Green spaces like the Washington Park Arboretum and the Union Bay Natural Area became a respite for many of us during the tumult of the past year and a half. As stewards of the Arboretum and Center for Urban Horticulture, UW Botanic Gardens has made incredible efforts to maintain the spaces and programs that are so important to our community.

You many not be aware of just how far-reaching our influence is on the community. From installing new plant collections to offering forest bathing classes and Fiddleheads nature preschool, providing public access to the latest horticultural literature at the Miller Library to preserving diverse plant specimens at the Hyde Herbarium, conservation of rare native plants to the Intellectual House Native Garden at the UW Farm, we are bringing the best of the University to work in service to our community.

Here’s what UW Botanic Gardens accomplished in 2021:

HELPED YOU LEARN AND GROW: We delivered 90 adult education programs serving over 3000 participants. We established a curbside book pickup program to keep you learning through the pandemic.

INCREASED SEATTLE’S TREE COVER: We supported the City of Seattle’s Trees for Neighborhoods program, safely delivering 1,000 trees and educating over 500 households about tree selection, planting, and care.

SUPPORTED OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS: Fiddleheads Forest School became a fully licensed preschool, added a third classroom, and lengthened our day to serve more working families.

We supported teachers with virtual field trip resources and established the “Arboretum on the Move” program, bringing UW Botanic Gardens staff into local schools to connect students with their schoolyard or neighborhood greenspace.

MAINTAINED AND EXPANDED OUR PLANT COLLECTIONS: We expanded the Winter Garden with new specimens from the Witch Hazel Family and renovated our New Zealand Forest.

ANSWERED YOUR PLANT QUESTIONS: We fielded over 3800 questions via the Plant Answer Line, a free service to Northwest gardeners staffed by the Miller Library.

CONTRIBUTED TO LOCAL FOOD SECURITY: The UW Farm grew over eight tons of organic produce, donating over 6500 pounds ($17,500 worth) to local food banks, providing healthy nutritious food to those in need.

HOSTED YOUR SPECIAL MOMENTS: We held 154 outdoor events, providing a beautiful and safe space for 67 meetings, 34 weddings, 31 social events, 21 memorials and one bulb sale.

PRESERVED OUR MOST VULNERABLE PLANT SPECIES: Rare Care planted 2,000 rare native plants in a critical Wenatchee location that has experienced three wildfires over the past nine years.

SUPPORTED ESSENTIAL HEALTH WORKERS: We hosted an 8-month elementary-aged school program for essential workers of Children’s and UW Hospitals.

As I look to the future of UW Botanic Gardens, I am excited by the many opportunities I see for us to build our path forward post-pandemic, rooted in the restorative power of plants and nature. We are working hard to show up to this moment with new approaches, reaching new audiences and making new contributions.

With your support, we will be able to continue this important work and provide a healthy, safe and beautiful space for enjoyment, reflection, celebration and learning.

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