The Center for Natural Lands Management is hosting FREE summer classes at its Demonstration Native Prairie Garden.  Classes begin on Friday from 4-6pm and then continue on Saturday from 11am-3pm. Come to one class or all!  Friday classes will focus on seed collection methods, Saturday classes will teach techniques in hand seed cleaning.  It is not necessary to attend both days but those who attend both sessions will receive a sachet of native seeds to take home for their own garden!

 Please RSVP at ssvolunteers@cnlm.org.  More information about the South Sound Prairies and the Center for Natural Lands Management can be found at www.southsoundprairies.org

June 6, 2017:

The man who organized Sunday’s pro-Trump free speech rally in Portland has set his sights on The Evergreen State College in Olympia.

“Yes, Evergreen State College, you should start freaking out,” Joey Gibson told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson. “Have your meltdown. We are coming.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article154767469.html

Joey Gibson has not announced a date yet.

For some background concerning what Olympia has successfully done before to deal with assorted fascists: http://olyblog.net/nazis-come-olywa-history-so-far

Fight Fascists With Mockery, Not the Violence That Feeds Them, Dave Neiwert's post includes celebration of Oly tactics http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2017/02/fight-fascists-with-mockery-not.html

"confront protofascists with mockery"

http://www.salon.com/2017/05/02/alt-right-hopes-to-organize-street-fighting-goon-squad-is-it-more-than-macho-posturing/

These current fascists have an entirely different fashion aesthetic for us to mock. These are not the Hollywood Nazis of our past. These guys and gals mix Trumpian bling, motorcycle helmets, cosplay, street fighter ...... heavy on the flags, weak on fashion poetry.

I'm thinking some frivolous pageantry is in order. Prepare thy costumes and practice thy performances. If fascists come to town, give them what they don't want - which is mockery. Mock, laugh, jest, dance, sing, play, clown. Prance, moon them. Have a blast. Frivolous enjoyment is the best revenge.

This is a new short video on Olympia area history available this month from the Now Where Were We? series by Deb Ross.  

Historic cherry treee on Chambers Prairie - Courtesy SW Archives Susan Parish Collection

This episode talks about the evolution of Panorama from its prairie days to homestead, golf course, and its current status as a retirement community in Lacey. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RbCj0ogxdU

In this free 1-3 pm workshop with an instructor from Olyphant Art & Media, you’ll learn how to use watercolor to create a painting of a Giant Pacific Octopus. These amazing creatures live right here in Puget Sound! Supplies provided and appropriate for ages 10 and older. Space is limited so you must pre-register at https://octopus-painting-workshop.eventbrite.com. Painting in the classroom all day at the Wet Center.

The WET Science Center can sometimes feel crowded, loud, and bright. We are opening on a Sunday to kids and adults with a variety of sensory differences with the goal of offering a comfortable and accepting environment. Guests can enjoy tactile activities, crafts, hand fidgets, a book nook, quiet spaces for taking a break, and all of our hands-on exhibits at the Wet Center. Event runs 12-4 pm and is free.

The Pleistocene Epoch was marked by glaciers sweeping across the land with the debut of our planet's most recent ice age. Who could survive in this often frozen landscape? Join us at 2 pm as we unlock the mysteries of the mammoths which made Earth home once upon a time. Unearth the natural history of these prehistoric mammals, learning about where and how these gentle giants lived. Discover how some of the earliest human settlements shared land with the mammoths, and how bones and tusks were used to make shelters, tools, and art. Related arts and crafts all day at the Wet Center.

Forests are found on every continent in the world – and even underwater! Washington has some of the most diverse stands of seaweed on the planet. Join us at 2 pm for a presentation exploring how these giant algae provide homes, food, and nurseries for marine creatures! Related underwater activities in the classroom all day at the Wet Center.

What can the shape and structure of a seashell tell us about the biology of the animal that made it? Are abalones snails, and why do their shells always have holes? We’ll explore these and other questions by examining the lives and shells of some marine bivalves and snails during a presentation starting at 2 pm. You’ll get to take home a special shell! Learn about shells, make shell jewelry, and enjoy related arts and crafts throughout the day at the Wet Center.

Interested in learning more about the native birds of western Washington? Join the Nisqually Reach Nature Center at 2 pm for a brief and interactive presentation on birds! The presentation is followed by lively games where participants embody unique and diverse characteristics of birds. Bird-themed crafts all day at the Wet Center.

Stop by anytime to make art inspired by Puget Sound and its creatures. At 1 pm, attend a program about water in our lives and what happens to the dirty water you send down the drain. Discover how LOTT cleans up wastewater at the Budd Inlet Treatment Plant and the steps taken to protect Puget Sound. Then take a tour of the treatment plant at the Wet Center. Tour participants must be 10 or older and wear closed-toe, closed-heel shoes.