Lincoln Erbeck’s humor and joy contrast with the technical and often dangerous nature of his work. As a climbing arborist and horticulturist at the UW Botanic Gardens, Lincoln is not just responsible for the health of trees in the Washington Park Arboretum — he plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of the people who visit. And he does this all with a big smile on his face. 

Meet Kevin Rusch, a horticulturalist at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and part of the team of folks who care for the collections at the Arboretum!

If you visit the grove of Sycopsis at the Pacific Connections Garden along Arboretum Drive this February you will be in for a treat – the flowers, while not showstoppers individually, are blooming in incredible quantity this winter.

 
Scientific Name:  Juniperus morrisonicola
Common Name: Yushan Juniper Family: Cupressaceae Native Range: Taiwanese mountains Location in the Arboretum: There are 8 of these trees in our collection; all accessioned in 1938.  Seven are located within the Pinetum area and one is located at the north end of Crabapple meadow. 
 

The Yushan Juniper is an elegant conifer native to a small area of the Taiwanese mountain ranges, which are the tallest mountains in Southeast Asia.     

Read all about this gentle giant of a tree, Cupressus gigantea, and the work we do at the Arboretum to preserve this endangered species’ genetic diversity.

Learn all about Disanthus cercidifolius, the redbud hazel – a show-stopping shrub for shady gardens that we have many examples of at the Washington Park Arboretum and the Center for Urban Horticulture.

11.20.24

Around The Farm

 
Farm Inspired Poetry
by UW Dirty Dozen Club members; Carilyn Brandt, English 2027, Kavya Rao, ESRM/Info 2027, Tess Petrillo, Environmental Studies 2024, Ariana Milo, Environmental Studies 2025, Kaija Koenigberg, Environmental Studies 2025, Aliya Thompson, Food Systems 2026

The Weekly Dirt newsletter is often a space for highlighting the student farm experience. This week’s issue recognizes the contributions, energy and creativity of our partner club, the Dirty Dozen Registered Student Organization* (RSO). 

Meet Roy Farrow, the Washington Park Arboretum Grounds Supervisor

11.13.24

Around The Farm

The Dirty Dozen: What Does It Mean to You?
by Carilyn Brandt, English Major, UW College of Arts and Sciences, 2027 and Dirty Dozen Club Member.

The Dirty Dozen is a student organization that serves to teach and practice sustainable agriculture with the UW community. This club will be a space for students interested in gardening, urban agriculture, and food systems both generally and at UW in particular to come together and share ideas about these topics and take action in these fields. 

11.06.24

Around The Farm

Attention to Seasonal and Local Produce Transforms Cooking

by Alex Ball, the UW Farm Dani Elenga Scholar, Food Systems, Nutrition, and Global Health Senior

I have always loved to cook. I remember when I would stand on a step stool just to see the pot of simmering pasta sauce that my mom was cooking in the kitchen. I remember the first meal that I cooked all by myself for my family: a lemon-shrimp pasta with a side of sautéed vegetables.