Posted on behalf of Alyce Flanagan, UW student intern

This spring one of my classes gave me the option of doing a service-learning project instead of writing a research paper. I jumped at the opportunity to gain some sort of real world experience instead of sitting in the library.  I ended up volunteering in the vegetable garden at the UWBG Arboretum, and it has been an enjoyable experience.  

The latest issue of the Rare Plant Press is out.  Learn about the rare Astragalus plant, projects to conduct a population  estimate of the largest Sidalcea oregana var. calva and mapping Sisyrinchium sarmentosum populations, and more! The Rare Plant Press is a publication of Rare Care, a program dedicated to conserving Washington’s native rare plants. 

In early May UWBG suffered a sever vandalism attack of  in the Gateway to Chile garden. This follows similar vandalism last May in the same location and in some cases, the same plants.  KOMO news covered the story with an interview with the Manager of Horticulture, David Zuckerman:
 
Yesterday Director Sarah Reichard received a call from a private banker representing an anonymous donor and by late yesterday UWBG had a check to cover the estimated costs to replace plants and repair the damages – $43,000! 

1)  Azara lanceolata

An evergreen shrub with arching branches and lance-shaped leaves, A. lanceolata bears clustered yellow flowers in mid to late spring. Native to South America, Azaras is a genus of 10 species within the family, Flacourtiaceae.
Located in the double lot on the east side of Arboretum Drive.

2)  Cercis siliquastrum   (Judas-tree)

A deciduous tree usually of low, bushy habit, C. 

Last winter we told you about Abby Aresty, a Seattle-based composer, sound artist and UW doctoral student in music, who was raising money for a sound installation in the Washington Park Arboretum.

Did you know that the Camas bulb with its stunning blue and purple star-shaped flowers is native to the western US?
We recently spotted some Camas in bloom in the Union Bay Natural Area near parking lot E5. Go have a look! 

1) Camellia japonica ‘Drama Girl’

Hybridized in 1950, this winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit has very large, semi-double, deep salmon rose pink flowers.
Located in the Camellia Collection on the east side of Arboretum Drive.

2) Ilex aquifolium ‘Ferox Argentea’ (Hedgehog Holly)

This holly is a large, bushy evergreen shrub with small, spiny leaves whose upper surfaces as well as the margins are broadly-edged with creamy white. 

Celebrate Earth Day at the Arboretum on April 22nd from 10am-12pm!
Washington Park Arboretum and Wilderness Awareness School have teamed up to offer a family-friendly Earth Day event. Bring your family, bring your friends and come celebrate the earth, play games, do a small service project and eat yummy earth snacks. 

1)   Berberis darwinii

Darwin’s barberry is one of the showiest of the genus with striking orange flowers opening from red buds.
Unlike most other Berberis (including our native species), Berberis darwinii produce sweet fruit in the fall.
A large mass can be found in the Chilean entry garden in Pacific Connections, as well as the Chilean hillside along Lake Washington Boulevard. 

1)  Coriaria napalensis

This is one of three species of Coriaria in the Arboretum.
It is growing near Azalea Way, north of the Pine Collection (grid 23-1W).
Our other two species are C. japonica in Rhododendron Glen and C. sarmentosa (a New Zealand native) on Arboretum Drive in grid 11-7E.

2)  Lindera obtusiloba

Native to China, Japan, and Korea
L. obtusiloba is most noted for its early spring flowers, but also has rare fall color (pure yellow) on its openly-spreading form.