I had the pleasure of attending the NW Flower & Garden Show Preview Gala last night, hosted by the Arboretum Foundation in partnership with Seattle Audubon. It was a good time and I was given the honor or saying a few words to drum up donor support for the UWBG Education & Outreach Program here at the Arb. One of the questions that Dick, the emcee, fired my way had to do with the value of getting kids outside into places like the WPA. 

1) Arbutus menziesii    (Pacific Madrone)

Found throughout the west coast of North America.
The bark is a rich orange that peels away on mature wood. Mature trees provide nesting cavities for birds.
Many birds feed on the berries including American Robins, Cedar Waxwings and Varied Thrush.

2) Corylus maxima   ‘Atropurpurea Superba’

The purple leaf filbert is known for its beautiful burgundy foliage and festive catkins. 

The future health outlook bodes well for what many consider to be our finest native conifer in the PNW, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Port Orford cedar and its many cultivars.   Port Orford cedars have been under seige for many years from its worst enemy Phytophtora lateralis, a soil-borne pathogen that is especially virulent in wet soils, and essentially spells a death-sentence to this majestic tree once its roots are infected. 

Along with the constant rain and drizzle, winter in the Pacific Northwest often brings the occasional wind and snow events.  Damage to trees (and caused by trees!) is inevitable following these storms.  While wind events tend to cause the most spectacular tree failures, snow loads have been known to fell their fair share of limbs.  Damage to Arboretum trees has been lower than expected during the course of the most recent snow; however, our evergreen oak collection in Rhododendron Glen took a severe hit. 

Selected cuttings from the Washington Park Arboretum (January 17 – 31, 2012)

1)  Camellia sasanqua    ’Shichi Fukujin’

An upright to spreading shrub or small tree with elliptical, dark green leaves and bearing single cup-shaped flowers, C. sasanqua is one of many camellia species native to Japan.
Known to flower early in the season when colors are greatly appreciated, it is considered a less spectacular shrub than the spring-flowering C. 

1)  Hamamalis mollis    (Chinese Witch-hazel)

Hamamelis mollis is a species of witch-hazel native to central and eastern China.
It is the most fragrant of all witch-hazels and worth growing for that characteristic alone. It is disease resistant and easy to grow.
Located in the Witt Winter Garden.

2)  Hamamalis x intermedia ‘Hiltingbury’

Hamamelis x intermedia hybrids are crosses between Japanese witch hazel (H. 

Seattle-based composer, sound artist and UW doctoral student in music Abby Aresty has designed an amazing sound installation for the Washington Park Arboretum planned for autumn 2012. But she needs to raise more money for equipment to build the installation. Please help!

It has been an incredibly busy autumn here at CUH as we have several new projects underway. Our entire horticultural team has been involved with 2 major projects we’d like to highlight as these are pretty significant changes that might raise a few eyebrows.

Earlier this autumn, our arborist crew took down a large specimen of Parrotia persica that’s been growing in a raised planter in the Orin and Althea Soest Herbaceous Perennial Garden. 

1)  Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’
(Midwinter Fire Dogwood)

Perhaps the first dogwood to show its bright winter stems, Midwinter Fire will continue to be the show-stopper of the twig bed until dressed in leaves again.
You will have no trouble finding this shrub in the Witt Winter Garden.

2)  Euonymus myrianthus   (Spindle Tree)

This bushy, evergreen shrub has bright orange-yellow fruit which split open to reveal the showy red arils of the seeds. 

1) Cedrus libani ssp. atlantica ‘Glauca’ (Blue Atlas Cedar)

This native of the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco is now placed in the same species as the “Cedar of Lebanon”.
Two beautiful specimens are located 38 and 39-6W at the Lynn Street entrance to the Arboretum.

2)  Juniperus virginiana  ‘Blue Coast’     (Red Cedar)

Though the species reaches over 100 feet, ‘Blue Coast’ is a shrubby cultivar.