.
The Woodinville Heritage Gardens
The Woodinville Heritage Society has begun the installation of the Washkuhn Sawmill Display adjacent to the Sammamish River Trail at the Woodinville Farms property next to Olympic Nursery Property south of downtown.
The location is in an area of the property that is proposed as part of a garden pathway leading to a proposed new location for the Farmers Market to the north. Woodinville Farms is an exciting concept with a variety of display and theme gardens with an arboretum and agro-tourism activities. With the proposal of a King County Agricultural Center, the project would promote retail and wholesale marketing for farming in the valley, county and region.
Currently plots at the site are leased to truck farmers who commercially grow produce for local markets.It is already a very interesting place to visit, enjoy the rows of colorful plants and experience the source of vital natural products.
Native Woodland Heritage Garden
The Washkuhn Sawmill Display will be an historical educational tool for all ages, located as a point of interest along the busy Sammamish River Trail and also secondarily accessible for the not so athletic by a garden auto path. Photos and signage will connect the pieces of machinary to the history and future of local logging and milling , the regional lumber industry, and the settling and development of Seattle and Woodinville.As the trail and the Sammamish River both lead back and forth to Seattle, so does the stream of local history.
A Native Forest Heritage Garden will surround the sawmill display. Plants from Olympic Nursery would be for sale in the garden and would represent species that grew in the valley and region prior to agriculture, development, and sawmills. The Washington Native Plant Society is involved in the planning, execution, and possibly sponsorship of the garden display. King County Foresters are also interested in the project as silvaculture is a vital part of planning for the region. The native forest is still growing and the benefits to the quality of urban life include water and air quality, plant and animal diversity, and useful forest products. Scouting has always been oriented to the outdoors and a signage Eagle Scout Project is under way.
Ornamental Heritage Garden
The Woodinville Heritage Society has a small furnished 10’ x 12’ trappers cabin that will soon be added to the site and this prompted the idea of a Heritage Ornamental Garden. This would be a wonderful project for one of the local garden clubs to sponsor.A period garden of older species would make a beautiful live connection with the past. The contrast of the rugged and rusted cabin would contrast nicely with the refined and pretty turn of the century garden.
Agricultural Heritage Garden
The Heritage Agricultural Garden sponsored by the Sammamish Valley Grange is under way. It will be an eductional and year-round growing version of the attractive displays that are seen at State and County Fairs. The Grange was the birthplace of 4H Clubs and this is a great way for them to work together on a site. A heritage orchard will contain old varieties of apples including rare types that were originally used exclusively for making cider.Signage will display phrases from the 1867 text of the Grange Manual that describe the profound and inspirational connections between agriculture and humanity.The Woodinville Heritage Society will assist in the display of retired farming tools and equipment including tractors, plows,rakes and windmills.
Other ideas include:
Horse-drawn logging and agricultural events with plowing and pulling would fit right in and could possibly be sponsored by the Hollywood Saddle Club or 4H Clubs who have equestrian interests. A small display of equipment would contribute to the outdoor museum.
There is an active antique tractor club that holds similar events for a motorized version of historical activities.
Members of the Audobon Society may be interested in a seed and plant garden that attracts local birds and birders.
The Heritage Garden is a growing concept of the Woodinville Heritage Society, the Sammamish Valley Grange and Olympic Nursery offering support. Your comments and ideas would be very welcome to help make the Heritage Garden a real community asset.
For more information call ron paul baum at 425-806-8044
or see more at windowsart.com/woodinvillefarms.
inquiries via email: contact us