The following was submitted by Angela Williams, one of five UW student interns who worked with us this past spring through the Carlson Leadership Center. Angela and co. were tasked with transforming the long neglected “Back 40” located between Plant Donations and the Greenhouse at the Arboretum into a vegetable garden…
“As a student majoring in public health nutrition, I’ve worked in many food-related service learning/volunteering positions in the past several years. 

Director Sarah Reichard invites you to come visit UWBG as often as you can – the gardens and natural areas we manage are free to all, so whether it’s respite and relaxation you seek, a quiet walk in the woods, the beauty of what’s blooming, or the splendid colors of fall, UW Botanic Gardens offers you magnificent nature experiences year-round.

Historically the Azalea Way lawn path experiences 8-9 months a year that are very wet making access difficult. In 2009 a crushed rock path was added to the middle of Azalea Way from Boyer Parking lot to the Woodland Garden. The proposed improvement will add 700 feet of 6 foot wide crushed rock path from the Woodland Garden to the Lynn Street Bridge Trail. 

But before our schtick, we were to take a tour of the garden that Uragus had planted with the help of kids and community members. Our tour guide was a little girl with a bright pink shirt and a long red stick for pointing at things (or snapping our attention).

Things certainly ramped up since my last post on here hence the absence of updates, but it’s been a busy past few months here at the Center for Urban Horticulture Grounds. There are several exciting new projects underway and our regular summer regiment is in full swing with regular volunteers that have helped what is now a two person crew to oversee all of CUH Grounds since our third colleague left. 

Eucomis bicolor is one of the more common and easily sought after species as it truly showcases why this genus is known as “pineapple lily”

Marilyn Smith Layton has created a book of images called Seasons of Lifein the Union Bay Natural Area, and she is donating the profits from the sale of the book to projects in UBNA. The cost of the book is $60, and $20 of that will go to help the natural area.
You may purchase a copy in the Miller Library (cash or check only). 

The benefits Alexandra pointed out that had resulted from these combined projects were, increased scientific knowledge, community engagement and biological preservation. Brilliant! I want to steal that and make it our new tagline.

Hydrangea involucrata ‘Tama Azisai’
Lonicera xylosteum (Fly honeysuckle)
Magnolia virginiana var. australis
Rhododendron degronianum ssp. yakushimanum
Sorbus scopulina var. cascadensis

Complete details. 

We had made our presence felt in Vladivostok, now it was time to take our act on the road.