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. 

Get up close with giant tortoises, rare birds and fantastic flora! Reserve your spot today on this fantastic adventure tour.

These 3-parted pods contain the seeds of the Koelreuteria paniculata or Golden Rain Tree. This tree is native to East Asia, China & Korea and is used as an ornamental for its flowers, leaves and seed pods. Although it is considered an invasive in the SE United States. The Arboretum’s free Sunday walks for the month of September will feature the “Fruits & Nuts” of this tree and many others in the collection. 

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.

This delightful, but seldom grown corm from South Africa is looking fantastic in the Soest Garden at the Center for Urban Horticulture.

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. 

All of the Hydrangeas in the park are at their prime flowering beauty right now. Its a great month to go on one of our free Sunday tours with a guide and walk down Arboretum Drive to view the variety of Hydrangeas in the UW collection which includes everything from exotic Asian vines to the bluest mopheads I’ve seen in a while to the pictured Hydrangea aspera – my personal favorite. 

The bold presences of the Evergreen Southern Magnolia is truly a sight to behold in late summer as its creamy white blossoms unfurl, emitting a sweet, pleasantly pungent aroma that fills the warm air.

The Washington State Department of Transportation will start geotechnical and cultural field studies at the Washington Park Arboretum near the location of the future 520 bridge on August 6, 2012.
Complete information can be found at the WSDOT 520 Project webpage.
Cultural Resources Fields Study Factsheet
Geotechnical Drilling Field Study Factsheet