Walking through the arboretum’s forested middle area, one is greeted with bursts of color on the hybrid Rhododendrons in our collection. Within this forest understory are many of the almost 1800 Rhododendron species and hybrids in the collection. Its cool and green and quiet on these forested paths, a lovely walk on any day, but this time of year the added beauty of the Rhody flowers is a seasonal treat. 

posted on behalf of UW Student and Arboretum volunteer extraordinaire, Lora Mitchell
This quarter I signed up for an environmental studies course that offered service learning. Upon first learning about the service learning program I was intrigued, but slightly hesitant until I saw a position at the Washington State Arboretum. Thrilled at the idea of working with plants the entire quarter I immediately signed up for that position. 

1) Aesculus pavia   (Red Buckeye)

Deciduous shrub to 8 – 12 feet
Native to southern U.S.
Located along Lake Washington Boulevard near the Japanese Garden

2) Cornus alternifolia   (Alternate Leaf Dogwood)

Small tree to 20 feet
Native to eastern North America
Located between Loderi Valley and Azalea Way

3) Illicium henryi   (Henry Anise Tree)

Small tree to 10 – 15 feet
Native to western China
Located near the Asiatic Maples and the Rhododendrons seedling bed

4) Pterostyrax psilophylla   (Small Epaulette Tree)

Deciduous tree up to 45 – 50 feet
Native to central China
Located behind Azalea Way (bed H)

5) Sinojackia rhederiana   (Jack Tree)

Small tree or shrub reaching heights of 15 – 20 feet
Native to southeast China
Located near the Rhododendron Glen parking lot 

Finding the time to do a regular update has been a challenge as this time of year demands so much of our time as the gardens take on a life of their own! With only two gardeners (one half-time and one 3/4 time) overseeing the grounds, we must scramble to get on top of things and sometimes it doesn’t always happen. 

1)   Rhododendron luteum

Also called Yellow Azalea or Honeysuckle Azalea.
Despite the sweet perfume, the nectar is toxic. Records of people poisoned by eating the honey date back to 4th century B.C.
Cultivated both as an ornamental and as root stock.

2)   Laburnocytisus adamii

Also known as Adam’s laburnum or broom laburnum.
Considered a horticultural curiosity, some branches produce yellow flowers while other branches produce coppery-pink flowers. 

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.