Seola Pond [map] has new native plants courtesy of the steward Scott Dolfay and students from Explorer West High School And Westside School (BMS sponsors). Scott says the annual restoration event was held last Saturday, and this time a King County grant program provided $3,500 to help make it happen.

Scott says he started this work in 2017 and it has become an annual event, “always with neighboring volunteers and students and teachers from at least one of the 3 schools near the pond; Explore West, Westside and The Bridge School. Scott says the weather was perfect – they planted a little later this year so it wasn’t as cold.

Before the students got to work, he walked them around the pond “teach them about native plants versus invasive plants, pond fauna, and the history of the effort.”

After the students left, he had other visitors: “While I was cleaning, Mr. Darrell Wallis arrived. He’s been mowing the grass with his ride-on mower on the west and south sides of the pond for years. He announced that it was his 86th birthday that day. When I started in 2017 he was skeptical but was won over by seeing the results. Later, two separated elderly birdwatchers showed up, happy to see new work now on the south side. Scott added: “I could have used at least twice as many plants, but it’s a good start. We planted several trees including a good sized Bosnian pine, I know, not native, but a big tree. As more grants come in, I will apply so the field will be filled over time. »