Most visitors experiencing the beauty of our historic Azalea Way flowering cherries from now through May probably have no idea of how intensive maintaining their health and prolonging their longevity truly is for the UW Botanic Gardens horticulture staff.   Just ask our Integrated Pest manager, Ryan Garrison. Ryan with staff support spends many a day throughout the year monitoring and controlling the numerous diseases and insect pests our 175 plus cherries are prone to suffer from.  

In late February UW Interim President Phyllis Wise sent a report to the Washington State Legislature regarding potential budget cuts at UW specifically naming the Washington Park Arboretum. In response the Arboretum Foundation Board sent President Wise a letter urging her to maintain funding at current levels. Local writer Valerie Easton provides background information on this issue and contact details for state legislators. 

We all await the arrival of the most promising time of year as the garden slowly wakes up and showcases it early season splendor. March is when bulbs burst into bloom, spring ephemerals shyly shine and the winter shrubs are putting forth yet another splendid show of unrivaled color and, in most cases, outstanding fragrance.
It’s all  such a great distraction from  the financial woes and the economic downturn we’re all facing. 

The University of Washington Botanic Gardens would like to thank Tree Solutions, Inc. for bringing the latest technology in tree risk assessment to the Washington Park Arboretum.  Tree Solutions assessed a large western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) using sonic tomography, a device which measures sound waves to detect decay and other abnormalities in wood.
Assessing the risk associated with trees is a vital component to maintaining the urban forest.  

Buxus sempervirens ‘Belleville’ (Common Box)
Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ (Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick)
Photinia davidiana var. davidiana
Ribes sanguineum ‘Henry Henneman’
X Sycoparrotia semidecidua

Complete details. 

UW Botanic Gardens Collection Manager, Randall Hitchin, reported that the majority of new plants added in 2010 represent plants that have never grown at the Arboretum before and one-third of specimens grew from wild collected seeds. The annual Curatorial Report for 2010 gives a summary of the plant collection statistics, including the total number of specimens and number of plant families represented.

UW Botanic Gardens Collection Manager reports the majority of the hollies transplanted in 1999 are in good or excellent condition.

The popularity of this tough and resilient perennial has made it one of the most revered and sought after of all winter blooming plants in our climate.

I continue to be surprised by the life that abounds in our gem located at the heart of the Emerald City. Yesterday, while walking between/through our sites (WPA -> UBNA -> CUH), I counted no less than 27 Great Blue Herons hunkered down in the cattails seeking shelter from the lion-like March weather. In addition to these easily recognized wading birds, I saw and heard a plethora of others that reminded me of my new year’s resolution to learn more birds. 

Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry)
Daphniphyllum macropodum
Pinus kwangtungensis (Kwangtung Pine)
Prunus subhirtella ‘Rosea’
Thujopsis dolabrata (False Arborvitae)

Complete details.