Throughout 2024, VPT provided infill planting to the shrub hedges that surround the park’s historic Lily Pond features, installed a new drip irrigation system to support the hedges over time, and repaired existing irrigation to the garden beds nearby the Lily Ponds and the Black Sun sculpture.

As part of our 2024 Spring Restoration Day, VPT planted 63 new Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata ‘Convexa’) shrubs to infill gaps in the hedges around the Lily Ponds. Given the prospect of a potentially hot, dry summer, VPT was concerned about the establishment of the plantings given that there was not an automatic irrigation system and the plantings relied on manual, hand watering. VPT worked with Seattle Parks and Recreation and Iliad NW, to scope, design and install a drip irrigation system for the hedges.

While working on the scoping and design of the drip irrigation system, the team uncovered additional efficiency opportunities to correct issues with nearby existing park irrigation, including: issues with overspray (water spraying into paths of travel or non-garden areas), insufficient coverage (areas where garden beds were not receiving adequate irrigation water), and head placement. 

In total, the irrigation work was completed in 1 weeks’ time and came in ~$6,500 under budget due directly to the bundling of efforts. Seattle Parks and Recreation is pleased with the work completed and appreciative of VPT for the systems thinking approach employed on this project. Read more about the project on our here.