Garden on the 17th Floor

While exploring some of the downtown districts in Seattle we had the opportunity to visit the Russell Investments roof garden at 1301 Second Avenue. This is a privately-owned garden on the seventeenth floor that is made available to the public during business hours.

Russell Investments rooftop garden on the 17th floor

You can bring lunch and eat outside with fantastic views of the city and the sound on three sides, or purchase lunch in the small cafeteria. When we visited, the cafeteria was closed and access to the garden was blocked for holiday maintenance, but we could still enjoy the views and garden design from within. The sun broke through after days of drizzly rain, so we were treated to very dramatic skies and lighting.

View of the sound from the rooftop garden

City view from the rooftop garden

The garden resembles a prairie or coastal scene with several “big bonsai” trees, golden grasses, low shrubs, and slate and wooden pathways. The sculpture of an abacus in steel and green glass is especially fitting for an investment company. The overall design calls to mind a modern interpretation of nature, using plants and materials from the Pacific Northwest. You can see this design in this aerial photo posted by Reed.

Roof garden design from above (posted by Reed)

We already have plans to visit the garden for lunch on our next trip in warmer weather. Roof gardens in urban centers help reduce heat emission from the roof, provide habitat for people and birds, and are a pleasure to view in an industrial setting. After our visit we headed over to Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya in Capitol Hill for conversation over delicious ramen noodles in steaming broth.

Tennis Shoe Planter

I’m always on the hunt for fun ideas in the garden. While travelling in Seattle for the Christmas break, I came upon this tennis shoe planter. I loved the use of a found object to act as a container for a couple of succulents.

Container for succulents in the Pacific Northwest

I also love how the moss thrives in the damp conditions of the Pacific Northwest. Have you seen an innovative planter recently?

Marra Farm Community Garden

On one of our long rambles in South Park, Seattle with Mako, we passed through Marra Farm, a four-acre farm parcel that is part of Marra-Desimone Park. The original Marra Farm was operated as a truck farm by the Italian-American Marra family from the early 1900s to the 1970s, and was then sold to King County.

Marra Farm community garden in South Park, Seattle

In 1997 several citizens and nonprofit organizations restored part of the farm, and today it operates as a community garden, growing more than 13,000 pounds of organic produce a year. Seattle residents can sign up for a P-Patch lot, and are added to the waiting list.

Healthy kale and greens at Marra Farm

Greenhouse structures at Marra Farm

We walked through the raised garden beds and green houses. It was December, cold, and raining, but the kale looked fantastic! The large chicken coop was stocked with many species of chickens.

Chicken coop at Marra Farm

Another restoration project is underway nearby – Hamm Creek, a tributary of the lower Duwamish River which empties into Elliott Bay. According to Habitat Restoration along the Lower Duwamish Waterway, the restoration at Hamm Creek provides a “fish-passable” connection to the Duwamish river, enabling salmonid spawning in Hamm Creek.

Hamm Creek habitat restoration

Holiday Memories from Seattle

Happy New Years, folks! My husband and I are back in the fray after celebrating Christmas and New Years in Seattle with our son, daughter-in-law, and their Alaskan Husky, Mako. We had a great time enjoying festivities in their home, and venturing out in the drizzle of the Pacific Northwest. In the days leading up to Christmas we did some serious shopping and online monitoring of purchases scheduled for delivery, and took long walks in the neighborhood.

Mount Shasta in the golden winter light

Capitol Hill district in Seattle

Evening walk with Mako

We ventured into Seattle to enjoy interesting architecture, and look for intriguing gardens. As always, we sought out eateries of all types. Favorites include Loretta's Northwesterner, Pomodoro Ristorante, Hudson, The Hangar Cafe, and Proletariat Pizza. New places include Jimmy Mac'sRoadhouse, goPoké for Hawaiian poke, and Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya for ramen. We also dined in, making sour cream pancakes and eggs, fettuccini, oyakodon, lamb, and meat pie. My daughter-in-law and I made a lattice crust cherry pie that was a triumph, but the gingerbread house I made was a bust!

Breakfast in Georgetown near the historical morgue

Snow on Christmas Eve

Winter wonderland

Christmas was a fete of flying paper and bows, stocking stuffers, and beautiful gifts. Mako received his fair share of squeaky toys - which he loves to destroy in search of the squeaker! For Christmas dinner we feasted with friends on duck, fried rice, mashed potatoes and gravy, and beet and spinach salad, and exchanged inter-generational news and viewpoints.

Christmas morning

Mako surrounded by his squeaky toys

Christmas feast

We took long walks with Mako in the neighborhood and in Seahurst Park, explored a rooftop garden and a community garden, and reveled in snow on Christmas Eve. We put together two puzzles, and started a third, and watched a ton of cooking shows. Alton Brown's Cutthroat Kitchen and the Chef's Kitchen were favorites, and inspired us to cook (and eat) more adventurously! 

In Georgetown in pursuit of breakfast

Puzzle fun

Selfie-stick fun

On the way to and from Seattle, we passed through Portland to visit my niece and family, and meet my great niece, Harper (she is a beautiful baby, in case you wondered)! On the return trip I had the extra pleasure of seeing my sister. My husband and I were grateful for no snow through Grants Pass and Shasta, but didn't mind the rain in the Central Valley as we listened to an eBook. It was a great trip, but it is always nice to return to our own home! I'll share some of my garden experiences in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, I'm savoring the memories of our trip, and time together celebrating the Christmas holiday with family and friends!

Quick stop in Portland to see family and meet the new baby!

Favorite stop in Medford on the way home

Looking Ahead to 2018 – Sabbatical

Happy New Year! Hope this post finds you both worn out from holiday fun, and recharged for the new year ahead. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our time with our son, daughter-in-law, and Mako (their Alaskan Husky). I love the Christmas holiday for its spiritual significance and focus on what is important. It is the perfect time for gathering with loved ones, giving gifts, and eating delicious food. It’s also a time to reflect on the previous year, express gratitude, and focus on new challenges.

Crows - concept sketch by Jason Quisenberry (2010)

Looking ahead, I’ve decided to follow the idea of sabbatical. In Hebrew scripture, God created for six days, and then rested on the seventh day, and commanded us to do the same (if not you will surely die). Likewise, every seventh year agricultural land was to be left fallow in order to renew. Academia has a history of sabbaticals, giving scholars time to research and write, and some corporations offer sabbaticals for a similar reason. The idea is to change the routine, which can lead to rejuvenation, creativity, and productivity.

For my sabbatical, I plan to have no plans! I have a few personal and family projects in mind, and some major gardening work to do (a concept sketch, of sorts). I intend to follow my passion for plants and gardens and writing about it, but want to try new things, new technologies, and new projects. I'm not sure where that will lead, but that is part of the adventure. Hope you will join me on this journey!