Come learn about the history, geology, ecology, and restoration of Seward Park with Paul Talbert, president of the Friends of Seward Park. These free walking tours meet at 11:00 am on the 1st Saturday of the month outside the Seward Park Environmental and Audubon Center, and usually last about two hours and cover about 1 mile. Dress for the weather. A water bottle, snack, and binoculars are always useful if you have them, but are not necessary.
April 3 - Hanami: Cherry Blossom Diplomacy in Seward Park
A gift of Japanese cherry trees in 1929 transformed Seward Park, Lake Washington Boulevard, and much of Seattle, leading eventually to the Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival. For over a thousand years, hanami (cherry blossom viewing) has been an important spring rite in Japan. We'll explore the roles of the Great Kanto Earthquake, the NYK line, the London Naval Conference, and the American Bicentennial in the history of the sakura (Japanese cherries) and lanterns in Seward Park, as well as the torii (Shinto gate) that once graced the isthmus, and the Japanese garden designed from a postcard. We'll also pay a visit to our own native bitter cherry and discover its uses.
The Friends of Seward Park meet on the 1st Saturday of most months at 9:30 - 11:00 am in the Seward Park Environmental and Audubon Center (SPEAC) near the park entrance.