Did you know the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) is one of the agencies responsible for administering the Endangered Species Act? Alongside NOAA Fisheries, USFWS is entrusted with conserving all federally listed fish, wildlife, and plants. USFWS is also a very important partner that Rare Care collaborates with on endangered plant species recovery. And we’re excited to highlight one of the people doing much of the behind-the-scenes coordination– introducing Tara Callaway! 

If you have the fortune to be botanizing in southwest Washington, you might have the chance to encounter one of Washington’s rare paintbrush species. At first glance you might think this is the common, harsh paintbrush (Castilleja hispida) since both species have the same vibrant, orange-colored bracts and both are found at low to mid elevations. But it is in fact Chamber’s paintbrush (Castilleja chambersii), and when you look more closely at the leaves, you will see what is so unusual about this species. 

Group getting ready for the monitoring weekend. Credit: Anna Carragee
The cool, wet spring of 2022 set the stage for a productive field season and some excellent botanizing! The additional rainfall in many parts of the state meant that conditions were ripe for finding elusive rare annuals. The lower temperatures and higher moisture levels delayed bloom times for many species compared to recent years and also extended flowering, creating longer windows of opportunity to find the plants. 

10.5.22

Around The Farm

By Audrey Sun, Public Health-Global Health: Nutritional Sciences Major, UW Farm Fall Nutrition Education intern.

Hey all! My name is Audrey Sun (she/her) and I am the Fall Quarter Nutrition Education intern at the UW Farm. Each week I will be creating my own recipes each week using produce from the UW farm. The recipes will be utilizing seasonal items featured in our CSA boxes. 

The Cascadia Focal Forest at the south end of the Arboretum is part of the Pacific Connections Garden. This forest showcases plants from the Siskiyous Mountains in southern Oregon and northern California. Many Indigenous groups (including the Shasta, Yurok, Grande Ronde, and Siletz) have roots in this area. Most of these groups were forced from their historical ranges. Despite the injustices and violence these groups endured, they continue to live in the vicinity and carry essential knowledge about the local flora. 

In eight days, the well known UW Farm Harvest Dinner will be held at the UW Botanic Gardens Center for Urban Horticulture. An event that grew from humble beginnings in 2014, run by the farm manager and students, has expanded from a simple community meal to a farm-to-table annual fundraiser.

9.28.22

Around The Farm

New Tastes and Tours at the Annual UW Farm Harvest Dinner
In eight days, the well known UW Farm Harvest Dinner will be held at the UW Botanic Gardens Center for Urban Horticulture. An event that grew from humble beginnings in 2014, run by the farm manager and students, has expanded from a simple community meal to a farm-to-table annual fundraiser.   

Our ‘Bilko’ Cabbage, that is included in your CSA, is a type of Napa or Chinese Cabbage. Napa cabbage is a large-headed cabbage with firmly packed, pale green leaves that you will usually find next to bok choy in Western supermarkets.

9.21.22

Around The Farm

UW Farm Staff Field Trip: Exploring Local Urban Farms
by the UW Farm Team

Farm Team at the Nurturing Roots Entrance
Left to Right: Perry Acworth, Kelien from Nurturing Roots, Daniel Orborne, Eve Wang, Julia Macray, Hsin-Yu "Maggie" Huang, Althea Ericksen, Dannette Lombert

Left – Signage from the Nurturing Roots Farm stating "Community Farm Education" and pointing towards their two farm sites

Right: Nurturing Roots Farm staff member, Keilan, showing off the smoothie bike while also making us a strawberry banana smoothie

Julia and Perry helping to consolidate the compost piling at Nurturing Roots in preparation for the season coming to an end

Farm Team touring the Nurturing Roots second site. 

1)  Castanea crenata                                                                      Japanese Chestnut

Though it is one of the smaller species of chestnut, C. crenata is still a valued food tree in its native Japan. Ordinarily, the nuts are also smaller than those of the European varieties.
This specimen is located on the east side of our old field nursery along the gravel path.

2)  Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. nana                                  Dwarf Plum Yew

Native to the forest understories of East Asia, this small evergreen shrub is known to thrive in semi-shaded places rather than in full sunshine.