Green in the Heart of the City

I never tire of walking around Green Lake. The light differs every time I am there and last Monday, as I walked the 2.8 mile trail, the lake looked greener than ever.

With the light different every single day, who can ever tire of walking around Green Lake?

Wild Yellow Iris in Full Bloom I have been watching these irises come up year after year and they are always pleasing to the eye!

Green Lake was named in 1855 by David Phillips, who was probably struck by the lake’s dark green color.  Even back in 1855, when the lake had plenty of surface inflow and outflow from the now dried up Ravenna Creek, the lake’s natural state was prone to algae blooms.

The Duwamish had a name for the lake: dxWTLusH.  It’s a Lushootseed word and no one knows what it means.  My guess would be the Lushootseed name might have something to do with “green” or maybe it is a native word for “yellow iris”.  I found the word on line and really would like to hear it pronounced.  I can’t even begin to imagine what it sounds like.

Green Lake used to drain into Lake Washington via the Ravenna Creek.  After the water level was lowered by 7 feet and park lands created, the Ravenna Creek dried up.  In fact, lovely Ravenna Boulevard and its grassy median sit on top of the old creek bed. (A link for old survey maps and Green Lake Watershed is at the end of this blog).

Clean Lines of Lake and Dock

Lost Shoes on Bench

Mamma Goose, her babies, and blossom-littered grass

Lake, Iris, and Reed Grass (straight reeds go curly in disturbed water reflection)

Green Lake Trees

Old Survey Maps and Green Lake Watershed: VIEW