Happy 4th of July!

From Dunn Gardens

Independence Day, the celebration of all things American! A time to get together with friends, share barbecue, light a sparkler or two, and slice into the first good watermelon of the season.

So, what does the 4th of July, democracy, and public gardens have to do with one another? As you most likely know, 2022 is the bicentennial birthday year of Frederick Law Olmsted — author, journalist, public official, urban planner and founder of American landscape architecture. Olmsted and his successor firms designed thousands of landscape projects across the country, including Dunn Gardens. It may be hard for us to understand how radical his ideas were at the time now that he is seen as such an establishment figure. Yet at the heart of all that was a then crazy idea: He wanted to create and preserve natural spaces to temper the urbanization of America at a time when new rail lines and tall buildings were replacing natural spaces and farms. And more importantly, he wanted to create public spaces to serve as crossroads for all strata of society to interact in a pastoral setting. He believed mingling outside the realm of the workplace could bring out the best in humanity. This was quite a revolutionary concept. In the Victorian era most gardens were private, and primarily reserved and enjoyed by the elite. His vision of public parks as egalitarian spaces making our democracy stronger is just as important today.

For more information, here is a thoughtful and provocative essay provided by the National Association of Olmsted Parks: Do Beautiful Parks Strengthen Democracy

The Danger of Foxtail Grass… Especially for Dogs

From Dunn Gardens

Keep your eye out for Foxtail Grass, a real risk for your pets. The barbed seed heads of the foxtail plant can work their way into any part of your dog or cat, from the nose to between the toes, and inside the ears, eyes, and mouth. They can even dig directly into a patch of skin. The danger of foxtails goes beyond simple irritation. Because these tough seeds don’t break down inside the body, an embedded foxtail can lead to serious infection and can even lead to death if left untreated. The plant is a grass-like weed resembling the tail of a fox. They are harmless in the winter months, spread very quickly after a wet spring, and are a real pest from April through autumn, when the seeds dry and snag on fur. These grasses thrive in a variety of environments and especially in open areas such as roadsides, parks, trails, and fields. Remove any you find. Pull them out or spray the plants with vinegar on a hot day.

Click for more information about danger for dogs here.

How to stay safe, cool and energy-efficient during the heat wave

The Cellar Homebrew store has closed after 51 years of business in Broadview

By Will Murray

The Cellar Homebrew store opened in 1971 in the basement of 323 N 145th the building which currently houses Kiriba Sushi and later moved across to the west side of Greenwood at 144th then for the past 20 years to 14321 Greenwood Avenue.

In 1978 President Carter signed legislation which legalized homebrewing “for personal or family use”. The legalization of homebrewing  contributed to the growth of the craft beer industry, 90% of the pioneer craft brewers started out making homebrew. 

The current owner closed the business Tuesday May 31st due to the economy and labor shortages. For many years the Cellar was part of the Northwest’s thriving winemaking and craft brewing industry and concentrated on servicing the home brewing and winemaking community. Customers found fresh hops, grain and yeast for homebrewing and helpful advice. A large volume of Eastern Washington wine grapes would find their way to the cellar every fall and winemakers would gather and press grapes to create their home vintages. 

A paint store is set to open in the Cellar’s old space.