We had beautiful weather at last week’s sold out Harvest Dinner fundraiser. – Together we raised over 200% more than any other farm fundraising event.

Group getting ready for the monitoring weekend. Credit: Anna Carragee
The cool, wet spring of 2022 set the stage for a productive field season and some excellent botanizing! The additional rainfall in many parts of the state meant that conditions were ripe for finding elusive rare annuals. The lower temperatures and higher moisture levels delayed bloom times for many species compared to recent years and also extended flowering, creating longer windows of opportunity to find the plants. 

The Cascadia Focal Forest at the south end of the Arboretum is part of the Pacific Connections Garden. This forest showcases plants from the Siskiyous Mountains in southern Oregon and northern California. Many Indigenous groups (including the Shasta, Yurok, Grande Ronde, and Siletz) have roots in this area. Most of these groups were forced from their historical ranges. Despite the injustices and violence these groups endured, they continue to live in the vicinity and carry essential knowledge about the local flora. 

In eight days, the well known UW Farm Harvest Dinner will be held at the UW Botanic Gardens Center for Urban Horticulture. An event that grew from humble beginnings in 2014, run by the farm manager and students, has expanded from a simple community meal to a farm-to-table annual fundraiser.

Our ‘Bilko’ Cabbage, that is included in your CSA, is a type of Napa or Chinese Cabbage. Napa cabbage is a large-headed cabbage with firmly packed, pale green leaves that you will usually find next to bok choy in Western supermarkets.

1)  Castanea crenata                                                                      Japanese Chestnut

Though it is one of the smaller species of chestnut, C. crenata is still a valued food tree in its native Japan. Ordinarily, the nuts are also smaller than those of the European varieties.
This specimen is located on the east side of our old field nursery along the gravel path.

2)  Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. nana                                  Dwarf Plum Yew

Native to the forest understories of East Asia, this small evergreen shrub is known to thrive in semi-shaded places rather than in full sunshine. 

The next phase of the Rhododendron Glen restoration in the Arboretum is set to begin the week of August 16, 2022. 

Hydrangea is a genus of over 75 species and 600 named cultivars that are native to a wide range of regions and countries including Japan, Asia, Indonesia, Himalayan Mountains, and the Americas. The name “Hydrangea” stems from the Greek words, hydor meaning “water” and aggeion meaning “vessel”, in reference to the cup-like capsular fruit.
1) Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Madame Emile Mouillere’                                                                                                                                                         Madame Emile Mouillere Hydrangea

This award-winning Hydrangea was bred in France over 100 years ago. 

After 29 years, our incredible, show-stopping Nolina nelsonii specimen is flowering at the Center for Urban Horticulture!

1)  Fuchsia magellanica                                                           Tree Fuchsia

Native to the southern coast of South America.
It has a notable orange, flaky bark and this particular shrub in the Arboretum has light pink blooms with a purple shade underneath.
Found near the intersection of Lake Washington Boulevard and Arboretum Drive, across from the Stone Cottage.

2)  Lobelia tupa                                                                           Devil’s Tobacco

Native to central Chile, the Mapuche of southern Chile consider it a sacred plant.