WABI’s Post-Fireworks Walk-n-Talk on July 5 started at the SeaTac Community Center then headed northwest to make a loop through North SeaTac Park. Seven frequent walkers came along and were joined by first-time Walk-n-Talker, SeaTac City Councilmember Pam Fernald. She walks every day with a co-worker on their lunch hour, and she wanted to explore their city’s park with WABI-ists. She said that she told their Parks Department, “We should do something like WABI’s Walk-n-Talks!”

Once we made our way to the north end of the park, we came across a hopscotch that someone had drawn in chalk. Frequent Walker-Talker, Gaylloyd, was light on his feet and simply hovered from one end of the hopscotch to the other! (Wink, wink.) It must have been the magic swing of his arms and legs. (To watch Gaylloyd “hover” again, please refresh your browser window.)

Gaylloyd Hopscotch

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July’s Walk-n-Talkers, (from left to right): Ira, Mary, Gaylloyd, Kathleen, Karen, Kathy, Maureen, Pam. (Click on the photo to see everyone’s smiling face enlarged.)

Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden

After our loop in North SeaTac Park, we took a stroll through the beautiful Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden. Things were green, lush, blooming… and the pockets of shade were welcome on the 90+ degree day. Highlights of the currently developed 3 acres include the Seike Japanese Garden, “Elda Behm’s Paradise Garden”, the “Sensory Garden”, located adjacent to the SeaTac Senior Center, and display gardens planted and maintained by the King County Iris Society, Puget Sound Daylily Club, Seattle Rose Society, and the City of SeaTac Parks Department.

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Seike Japanese Garden

An important part of the Botanical Garden is the Seike Japanese Garden, which was previously located at the former site of the Des Moines Way Nursery in the City of SeaTac. In danger of being sold due the expansion of SeaTac Airport, the garden was saved by four different governments and the Highline Botanical Garden Foundation. The project is believed to be the largest relocation of a Japanese Garden ever attempted in the United States.

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In the Japanese Garden, there are several magnificent maples pruned and maintained with mastery and an artful eye.

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Our next event will be the Public Art Walk-n-Talk on Sunday, August 2. Don’t miss it! Stay tuned for further details.

For further information, please contact:
Maureen Hoffmann, WABI Burien President, info@wabiburien.org