With the goal of enhancing pollination efforts, several mason bee houses have been placed throughout the Arboretum.  What are mason bees?  Well, according to the provider of the pollinators, Dave Richards of JohnnyAppleBeez, LLC:
“The charming Mason Bee is a gentle, shiny blue-black metallic bee, and slightly smaller than a honey bee. They are a superior pollinator, but do not produce honey. 

A turkish pine (Pinus brutia) and a Chinese white pine (Pinus armandii) were recently removed from the Canal Reserve area near the Museum of History and Industry.  Both trees declined suddenly over the past year and died over the winter.  Blue staining was evident in the wood of both trees.  We’re not sure exactly how these trees are infected with the fungus, but one theory is that a bark boring insect (red turpentine beetle) carries the pathogen into the tree.  

Thomas Hinckley, Interim Director School of Forest Resources, named Sarah Reichard as Interim Director until June 30, 2011, replacing Sandra Lier.  Starting July 1 Professor Reichard will be the Orin and Althea Soest Director of UWBG, and she will hold that position for one year, until June 30, 2012.
Director Hinckley announced his decision on March 25 and stated: “I am very appreciative that Sarah has accepted this position in these very uncertain times. 

Recent Arboretum visitors may have noticed some unusual pruning, specifically in our Holly and Camellia collections.  The camellia specimens, located near the Lookout parking lot, will be re-propagated and planted in a different location to make space for the Pacific Connections New Zealand focal forest.  Large heading cuts were made to induce new epicormic growth, or watersprouts, which are ideal for propagation.   

In late February UW Interim President Phyllis Wise sent a report to the Washington State Legislature regarding potential budget cuts at UW specifically naming the Washington Park Arboretum. In response the Arboretum Foundation Board sent President Wise a letter urging her to maintain funding at current levels. Local writer Valerie Easton provides background information on this issue and contact details for state legislators. 

We all await the arrival of the most promising time of year as the garden slowly wakes up and showcases it early season splendor. March is when bulbs burst into bloom, spring ephemerals shyly shine and the winter shrubs are putting forth yet another splendid show of unrivaled color and, in most cases, outstanding fragrance.
It’s all  such a great distraction from  the financial woes and the economic downturn we’re all facing. 

The University of Washington Botanic Gardens would like to thank Tree Solutions, Inc. for bringing the latest technology in tree risk assessment to the Washington Park Arboretum.  Tree Solutions assessed a large western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) using sonic tomography, a device which measures sound waves to detect decay and other abnormalities in wood.
Assessing the risk associated with trees is a vital component to maintaining the urban forest.  

Buxus sempervirens ‘Belleville’ (Common Box)
Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ (Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick)
Photinia davidiana var. davidiana
Ribes sanguineum ‘Henry Henneman’
X Sycoparrotia semidecidua

Complete details. 

UW Botanic Gardens Collection Manager, Randall Hitchin, reported that the majority of new plants added in 2010 represent plants that have never grown at the Arboretum before and one-third of specimens grew from wild collected seeds. The annual Curatorial Report for 2010 gives a summary of the plant collection statistics, including the total number of specimens and number of plant families represented.

I continue to be surprised by the life that abounds in our gem located at the heart of the Emerald City. Yesterday, while walking between/through our sites (WPA -> UBNA -> CUH), I counted no less than 27 Great Blue Herons hunkered down in the cattails seeking shelter from the lion-like March weather. In addition to these easily recognized wading birds, I saw and heard a plethora of others that reminded me of my new year’s resolution to learn more birds.