Who doesn’t love spring? It’s the earth’s bright green answer to winter’s dreary grey; when all the world begins to grow anew. If autumn is a time for introductions and winter for exploration, then spring is the season for culmination. In autumn we ground the students in the important, fundamental lessons of the forest grove: clearly identifying the boundaries (both figurative and literal) of the classroom; teaching an awareness of self, social expectations, and emotional responses; guiding newfound interest in the natural world. 

Today’s visitors to the Washington Park Arboretum walk past historical artifacts not knowing why they might be there. One of those is the Memorial Fountain dedicated to the late Mrs. W.W. Sawyer, along Arboretum Drive E. opposite Rhododendron Glen.

Opening Day crew races through the Montlake Cut, and the 1936 USA Olympic gold in rowing may never have happened without these following trees:
1)  Thuja plicata        Western Red Cedar

UW’s world-renowned boat maker, George Pocock followed the lead of Native Americans and used this Pacific Northwest giant for the hulls of his Pocock Classics.
The skin is made from a single plank of 3/32″ thick cedar and offers a combination of stiffness and springiness that eliminates the need for the extra weight of a hull. 

1)  Acer cissifolium        Vine-leaf Maple

A three-leaf maple native to Japan.
The extraordinary racemes of tiny flowers give the tree a cloud-like appearance.
Located in the Asiatic Maple Collection.

2)  Acer rubrum        Red Maple

This popular street tree is native to eastern North America.
On this sample the petals have fallen, leaving the elongating peduncles and their tiny, immature samaras.
Located in grid 3-5E on Arboretum Drive. 

Along Azalea Way this time of year, as many of you know, the Rhododendron cultivars, Redbuds & Dogwood Trees are putting on their show of stunning blossoms.   Amongst all these flowering shrubs and trees it is sometimes hard to discern any individual plants, but its always worth it for me to stop at the group of Rhododendron occidentale at the North end of Azalea Way.   

Listening and responding to the needs of our community is a cornerstone of the Fiddleheads philosophy. Sarah and I were absolutely astounded this year at the outpouring of interest our tiny school received. As word of the Fiddleheads Forest School spread, parents from all over the region took notice of the individualized attention we give to each child, our unique curriculum that thoughtfully integrates the specialized opportunities afforded by the environment to each student, and our remarkable forest grove classroom site where students develop a deep, mindful connection to their environment and to their peers. 

Our Viburnum Collection is recognized as one of the top three national collections. Our taxonomic display currently is home to over 100 different kinds and 330 living specimens.
[Description references: “Viburnums — Shrubs for Every Season” by Michael Dirr.]
Here are a few samples of this diverse and ornamental shrub.
1)  Viburnum carlesii var. bitchiuense        Bitchu Viburnum

Wonderfully fragrant flowers in early spring. 

March did not go out like a lamb, nor did it end with a whimper. No, this lion ended with a grand BANG!
A lightning strike from the massive thunderstorm that roared through Seattle yesterday was a direct hit on one of our largest trees in the Washington Park Arboretum.
 
A Grand Fir located in the Oak grove at the north end of the Arboretum was obliterated with one flash. 

1)  Acer tegmentosum  ‘Joe Witt’        Stripebark Maple

A small- to medium-size tree with distinct striped patterns along the bark and branches
Named for a former Washington Park Arboretum curator
Located in the Joe Witt Winter Garden

2)  Berberis x media  ‘Arthur Menzies’        Hybrid Mahonia

Multi-stemmed shrub with prominent winter flowers
Loved by hummingbirds as a source of winter nectar
Located in the Joe Witt Winter Garden

3)  Ceanothus  ‘Puget Blue’        California Lilac

A fast growing, medium-sized shrub
Known for small dark, evergreen leaves and purplish-blue late spring flower
Located along the fence in the Graham Visitors Center’s parking lot

4)  Magnolia x kewensis  ‘Wada’s Memory’        Hybrid Magnolia

Selected from a group of seedlings from nurseryman, Koichiro Wada
Known for large and abundant spring flowers
Two specimens flank Arboretum Drive near the Hydrangea Collection

5)  Nothofagus antarctica  ‘Puget Pillar’        Southern Beech

A medium-sized deciduous tree native to Argentina and Chile
Known for a somewhat fastigiate growth habit
Located along the shore near Duck Bay 

In the old Nursery along Arboretum Drive there is a group of Chaenomeles cathayensis (Cathay or Chinese Quince) shrubs in full bloom. This cluster of three shrubs make for a huge display as they are about 15 ft. tall and 20+ ft. across. Covered in these lovely pinkish white flowers right now, they will bear very fragrant pear sized fruits in the autumn.