-renowned scenery of Washington state. Especially for those species that are special to the native ecosystem.
Many are familiar with those such as tulip, crocus, daffodil, and rhododendron flowers, and even the fluffy seeds of the cottonwood tree, which begin to flourish around this time.
However, some more eccentric examples include the native flowering trillium with its white and pink flowers, the unusual scent of the yellow-green skunk cabbage, the small colorful fruits hanging on the branches of Indian plum, and the leafy clusters of snowberry that attract many small birds and mammals with its white berries.
All kinds of animals have come to rely on the natural order of things in a way that man just can’t replicate, said McGeary.
“There’s a lot more bees in nature. When it comes to gardens, we don’t consider the bees enough and I think we really need to make homes for the bees,” he said.
It’s no surprise that throughout this time, locals and tourists alike come to marvel at the natural splendor blooming throughout the state, from national parks to small town festivals. The University of Washington’s fleeting cherry blossoms and the Skagit Valley tulip and daffodil fields are both well-known attractions.
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival has been held annually from April 1-30 since 1984, attracting over 300,000 visitors throughout the month.
The difference between the month of April and the rest of the year is apparent to locals.
“It’s like night and day! It’s a near ghost town during the off-season, but tulip time brings tens of thousands of tourists, so the streets and businesses get very busy,” says Leila Daoust, the former concierge of Hotel Planter – a popular hotel frequented by tourists of the tulip festival, in La Conner, Wash.
“The pop of color reminds you of sunshine even when it’s raining,” continued Daoust. “The flowers also help with the transition from winter to spring. They are basically a sign SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is almost over.”
In recent years large organized festivals have been established to celebrate the blooming of the over-90-year-old cherry trees that have historically attracted crowds every year on campus.
Held by The U District Partnership, and featuring themed food, drink, and retail specials, the 2023 date for the U District Cherry Blossom Festival is to be announced at a later date.
Even within the bounds of the Des Moines and Federal Way area, there are many locations curated to view the botanical wonders of the Pacific Northwest. PowellsWood Garden, the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, and Dash Point State Park, to name a few, are all only a short drive away from experiencing a refreshing afternoon spent among the natural beauty that the region has to offer.