INSPIRATION POINT

Work needed on invasive plants

The history of Inspiration Point in the Time and Again story (“Time & Again: The views at Inspiration Point,” January 2 edition) was interesting. The effort to restore the view, to once again be a place where the natural beauty of the PNW could inspire, is commendable.

The scenery between the pullout and Burton is anything but inspiring. It’s depressing and, on a windy day, downright dangerous. Sadly, the native plants have been replaced by thick layers of invasive English Ivy. The added weight and wind drag have compromised the Douglas fir, madrone and other woodland trees as they slowly die. The English ivy does not die, it only spreads. English ivy does not provide the soil stabilization or habitat that native plants and shrubs do.

As for the highway between Inspiration Point and Burton, I call upon King County to make that portion of the roadway safer. It seems only a matter of time before more trees fall and cause power outages, or worse, if someone is unlucky enough to be driving through. Since control of these invasives has not been a prioritized, and many areas, like this one, are so overgrown, professionally applied herbicide will be necessary for removal.

Can we all please do our part to make our own properties closer to what nature intended? This time of year, it is easy to scout our properties for invasives like English ivy, English holly and Scotch broom. Most small-to-medium plants are easy to remove by hand or implement. Ivy should be cut at chest height and the lower section removed from the tree and pulled out of the ground. The upper portion will dry out and die. The area should be monitored occasionally for regrowth, which is easily removed.

James Clark

SAFETY

Pedestrian predicament

I would like to try to vindicate myself for actions that are seemingly crude and boorish. Among these are foul language and flipping the bird at vehicles with overly luminous headlights. There is no way for anyone to specify who may be in the oncoming vehicle, given so, it is downright lacking of character.

Meanwhile, I do not see why lights cannot be dimmed when a pedestrian is viewed at night. This becomes particularly perturbing because some passersby continually wear bright colors or flashing lights to indicate their existence.

Apologies to any unforeseen hostages taken by my tasteless acts, though they are solely in response to an oppositionary act, giving me some justification.

I am hopeful for a future of diminishing intrusion of such continuous bright lights, though some vehicles have no option to turn off high beams. I have no vehicle license, and walk consistently, so this is many pedestrians’ predicament.

Daniel Haag