On Saturday June 5, the east half of the Yesler Swamp Trail (below Surber Drive) was surfaced with chips. You now have your choice, after entering the trailhead off of the UWBG parking lot, of walking the west trail to the edge of Lake Washington, or walking the east trail to within sight of the beaver lodge. 

With more than 100 citizen scientists, university students and professionals scrutinizing Washington Park Arboretum’s nooks and crannies during Seattle’s first BioBlitz, there were bound to be a few surprises. A potentially rare native stinging ant, a potentially rare Amanita (mushroom) not often seen on the west coast, a potentially new species of spider and a couple of unexpected plants displaying suspicious behavior are just a few of the discoveries. 

Embothrium coccineum (Chilean Fire Tree)
Leucothoe davisia (Sierra Laurel)
Pterostyrax psilophylla (Lesser Epaulette Tree)
Rhododendron degronianum ssp. yakushimanum
Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’

Complete details. 

Lupines have long been staples in the perennial border. With their elegant line, exquisite colors and fine-textured foliage, they create accents, punctuation, and almost a wave of movement when used as a group in both the garden and in cut flower arrangements. We have just one lupine in the Soest Garden and it is a seedling strain known as ‘The Governor’. 

Acer palmatum ‘Scolopendrifolium’ (“Finger Leaf” Maple)
Aesculus x arnoldiana
Aesculus pavia (Red Buckeye)
Dipelta floribunda
Magnolia wilsonii

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Anthurium clarinervium – White-veined Anthurium
Rhododendron occidentale – Western Azalea
Viburnum plicatum x tomentosum ‘Mariesii’ – Double-file Viburnum
Rhododendron luteum – Yellow Honeysuckle Azalea
Centaurea montana – ‘Amethyst Dream’ & ‘Amethyst in Snow’

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May is always an abundance of activity in the garden. Whether April’s on and off showers played much of a role in how many plants are blooming right now, each year we’re overwhelmed with the work as temperatures begin to warm up and just about everything calls our attention; people make requests for things (they ask more questions and are more curious and observant about a lot of things like the endless weeds we’ve been trying to stay on top of) and even the plans themselves demand that they get the cutting back, pinching, top-dress of compost and irrigation they require in order to perform their best. 

Cercis siliquastrum (European Redbud)
Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana (Dove or Handkerchief Tree)
Rehderodendron macrocarpum
Rhododendron ‘Loderi Hybrid’
Viburnum ‘Pragense’

Complete details. 

Selected Cuttings from the Washington Park Arboretum

Abies bornmuelleriana (Turkish Fir)
Amelanchier arborea (Downy Serviceberry)
Larix laricina (Tamarack)
Malus ‘Makamik’ (Crabapple)
Picea orientalis (Oriental Spruce)

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A Selection of Hybrid Narcissus from the Center for Urban Horticulture’s Fragrance Garden

Narcissus ‘Thalia’ – Triandus Hybrid
Narcissus ‘Cheerfulness’ – Double-flowered hybrid
Narcissus ‘Avalanche’ – Tazetta Hybrid
Narcissus ‘Bell Song’ – Jonquilla Hybrid
Narcissus ‘Quail’ – Jonquilla Hybrid

Complete details.