Tens of thousands of seedlings are growing at the Mountains to Sound Nursery year-round at Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah.  This outdoor site is maintained exclusively by volunteers.

In the first few months of each year volunteers plant thousands of native, bare-root seedlings into pots. In spring and summer volunteers weed, fertilize, and do other tasks to ensure that the plants remain healthy. In one or two years the trees and shrubs have grown large enough to be transplanted into permanent homes. Each fall thousands of these trees are moved to natural areas along the Greenway corridor where they are carefully planted by volunteers.

Get Involved

Volunteers of any age and level of experience will find the nursery a great introduction to working in the Mountains to Sound Greenway.  There is NO indoor greenhouse here--the entire nursery is outdoors.  There is a small covered area under which volunteers do the tree potting in January and February. 

Volunteers are needed year-round to care for tree and shrub seedlings. Check the calendar for the dates and times of upcoming projects. You can then sign up on-line or call 206-812-0122 for more information.  Please RSVP before coming to a project! This is the only way to get information about late-breaking changes to scheduled nursery events.

History

In 1998, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust joined together to create a small tree nursery at Lake Sammamish State Park. The increasing demand for native plants for restoration projects in the Greenway prompted a major expansion in 2001. The new facility can hold over 20,000 plants.

The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation provided funding for a new potting shed, tables, and educational signs in 2003 to make this facility a more comfortable and informative experience for volunteers. The H. D. Fowler Company donated the original watering system, which was designed and installed by Larry Zimmer from LBL Landscape Group.