471 posts in Washington Park Arboretum

December Color Appears at the Washington Park Arboretum

1)    Araucaria araucana      (Monkey Puzzle)

Native to Chile, no other conifer quite like it!
Seeds are used to make an alcoholic ceremonial drink called mudai.

2)   Picea glauca      (White Spruce)

Native to northern temperate forests of North America.
Captain Cook made a spruce beer, possibly curing his crew from scurvy.

3)   Pinus cembra      (Swiss Stone Pine)

Native to Alps of Central Europe. 

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Stories from the Forest Grove: Childhood, Wildness, and Learning

Reflections on the essence of Fiddleheads and experiential, nature-based learning.

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November Color Appears at the Washington Park Arboretum

 
1)    Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii  ‘Profusion’  (Beautyberry)

Native to western China.
Ornamental purple berries on display in autumn months.
Specimen located north of the Wilcox Bridge by the parking lot.

 
2)    Gaultheria mucronata    ‘Rubra’

Native to southern Chile.
Formerly known as Pernettya, this particular variety has carmine pink berries.
Specimen is located in the Chilean Gateway Garden.

3)   Grevillea victoriae    ‘Marshall Olbricht’

Native to Australia. 

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Arboretum Loop Trail nears construction start

By Audrey Wennblom
At long last, the Arboretum Loop Trail (ALT) appears to be just a few months away from the start of construction. “Right now, it looks like the tentative start date would be late spring 2015,” said Raymond J. Larson, Curator of Living Collections for the UW Botanic Gardens. “The idea is to start after most of the rain has passed and to do construction over the drier months.’’
Depending on the the bids received, Larson said the project may be done in two phases. 

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A glimpse into the past – a very low tide on Foster Island

For many years, Lake Washington and correspondingly, Union Bay, had quite variable levels throughout the year.

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October Color Appears at the Washington Park Arboretum (Part II)

1)   Euonymus hamiltonianus subsp. sieboldiana                      (Siebold’s  Euonymus)

Native to the eastern Himalaya 1
Ornamental seed pods on display in autumn months 2
Specimen located in the Spindle Tree Collection

 
2)   Illicium henryi      (Henry Anise Tree)

Native to western China 1
Red summer flowers turn to star-shaped fruits in autumn
Specimen located along Upper Trail near the Asiatic Maple Collection

3)   Lithocarpus henryi      (Longleaf Chinquapin)

Native to central China 1
Notable for “laurel-like, narrow, glossy leaves” 2
Specimen located along the Lower Trail near the Sino-Himalayan Hillside

4)   Osmanthus yunnanensis      (Chinese Osmanthus)

Native to southern China 1
“Less cold-hardy” than other Osmanthus species in Seattle 2
Specimen located in the Sino-Himalayan Hillside

5)   Polyspora kwangsiensis      (Fried Egg Plant)

Relative of the Camellia and Stewartia 1
Camellia-like flowers appear in autumn 1
Specimen located along Upper Trail near the Camellia Collection

 
1 Bean, W. 

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Autumn Is Amazing

The Liquidambar styraciflua, or Sweetgum, is one of autumn’s most brilliantly colored trees. See it in full glory at the Arboretum.

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October Color Appears at the Washington Park Arboretum

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1)   Franklinia alatamaha

Native to the Alatamaha River, Georgia, and discovered in the late 18th.
Genus contains just one species, and has long been extinct in the wild. Today’s plants all descend, it is believed, from those cultivated in Philadelphia under the name chosen by William Bartram in honor of Benjamin Franklin. 

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Annual United Way “Day of Caring” made a huge impact at the Washington Park Arboretum

Over 100 volunteers teamed up on September 19th on six projects that included spreading 218 yards of mulch, salvaging 150 sword ferns and grubbing out truckloads of invasive blackberry. Thank you to every one involved in the Day of Caring!
2014 United Way Day of Caring Debrief
Sept 19, 2014 9a-1p
Participating partners:
Arboretum Foundation – volunteer recruitment and organizer
UW Botanic Gardens – project management (5 projects), equipment and supplies
Seattle Parks and Recreation (1 project), equipment and supplies
 
UWBG Projects Details:

Pacific Connections Garden-New Zealand Forest

Led by Kathleen DeMaria and Annie Bilotta
80 yards of mulch spread. 

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A glimpse into the past – Lookout rockery renovations

One of the most interesting rockeries in the Washington Park Arboretum is located just below and north of the now restored Lookout.

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