You may recall that last spring’s BioBlitz in the Washington Park Arboretum resulted in some interesting finds, thanks to the efforts of more than 100 citizen scientists, university students and professionals. One of those discoveries may be a new Philodromus crab spider.

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Azara microphylla (Boxleaf Azara)
Garrya x issaquahensis (Hybrid Silk Tassel)
Ilex sp. (Holly)
Leptospermum lanigerum (Silky tea tree)
Sycopsis sinensis (Chinese Fighazel)

Complete details. 

Of all spring emphemeral bulbs, Galanthus have been revered and loved for many centuries and have always been the harbingers of spring as their noses poke up and their gentle blossoms push through the snow.

Now that I have been back a couple of days, this is the phrase that keeps coming back to describe our trip. We were happy to be there, happy to be experiencing everything together, and amazed at how much we did in such a short time.

This morning Dan and a few brave hobbits started early for the long journey to Mordor. The rest of us slept in and had a lovely three hour hike through Andean steppe vegetation.

We are in Patagonia. STOP. Weather is great. STOP. Yurts are fabulous! STOP. We will not be returning. STOP. So sorry. STOP. Have a nice life. STOP

Auracaria! Embothrium! Drimys! Oh my! We have had exciting few days in the Lake District, seeing old friends from our gardens and being captivated by new ones. We arrived in the area and nearly immediately went into the Andes to see Auracaria auracana in the wild.

Cedrus libani ssp. Atlantica (Atlas cedar)
Chimonanthus praecox (Wintersweet)
Eucalyptus pauciflora (Cabbage gum)
Lonicera standishii
Poncirus trifoliata (Hardy orange)

Complete details. 

Wow! No wait, that is not good enough. WOW! No, still not enough. WOWWOWWOWWOW!!!! We saw some amazing gardens designed by Juan Grimm, a Chilean architect who has designed over 300 fabulous gardens.

We all arrived, weather is great, and we met Juan Grimm and are excited about seeing some gardens he designed. Details later.