There is almost no reason to leave Edmonds at the height of summer – with temperatures setting historic records, the fragrant blossoming gardens, and serene evenings perfect for strolling the neighborhoods.
Speaking of blossoming gardens – I hope that you have your ticket to the 2014 Edmonds in Bloom Garden Tour in the way of a route map and list of this year’s seven registered Edmonds and Woodway participating gardens.
If not, the $15 tickets are still available for the seven-garden tour and can be obtained at Bountiful Home, 122 4th Ave.; Garden Gear, 103 5th Ave.; Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main St.; Wight’s Home & Garden 5026 196th St.; and Sky Nursery, 18528 Aurora Ave.
You can also get your ticket for the garden tour at the Edmonds in Bloom website.
My Edmonds News noted this year’s highlights in their coverage. Also make a point of noting the Edmonds in Bloom pennants this week, which will mark notable gardens, as determined by the Garden Tour Committee, which “receives tips” from fans and family members of our most dedicated gardeners.
A few weeks ago, I was invited to visit and chat with my neighbor Larry Temple, who is a former Board President of Edmonds in Bloom, and his wife Anne. Their garden is one of Edmonds’ most notable with whimsical statues, stunningly colorful glass-blown pieces, and art sculptures collected from faraway travels.
The couple’s favorite pieces include “Frank,” a bronze statue that takes center stage in the horticulture display, and which was shipped up from San Francisco. Anne noted that “visitors are always asking about the Camperdown elm,” which is truly exceptional.
Unlike the private-access gardens that the Edmonds in Bloom Garden Tour features, theirs is one of the most visible – and visited — gardens in the city, thanks to its across-the-street proximity to the Edmonds Saturday Market.
I’m drawn to the Temple’s black, bronze raven, which sits atop an enchanting fountain keeping the boisterous neighborhood crows at a distance. Not at all a “green thumb,” I asked Anne and Larry what the time commitment is to maintain a garden such as theirs. Larry waved away the burden of time, noting that the sprinkling system helps and reassuring me that the garden takes only “seasonal” effort like during planting times, and pruning periods. I picked up a certain skepticism from Anne when she scoffed and rolled her eyes. Her comments insinuated that Larry is an incurable and constant gardener for whom time stands still when he’s in his botanical element.
It is not unusual, according to the couple, for Edmonds-area residents to drive out-of-town visitors past the garden, located at 217 5th Ave. N.
While Larry loves trowels, shovels and 3-tine cultivators, books hold Anne’s affection. Several years ago the couple successfully merged their passions by adding a “Little Free Library” as one of their property’s features, thus joining a national neighborhood-library movement.
Little Free Library – As Art!
The Little Free Library’s are those charming, colorful, and individualized boxes you see as you stroll through Edmonds’ neighborhoods that hold books, inviting neighbors to take, share and comment on the collection maintained by the stewards of the little libraries.
The Temples’ Little Free Library was, according to Larry, “inspired by a church near the corner of 3rd and Casper.” The skill involved in constructing the striking book box were attributed to Larry’s days as a set designer for high school theater. Larry used scrap copper for an all-weather roof, back splash tiles for the “brickwork”, and enrolled in stained glass design lessons at Lowell’s Stained Glass shop for the elegant door to the Little Free Library. It took a full winter to construct and when completed he presented it to Anne as a gift.
Anne exclaims about the book collection that she shepherds, “There’s something new every day.” She adds, “I would love to see more children’s books in the library.”
The most unusual book that she has registered as received was published in 1940s. It was obvious from its inscription that it had been give as a Christmas gift. More than 150 books have circulated through her Little Free Library. Anne admits that some books, “come into our home first,” so that she can read them before passing them on to her neighbors who, no doubt, look forward to strolling past the condo where she and her husband live.
Anne directed me to the official website of the Little Free Library movement and I was delighted to learn that Edmonds has 14 little libraries. Each one has a storied history and reflects the romance that its steward has for all genres.
The national Little Free Library was inspired by Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin in 2009. Bol built a model of a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former school teacher who loved reading.
Todd Bol filled his Little Free Library with books and put it on a post in his front yard. His neighbors and friends loved it. He built several more and gave them away. Each one had a sign that read “free books”.
Bol’s tribute to his mother has grown into a global organization. In their most recent report the organization notes it has received registrations for over 15,000 Little Free Library boxes, placed in 56 countries.
21729 98th S.
Edmonds’ original Little Free Library is located just a few steps away from the front door of the Waterfront Coffee Company at 101 Main Street. Designed by Steve Balas, it honors Edmonds cedar shingle mill industry, which dotted the shores of Puget Sound until the last mill vanished over fifty years ago.
Our Little Free Libraries are imaginative, whimsical, and certainly artfully Edmonds as shown in this photo sampling.
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More can be learned about the Little Free Library movement here.
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The results of the Driftwood Players 5th Annual Festival of Shorts are in!
“A Place that Looks Like Davenport,” by playwright Paul Lewis of Seattle, WA, won the judges favor this year in the Driftwood Players 5th Annual Festival of Shorts.
My Edmonds News profiled the Festival and co-producer Diane Jamieson in last week’s column.
“A Place that Looks Like Davenport” takes place in 1969, using the Apollo moon landing as the dateline place-holder for a couple who has faced one of life’s greatest tragedies — the loss of a child. Their 9-year old son, a baseball enthusiast, is hit and killed by a minor league player’s wayward foul ball.
Not a dry eye existed in at the playhouse the evening I attended the Festival as the forlorn parents, played by David Persson and Sam Samano, face the minor league baseball player in his apology, delivered on the eve of his “shipping out” for Viet Nam.
Samano is the former director for the Northwest Savoyards. More recently she directed local production “Kaputnik”. David Persson was cast as Wilberforce Kendall in Everett Theatre Group’s production, “Dressing for Murder”.
Taking 2nd place in the Judges Awards is “Swinging Christmas” by Joe Starzyk, with “In Transition” by Terry Riley rounding out the popular Festival’s favorites as noted in My Edmonds News announcement.
Driftwood Players Summer Teen Ensemble
Every summer young aspiring actors are invited to participate in the Driftwood Players Summer Teen Ensemble. This summer the company presents . . .
Oliver!
Performances:
Friday July 25, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Saturday July 26, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Sunday July 27, 2014 at 2:00 pm
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Lynnwood Convention Center
3711 196th St. SW, Lynnwood
“Celebrate! Lynnwood Music & Dance Festival”
July 19 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 10:30 pm
Admission: Free!
The City of Lynnwood, along with several community partners, is hosting the first annual “Celebrate! Lynnwood Music & Dance Festival” which will feature daytime family-friendly fun events, arts & crafts, a photo book, food trucks – and much more on four main-stages.
Visit here for more details.
Then, as the day moves toward evening and the activities move into the mellow range, the Beer & Wine Garden will open and performances by such notables as “Hey Marseilles”, “The Royal We” and many other great music troupes will join to celebrate!
Information about the evening program can be found at this website.
Home base for information about the festival is here.
This Week’s Events Line-up
Lynnwood Park Amphitheater
18927 72nd Ave. W., Lynnwood
Shakespeare in The Park
The Lynnwood Arts Commission is producing a “Shakespeare in The Park” series this summer.
Suggested Donation: $5
Julius Caesar
Wednesday/Thursday ~ July 16/17 ~ 7 p.m.
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Wednesday/Thursday ~ July 23/24 ~ 7 p.m.
You can find more information about this arts commission program here.
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Movies Under the Stars
Free!
Swedish/Edmonds
21601 76th Ave W, Edmonds
Friday, July 18 ~ 9 p.m.
Reminder: Swedish/Edmonds will kick off its third summer season of hosting Movies Under the Stars with the family film Father of the Bride, shown on the hospital’s second floor café patio, near the water feature.
Chair seating will be available for the first 200 people. Moviegoers may also bring a blanket and sit on the lawn above the patio area. In the event of inclement weather, seating will be available inside the café.
Complimentary healthy snacks, popcorn and lemonade will be served.
Free parking is available in the lot located just outside the hospital’s west entrance off of 76th Avenue.
More information is available at www.swedish.org/movies.
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ArtWorks
201 2nd Ave. S.
Friday, July 18 ~ 6 – 8 p.m.
Sat./Sun., July 19/20 ~ 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
ArtSplash!
This splashy event will feature original works by over 20 artists who call the ArtWorks Studio their home. The event dives in with an Artist’s Reception at that begins on Friday, July 18 at 6 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday will sparkle as elegant jewelry; zany art and stunning works are exhibited.
For information about the event go to the Artists Connect website at www.Artists-Connect.com/artsplash or call 425-774-6049.
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Brought to us by the City of Edmonds:
Summer Performance in the Park
City Park
600 3rd Ave. S.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Sunday, July 20 ~ 3 p.m.
Presented by the Seattle Shakespeare Company, Wooden O.
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Beyond This Week
Edmonds Center for The Arts (ECA)
Friday, July 25, 2014 7:30 p.m.
Fifth generation slack-key guitarist Keoki Kahumoku and versatile ukulele instrumentalist Kalei Gamiao bring the sounds of Hawaii to ECA.
This program is emceed by internationally-renowned comedian Kermit Apio.
Keoki Kahumoku began performing with his father, George Kahumoku, Jr., and his uncle, Moses Kahumoku, in 1990 at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. In 1992, Keoki and his family moved to the island of Maui, to perform at the Westin Maui in Ka’anapali. The wonderful Hawaiian mele he performed spawned a vision in Keoki — to reach and teach the keiki o ka aina and preserve this rich Hawaiian heritage.
Kalei Gamiao mesmerizes audiences with imaginative musicality and flawless execution. This soft-spoken young man delicately picks or fires away at his simple four-stringed instrument.
His ability to create sounds that are incredibly rich and full are even more amazing when you consider he only has two octaves to work with. Award-winning ukulele master Herb Ohta, Jr. summed it up best when he declared, “Kalei’s music and ukulele prowess will take the ukulele to new heights!”
Host Kermet Apio won the 2009 Great American Comedy Festival. He is a past winner of the Seattle Comedy Competition and was a semi-finalist in the San Francisco Comedy Competition. Kermet has showcased at comedy festivals in Aspen, Las Vegas, and Vancouver and has performed in 47 states and 3 Canadian provinces.
His comedic career germinated in 1988 when he was named “Dishwasher of the Month” at the Sea-Tac Airport Denny’s.
Tickets are available here.
ECA’s Hawaiian Summer Camp
July 21 – July 25
The Hawaiian Summer Keiki Camp precedes the performance by Keoki Kahumoku and Kalei Gamiao. More information for your child or grandchild is available here.
Emily Hill is an author and long-time resident of Edmonds. She is retired from a career in public information and news media relations. If you would like your event listed, or venue featured, in Artfully Edmonds, Emily invites you to contact her at arts@myedmondsnews.com
Thanks for letting people know about the Edmonds in Bloom garden tours. One correction, the flags or pennants that you see around town come from the Garden Competition Committee, one of the three committees which organize Edmonds in Bloom events. The third event is the Kids Plant for Mom’s day.
Businesses and homeowners enter the Garden Competition and earn a flag. The homeowners compete for prizes which are awarded at the August 6 Awards Reception. Many times those gardens are later chosen for the Garden Tour.
Again, thank you for letting us know about wonderful events around town. See you at the garden tour!
Emily, thank you for your mention of the Little Free Library. One of the interesting ones (to me) is made from a Pay Phone kiosk and is located on 5th outside the building that houses Opus Bank.
Dear Barbara, Thank you so much for that clarification. Edmonds in Bloom is definitely one of the organizations that has put Edmonds on everyone’s ‘destination map’ ~ accolades to an inspirational group of people.
Dear Tom, Really?? LOL, I’m taking a walk south on 5th from the fountain just to see. I must have walked past that location hundreds of times!! Hidden in plain sight! ;D
Emily, it is easy to confuse the two Edmonds in Bloom events. We have had people enter the competition thinking their garden could be picked for a tour garden. You can imagine the work they go to. In reality the tour committee works at least a year ahead to choose the gardens and to give the owners time to prepare for hundreds of people coming to their garden. Since the two events are in the same month it can be confusing.
Dear Barbara,
Thank you so much for that clarification.
Warm regards,
Emily Hill