Earth Day 2006 was celebrated on sunny but crisp Saturday morning at the Lower Hylebos Marsh. Thirty-two volunteers joined  Congressman Adam Smith (9th District) and State Representative Skip Priest (30th District) to plant 1,300 native plants, including shore pine, Western hemlock, cascara, and red columbine over a planting area of three acres.

Volunteers were treated to coffee from Poverty Bay Coffee Company before starting with the day's work. And our friends at The Right Spot donated delicious Go Hylebos! pizza for lunch.

We had a number of individuals volunteering and several local businesses were represented, including our good friends from Poverty Bay Coffee and Homestreet Bank and [other company].

Over a three year period, the Friends will plant more than 30,000 native trees, shrubs, and wetland plants at this former log sorting yard. The Friends has hired restoration crews to do a significant amount of this huge project. But volunteers are providing about ten percent of the work, making our restoration dollars go further!

More work will be done at this site in coming years. Contact Restoration Coordinator Hillary Kleeb to volunteer for future events.