Amphibians are the canary in the mineshaft, warning-systems for deteriorating ecosystems and yet this species was found in the former-landfill, Union Bay Natural Area, in January 2013.  Nestled beneath woody debris and in hibernation mode, it was accidentally discovered by a volunteer during a work party to remove Himalayan blackberry.  Why isn’t this one “red-backed”, you ask?  That’s because although most commonly having an orangey-red dorsal stripe, this species occasionally presents a yellow one instead. 

Greetings! I’m excited and grateful to be the 2013 UBNA graduate student manager for winter and spring quarters. I will be leading volunteer groups maintaining restoration sites throughout the natural area and this season we have begun an internship program with students from Edmonds Community College!
The interns and I are working every Tuesday and Thursday through early June, so if you have any interest in getting dirty, releasing some pent up aggression on the proper objects (weeds!), and basking in the beauty of urban nature, we’re happy to have individual folks join us.   

Say goodbye to the “ramps to nowhere.” As part of the new 520 bridge construction project, the ramps will be coming down. As announced in a recent press conference, WSDOT will pay Seattle Parks and Recreation  $7.8 million for mitigation projects in the Arboretum.  These projects include the design and construction of a 1-mile multi-use trail, as well as improvements to Azalea Way Pond, parts of Arboretum Creek, and Foster Island. 

“Scratch and Sniff”
1)  Abies amabilis (Pacific Silver Fir)

Pacific Northwestern native growing up to 250 feet tall in the wild, but is often short-lived in gardens.
Its crushed needles smell like orange peel.
The easiest of the Arboretum specimens to find is on the Upper Trail below the Peony bed.

2)  Cupressus goveniana var. pygmaea (Mendocino Cypress)

The “pygmy” stature occurs in this tree’s native habitat: infertile ancient sand dunes above the Pacific Ocean near Mendocino. 

“Judge a Plant by Its Cover”:  Twigs and Bark
1)   Acer buergerianum (Trident Maple) – photo of trunk (to the right)

Move over Stewartia pseudocamellia, at least for the time being.
Exceptional mottled flakey, lighter gray-brown bark on this young Asian maple.
Makes a good street tree in Seattle, tolerant of a wide-range of stress factors.

2)   Acer caesium ssp. giraldii

Maple featuring young branches covered with a whitish bloom (DO NOT TOUCH)
Native to the Himalaya region of China (Shaanxi and Yunnan provinces)
Specimen located along Arboretum Drive in the Peonies

3)   Betula albo-sinensis var. 

Seize the Bay!
1)   Bay Laurel    (Laurus nobilis)

From the Mediterranean region
A plant of great cultural significance (culinary uses, literary references, etc.)
Marginally hardy in the Washington Park Arboretum, located in the Mediterranean Bed (grid 21-3E)

2)   California Bay Laurel    (Umbellularia californica)

Native to the Pacific Coast, Oregon through California
Crushed leaves have intense odor
Re-seeds freely in the Washington Park Arboretum
Located near the Mediterranean Bed (grid 20-3E)

3)   Redbay    (Persea borbonia)

A relative of the avocado, native to southeastern U.S. 

GREENS GALORE!
1)   Abies alba  ‘Hybrid’   (Silver Fir)

Silver Fir is the species first used as a Christmas tree.
A resinous essential oil can be extracted.  The pine-scented oil has soothing qualities and is used in perfumes and bath products.
This magnificent specimen can be found on Arboretum Drive.

2)   Cornus sericea  ‘Cardinal’    (Red Osier Dogwood)

Bright red twigs provide winter interest in the garden and a beautiful accent to holiday decorations. 

On a sunny autumn day a team of UW students, UWBG staff and team leader Jim Lutz headed down the East Arboretum trail to the Meadow with a shiny, new total station.

1)   Callicarpa sp.      Beautyberry

When the late autumn landscape seems to offer little in the way of vibrant color, the upright shrub, Callicarpa shows us that it has some local Husky pride.  Grown mainly for their clusters of small, bead-like fruit, the Callicarpa species are ideal for a colorful shrub border.
Native primarily to China, Japan, and Korea, Callicarpa is a member of the plant family, Verbenaceae. 

On October 18, 2012, UW Botanic Gardens and the Arboretum Foundation celebrated their volunteers with an annual Volunteer Recognition event.