Washington is known as the “Evergreen State” thanks to our vast conifer forests.  However, large conifers often get overlooked when selecting trees for urban areas.  Conifers such as pine, spruce or fir provide many year round benefits to the urban home or garden.
The evergreen canopy offers cover for birds and other wildlife.  When planted strategically, conifers can reduce energy costs by shading homes in the summer and blocking wind in the winter.  

This picture is one of 30 mounted black-and-white photographs showing native (NW) coniferous trees by former Washington Park Arboretum Director Brian O. Mulligan.

“Can You Smell That Smell?”
1)   Clerodendrum trichotomum (Peanut-Butter Tree)

Repugnant, peanut-butter odor when leaves are bruised!
Cats are attracted to the smell.
See our suckering forest of young trees along the path leading down to the WPA horticultural crew barn.

2)   Prostanthera cuneata      (Alpine Mint-Bush)

This low-growing shrub is from Australia and is in the Mint family.
When leaves are crushed, they emit a strong fragrance that some liken to eucalyptol and smelly socks. 

In the midst of our dry NW summer, while many plants look worse for wear, our native evergreen Salal shrubs, Gaultheria shallon, are shiny and healthy. Salal flowers in the spring with pinkish-white bell-shaped flowers in groups of 5-15 on racemes; very similar to the Pieris japonica flower. Both plants are in the Ericacea family. The Salal shrub can grown to 16′ tall and forms a dense mass that creates habitat and food for local birds and animals. 

“Quirky Oaks”
1)   Quercus x bushii ‘Seattle Trident’
(Seattle Trident Hybrid Red Oak)

Cultivar of a Black Oak and Blackjack Oak hybrid.
Developed in Sir Hillier Gardens and Arboretum in England from scion wood collected at Washington Park Arboretum.
Located in the Oak Collection, northwest of Azalea Way service road intersection.

2)   Quercus dentata     (Daimyo Oak)

Asian native (China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia)
Develops an unusually large leaf; occasionally used as a vegetable in native range. 

Pacific Connections Garden Stewards made history on June 20th when they planted the New Zealand High Country plants into the new Bollard Garden in the new  forest. They planted several species well over 20 years old. These include Nothofagus solanderi, Griselinia littoralis, Phyllocladus alpinus, Phormium colensoi, and Dodonaea viscosa. In addition to the Bollard Garden (aka The New Zealand High Country Display), the garden will include the Hebe Meadow, the Griselinia Bush, the Mountain Tussock, Snow Tussock, the Silver Beech Forest, the Phormium Fen and the Mountain Beech Zone. 

The opening of the Center for Urban Horticulture in 1984 was an event that captured international attention.

Chile in Seattle
1)  Alstroemeria sp.

Commonly called Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas.
The genus was named after Swedish baron, Claus von Alstroemer (1736-1794) by his close friend, Carolus Linnaeus.
Beautiful drifts grace the Chilean Gateway.

2)  Gunnera tinctoria

Sometimes referred to as Chilean rhubarb or dinosaur food.
The leaves can grow up to 2.5 meters across.
Several large clumps dot the Chilean Gateway hillside. 

1)  Callistemon sieberi            (Alpine Bottlebrush)

This small, spreading shrub is currently showing off its creamy-yellow flowers in bottlebrush-like spikes.
Native to Australia, C. sieberi can be found along the footpath of the Australian Entry Garden within the Pacific Connections Garden.

2)  Cytisus battandieri            (Pineapple Broom)

Sometimes referred to as Argyrocytisus, this genus of Brooms fall within the family, Fabaceae.
Native to Morocco, C. 

Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes summer hours at the Miller Library. The library will be opening at noon on Mondays (instead of 9am) starting June 17. Monday morning hours resume on September 23. We will be closed Saturdays, starting July 6. Saturday hours will resume September 7. We will also be closed July 4th and 5th for Independence Day.