The John A. Wott Botanic Gardens Endowed Student Award was awarded this spring to Kyra Matin, a second-year Master of Environmental Horticulture student at the University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.
As part of her masters project, Kyra is working on several aspects of the New Zealand Forest display in the Pacific Connections Garden at the Washington Park Arboretum. 

I created a new tool for serious plant geeks who want to learn everything they can about specific plants growing in the Washington Park Arboretum. Starting from one of three access points to our plant data, the Living Collection Search, the advanced Interactive Map, or the basic Interactive Map, people can search for a plant and discover if it is growing, and where, in the Arboretum. 

This showy, small tree deserves space in Northwest gardens.

1)  Castanea dentata                          American Chestnut

The American Chestnut, once an important and substantial member of the East Coast hardwood forests, is now all but extinct in the wild due to the chestnut blight that likely arrived from Japan in the 1890s.
Chestnuts are sweet and edible, though hidden inside a prickly burr.
Blight resistant cultivars are still being developed in order to bring back this majestic tree. 

My Experience As A Member Of The Farm Team

Organic…All-Natural…non-GMO…no additives. So what do these all really mean? My summer as a graduate student farmworker has given me the opportunity to investigate this appetizing discussion frequently circling food communities and connoisseurs. Now I am far from claiming myself a food guru, but my time so far on the UW Farm has opened tremendous insight on the day-to-day experience of an urban farmer. 

1)   Lagerstroemia indica ‘Muskogee’                          Crapemyrtle

Crapemyrtles are beautiful late summer flowering trees with attractive mottled and smooth bark.
This genus has long been popular in southern gardens and is gaining popularity in our urban environment.
This tree can be enjoyed a short walk down Azalea Way from the Graham Visitors Center.

2)   Leptospermum lanigerum                          Wooly Tea-Tree

This common Australian small tree or bush can be found in our Australian collections near the southern end of Arboretum Drive. 

From Football to Farming

This is Duke’s first year as one of three UW Farm student staff. Originally from Woodinville, WA, Duke was on the University of Washington football team his freshman year. During that first season as a Husky, he sustained a back injury that ended his playing career. However, he continues to be connected to the team, working as part of the UW Football film crew that tapes games and practices. 

Grown for their delicate showy flowers rather than pungent leaves, the ornamental oreganos deserve a place in Pacific Northwest gardens.

1)  Rubus armeniacus, Himalayan blackberry

This notorious invasive species was introduced to Washington in the late 1800s for its delicious and prolific berries.
It is often found in disturbed areas and has adapted to wet, dry, sunny, and shady conditions.

2)  Rubus leucodermis, blackcap raspberry

This species, native to the West Coast, is known for the dusty white/blue coating on older stems and its arching habit. 

1)   Fuchsia magellanica

This is the hardiest of the fuchsia species, and the parent of most hardy fuchsia hybrids.
F. magellanica is native to Chile and Argentina and can reach ten feet in height in moist, frost-protected areas.
This and all featured fuchsias can be found in the Chilean Entry Garden, part of the Pacific Connections Gardens at the southern end of the Washington Park Arboretum.