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Echo Lake Native Plant
Garden
Goals: 
The garden provides a hands-on experience for students
for their studies of the environment and of th e
natural features, geography, and history of Washi ngton
State. It provides a staging area for whole c lass
instruction and nature walks as well as indivi dual
exploration and observation. This design provi des
an outdoor classroom setting for additional edu cational
opportunities including writing, poetry, a nd
art.
The garden helps educate both students and the greater Shoreline
community about plants native to Washington State. The
structure of the garden provides examples of plants typically found
in a variety of habitats and creates a forum for discussion of the
benefits of native plants and habitat restoration.
History:
During the 2008-2009 school year, parent and community volunteers
worked with the fourth grade teachers to create a garden of native
plants for the fourth grade to use to enhance their study of
Washington State.
The ivy-filled landscaping area between the 2nd grade and 4th grade
wings on the 195th St. side of the school was selected as a
location for the garden.
During two work days in the spring of 2009, students, Echo Lake
families, and community members from Shoreline Covenant Church and
the Echo Lake Neighborhood Association helped clear half of the ivy
and spread 5 yards of compost donated by Sky Nursery.
With the help of the PTA Environmental Committee, the school
received two grants: an Environmental mini-grant from the City of
Shoreline in 2009 and an Education Grant from the Washington Native
Plant Society in 2010. The first grant was used to buy tools,
hoses, and some plants. However, most plants were donated by
Washington Native Plant Stewards and acquired from King County
plant salvages.
By May 2009, the garden was ready for planting. With the
guidance of Native Plant Stewards, the fourth graders planted the
first natives in the cleared area. Fifth graders helped turn
in compost and make trails and sixth graders helped spread wood
chips around the new plants.
At the start of the 2009-2010 school year, the Shoreline School
District provided new landscaping around the entire school and
offered to remove all the remaining English ivy from the garden
site. In addition, they cut the Douglas fir down to an eight foot
stump. This necessitated removing most of the 2009 shrubs, but
provided an opportunity to divide the garden into separate areas,
each representing a different native habitat. The habitats
include:
1) Prairie, featuring a Garry oak tree and a plug
of prairie from Frederickson Prairie in Thurston County
2) Deciduous woodland, with deciduous shrubs
creating an over story
3) Alpine slope, scattered with granite rocks
4) Wetland at the bottom of the slope
5) Coniferous forest, including Douglas fir,
western red cedar, western hemlock
6) Rocky bluff, positioned above a small rock
wall.
(See photo gallery for more habitat photos)
In March 2010, the fifth graders returned the shrubs to the garden
and planted a new Douglas fir. In April, the fourth graders planted
new native plants in each of the habitats. After this
planting, 71 different species of Washington native plants were
growing in the garden.
All the plants were labeled with wooden stakes or metal tags.
Trails were created and lined with salvaged logs and weathered
fence planks, large tree rounds installed in various location
around the garden for use as seats or tables, and rocks of a
variety of sizes positioned to add interest. The Washington
Native Plant Society grant was used to purchase landscaping
materials, plant tags, and some additional plants.
The sixth grade class of 2010 donated a birdbath as their
graduation gift to the school, and Mr. Day, the librarian, donated
two birdhouses, which were hung from the tree snag. One of
these was immediately inhabited by a pair of chickadees.
Student, parent, teacher, and community volunteers maintained the
garden over the summer with occasional watering and weeding.
Garden Activity
Spring planting:
Each spring, the 4th grade class plants new plants in the garden
during their study of Washington State. The students learn
about the features and benefits of native plants and are presented
with an overview of plants growing in Washington State. The
students then each choose a specific plant to research and finally
have the opportunity to plant that plant in the garden.
Green Thumb Club:
Starting in fall 2010, a new School Activity called the Green Thumb
Club will take the role of maintaining the garden on a regular
basis. These students will get hands-on experience with native
plants through transplanting and cutting back of overgrown plants,
and become familiar with invasive plants through regular
weeding. The club will help with a native plant sale to raise
money to purchase new plants for the garden.
Using the garden:
Several other classes have benefited from tours of the garden to
enhance their science curricula, particularly the 5th grade study
of ecosystems and food chains. Mrs.Holmes’ and Mr.
Feltis’ kindergarten classes watch the changes with the
seasons on their nature walks through the garden. Also, Mrs.
Blaylock’s 3rd grade class used the garden for a project
measuring soil pH.
Bird activity:
Black-capped chickadees - feeding and nesting
Anna’s hummingbird - feeding from bleeding heart flowers
Red-shafted flicker - tearing apart decaying logs
Crows – checking out the garden
Oregon junco – feeding on the ground
House sparrow – feeding on ground and in shrubs
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