UWBG Horticulture and Plant Records staff had a very busy, productive and satisfying summer. A cold wet June and early July pushed extraordinary plant growth. Then, just as quickly as we could say, “No summer in Seattle”, the heavens went dry and we experienced an historic dry spell.

The Japanese maple collection in the arboretum boasts more than 90 different cultivars, many of which have been new plantings in the last few years.

1)   Cotoneaster conspicuus

This showy member of the rose family is native to Tibet.
Like most other specimens of the genus Cotoneaster, C. conspicuus has an equally stunning, early summer display of white flowers.
C. conspicuus can be viewed along the north border of the Graham Visitor Center parking lot.

2)   Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’      Black Alder, Winterberry

Native to eastern North America, winterberry is an important winter food source for wildlife including raccoon, red squirrel, wood duck and ruffed grouse. 

I walked through the arboretum this week looking for early fall color in the park. This Fothergilla major always seems to be one of our first color transformations and its brilliant  reds and oranges drew me to it as usual.
The Fothergilla major is a deciduous shrub native to the Southeastern U.S. where its common name is Witch Alder. Though not an alder, it is in the Hamamelidaceae family and, like its relative Witch Hazel, is a wonderful deciduous shrub for any garden. 

In July 2012 the Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded a Museums for America grant to UW Botanic Gardens to integrate an all-inclusive database, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. The multi-part project will ultimately allow for one point of access to herbarium, horticultural and curitorial records linked to an Arc-GIS generated map, searchable from any web-connected devise. The database will be used to advance environmental research, improve Arboretum management and expand interpretation of the woody plant collections. 

1)   Acer diabolicum  (Horned Maple)

This maple is one of the least ornamental of the native maples of Japan.
It is named for the tiny horn-like appendages between the winged seeds.
Ours is growing beside the Japanese Garden parking lot.

2)   Koelreuteria bipinnata

Named after a German professor of botany, J.G. Koelreuter (1733-1806), it is impossible for English speakers to pronounce. 

November 3-4 is the final weekend for experiencing the amazing sound installation by Abby Aresty. The installation comes down November 5.

“Ornamental Late Summer Fruits”

1)  Betula lenta  (Sweet Birch)

The fruit, maturing in fall, is composed of numerous tiny winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts.
Twigs, when scraped, have a strong scent of oil of wintergreen.
Several specimens are located east of Azalea Way bordering the wetland bog.

2)  Liriodendron tulipifera  (Tulip Tree)

The fruit is a cone, two to three inches long, made of a great number of thin narrow scales attached to a common axis. 

The UWBG Kids Digital Photography Contest was a complete success! We had 12 entries, ranging from ages 7 to 16, who submitted some really incredible artwork.

1)   Blechnum chilense

This impressive evergreen fern grows in full sun to full shade.
The Chilean Spanish name ‘Costilla de vaca’ translates into “cow’s rib” and refers to the shape of the fronds.
This fern can be found thriving in the Chilean Entry Garden in Pacific Connections.

2)   Eucalyptus pauciflora ssp. niphophila

Beautiful peeling brown bark is just one of the attributes of this Australian native.