Creatures Around The Lake: Backyard Sanctuary

        
            



These photos taken by Susan Derge showcase the variety of wildlife in the backyards of the Haller Lake neighborhood, including wood ducks, sparrows, owls, frogs, and turtles.

 

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Junction Point Homeless Shelter Off 128th Street

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 I was able to tour the Catholic Community Services Homeless Shelter, Junction Point, last week.  This shelter is located at 1132 N 128th St. near Stone Way and 128th St.  There shelter is a series of small, individual building for the residents that look something like "tiny homes".   I met up with Sharonda Duncan, Division Director within CSS Homeless Services.  She manages 4 of CCS's shelters around Seattle.  This shelter became active last June.  It has capacity for 49 individuals, men or women who are 50 years old or older.  The shelter is currently at full capacity. The shelter does utilize volunteers from the community.  They can use help with their plants/gardening and putting together hygiene packs and move out packs for the residents.  If you are interested, you can visit the shelter and ring the door bell. This is a shelter that moved from the old Junction Point location along Elliot Avenue.  The Elliot avenue shelte...
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From The Archives - December 2024

As a teen floating around the Lake on my all wood paddleboard I made in the 1960s, I couldn’t help but notice the many flowering lily beds tucked on shorelines.  The bright green pads fashioned as designer plates looked stunning against multi- colored full-open flowers.  Add blue dragonflies whizzing about to get the full effect.  R. C. Byers, an early Haller Lake pioneer dating to 1910s, was known as the “lily man” not to mention he built his own cabin, cleared land, and replanted trees, shrubs and…25 varieties of lilies.  A story appeared in Sunset magazine “The Lily Grower of Haller Lake” claiming his status.  Our own Shawn MacPherson’s aunt, Anne Segale, told her local kids would sell Mr. Byers lilies at Pike Place Market. Today many Lake homeowners have the coveted lilies, well, perhaps some are coveted. They spread from Byers's shore front to around the Lake over 100 years.  It’s a tedious job to clear lilies. I’m told people spend several sessio...
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From The Archives - March 2025

  This one is a stinker…literally.  It’s everything you wanted to know about dumps and dumping around Haller Lake past and present.  In the old days ,say, prior to the 1930’s,  people would use fire pits, burn barrels or burial pits to dispose of waste.  No rules applied.  It was also common to dump trash in any vacant lot.  The North End Herald reported  in 1927 that Haller Lake, under King County jurisdiction (before Seattle annexation), would acquire a drive in dump on both sides of 125th just east of North Trunk Highway (Aurora today).  The article says “A man will be in charge and supervise disposal.” Twenty years later, 1947, a group of Haller Lake residents meet with King County commissioners complaining of the dump eyesore, smoke and stench.  One comment from a Lake neighbor, “We’re ashamed about it, we have to tell our friends  come out Aurora Ave. and turn right at the dump.”  Although the commissioners said they’d in...
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Green Tips From The Community May 2025

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  Shou Sugi Ban Garden Beds: A Backyard Experiment in Burnt Beauty Walking around the Haller Lake neighborhood, it’s hard not to be inspired. So many beautifully maintained gardens and thoughtful landscaping—each one a small expression of creativity and care. After countless walks soaking in the sights, I couldn’t shake the urge to create a little garden nook of my own. Last year, I finally decided to take on the project. Designing a garden can be overwhelming. There are so many factors to consider. Some questions are well-documented—like understanding your soil, sunlight, and microclimate. Others, not so much: Should I build raised beds or plant directly in the ground? What material should I use—wood, metal, concrete, stone? And what size should the beds be? My garden journey started small, and honestly, with a bit of luck. I stumbled upon some 4” x 8” Douglas Fir beams on sale and, on a whim, decided that wooden raised beds sounded just right. I bought them—and then… did nothing....
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