Kirkland Community Wildlife Habitat

07/24/2026

The International Monarch Monitoring Blitz is back! From July 31st to August 9th, 2026, you can help search for monarch butterflies and milkweed plants in Kirkland.

The Monarch Blitz is a community science initiative open to anyone in North America. You could join the 9,000 volunteers who contributed observations last year!

It's time for the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz! From July 25 to August 3, join us by spotting monarch eggs, caterpillars, adults or milkweed plants, and report your sightings to iNaturalist, Journey North, Monarch Larva Monitoring Project and Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper.

The information collected by North American community science observers helps researchers identify priority areas for monarch conservation actions. Thanks to our engaged community of observers, monarch researchers can analyze summer breeding population trends.

Last year's submitted observations included more than 16,000 monarch sightings and more than 68,000 milkweeds!

📷 Courtney Celley/USFWS

07/23/2026

Are you a resident of Redmond? You could be eligible for the city's free tree giveaway! Learn more information here: Tree Giveaway Program | Redmond, WA

Aligned with the City’s commitment to enhancing our urban forest, improving environmental health, and creating a more sustainable and resilient community. We are hosting our second annual tree giveaway. This year we are giving away an increased 750 trees.  By participating, you’re helping us ac...

07/15/2026

Thinking 🤔 about converting your grass to native plants 🪻? You could get paid to do it! 🤑. Apply here: 🖊️ Lawn Be Gone: Grass Removal - Cascade Water

Cascade Water Alliance is offering free gardening classes to help you have beautiful, healthy landscapes while using water efficiently.

07/08/2026

Today is a great day to harvest your lupine.

06/19/2026

Join the City of Kirkland at your local park for habitat clearing and restoring events on Second Saturdays! See more info and register at the link below.

Photos from a Green Kirkland volunteer crew working on a (one-off) clearing of invasive blackberry, ivy and holly beside the trail at Heritage Park this week.

About the Second Saturday program: "We know when we bring the community and parks together magic happens! Come make magic with us by volunteering. The Second Saturday Park Volunteer Program provides opportunities for individuals, families, and groups to volunteer in their favorite parks throughout the year weeding, planting perennial flowers, raking beaches, picking up litter, and finding ways to team up with Parks Management staff to make Kirkland’s parks even more beautiful, welcoming, inclusive, and fun."

https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Parks-and-Community-Services/Parks-Trails-and-Beaches/2nd-Saturday-Park-Volunteers

Kirkland Parks and Community Services

06/05/2026

Many native plants are drought tolerant once established. As we experience warmer, drier summers, think about incorporating these into your landscape.

Due to a drier than usual winter and low snowpack in the mountains, the Department of Ecology is predicting drought across the whole state this summer.

One of the best ways you can save water is to make changes to your landscaping that help it make the most of the water you give it.

Here are some top tips for things you can do in the garden now to help save water and reduce water bills this summer:

🌳Add compost and mulch to your garden. Building healthy soil that is a better "sponge" is the number one way to keep water where you put it and have it do the most good for your plants. Arborist wood chip mulch is especially great at helping soil hold onto moisture, and builds healthier soil over time as it breaks down - and it’s free through chipdrop!

🌿Plant native plants, or drought resistant sun loving plants that require less water and maintenance (new plantings will still require some watering through their first summer as they establish their roots - but these plants will require less water than others over time).

💧Consider installing drip irrigation or a soaker hose system to deliver water right where it’s needed - at the base of your plants.

🌧Ready for an even bigger change? Check out Kirkland's Yard Smart program and schedule a site visit to see if you qualify for rebates up to $5,000 to disconnect your downspouts and replace lawn with a rain garden or native landscaping.

Are you doing anything in the garden to prepare for a hotter and drier summer?

06/03/2026

Plant some natives to support our pollinators!

June is National Pollinator Month, and communities across America have a lot to thank pollinators for. Bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and other pollinators help support the crops and plants that feed our families, strengthen local agriculture, and keep ecosystems healthy.

Across the country, pollinators are essential partners in agriculture and food production. Without them, many of the fruits, vegetables, nuts, and flowers we rely on would struggle to grow.

This month, we are celebrating the small creatures that make a big impact on our communities and encouraging Granges everywhere to think about how we can support pollinator-friendly spaces in our hometowns.

How is your Grange supporting pollinators, gardening, conservation, or local agriculture this summer? Share your photos, projects, and ideas in the comments! 🐝🌻

05/16/2026

This looks good … an opportunity to share your thoughts on yard care. There’s a range of dates for participating 🌼🌱🐝

The City of Kirkland is conducting a Behavior Change Campaign focused on natural yard care practices at home. This initiative seeks to better understand how residents currently care for and maintain their yards and lawns. The focus group will provide us with direct feedback from the community on perceptions, preferences, and practical considerations influencing decision-making. These efforts will directly inform future City programs.

Participants should reside within the City of Kirkland and have a yard/lawn at their residence that they have decision-making responsibility for. Please note that there will be opportunities for in-person and virtual focus groups, as well as virtual interviews. Participants will receive a $100 visa gift card as a token of appreciation for their contribution and time.

A full job description for focus group participants is available at www.kirklandwa.gov/stormwater. Interested individuals can fill out the potential participant questionnaire at www.surveymonkey.com/r/KirklandFocusGroup. Questions should be directed to [email protected].

05/01/2026

We learned so much from Julie O'Donald's lecture on Landscaping with Native Plants at Kingsgate Library sponsored by the Friends of the Kingsgate Library! Washington Native Plant Society is a wonderful resource to find out more.

04/29/2026

If you are thinking about having your property certified as a Wildlife Habitat, you have two more days to take advantage of the Native Plant Month discount!