The little guy is big into a new tricycle he got for Christmas. After one of his many requests to go for a ride, I switched things up a bit and headed to a nearby wildlife corridor that is also the site of the city’s largest colony of Blue Herons. The birds make their nests there from February through July or August, but sadly none was spotted this day. It was an opportunity to introduce him to an urban wildlife habitat, though, and let him explore plants of a scale not in our garden. This well-established Heather was a big hit, making a shaker noise every time he brushed his hand through it. I wish we had one in our yard of this size!
Our outing also served as a reminder to be diligent in teaching that he should never touch or eat anything without my permission, especially outside and in gardens. This delicious looking temptation was mixed in with english ivy and hanging over a fence along the sidewalk. It’s likely climbing nightshade, sometimes called bittersweet, and is known to be a thug in the garden and toxic to pets and children. That’s thumbs down in my book. I’ve read that pets will usually avoid, and because it isn’t really tasty like it looks, the little ones won’t eat enough to do real harm. But who wants that risk?
So off we went to our wildlife destination, Kiwanis Ravine. The demonstration site gives visitors a chance to see ongoing forest restoration, and features interpretive signs that detail the sloping ravine and dry upland areas. The space was donated to the city in 1950 by the Kiwanis Club, and more area was added in 1980 through public efforts. The ravine was one of 30 areas mapped out as a “green space” under a 1993 policy aimed at preserving natural habitat, according to Seattle Parks and Recreation. The law also sought to mitigate noise and air pollution, reduce the need for man-made storm water systems and preserve natural drainage.
I’m sorry to say I hadn’t been in this area before, although I’ve walked by. Perhaps I was deterred because I had the dogs, which I for sure wasn’t taking into a heron sanctuary! There’s nothing like a child to freshen up the routine, though. It’s just another reminder to never stop exploring plants and wildlife, because we all can learn a little something, regardless of age or expertise.