Tracy is the Information Technology Librarian in the Elisabeth C. Miller Library.
She grew up in the Southwest, in Southern California and Las Vegas. She has been interested in plants since childhood, and one of her earliest gardening memories is selecting bulbs and roses from the Jackson and Perkins catalog to plant at  their house in the high desert. She moved to Seattle after college in 1996 because her sister lived here. 

by John A. Wott, Director Emeritus
On Thursday, October 29, 2015, the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington will honor Daniel J. Evans, on his 90th birthday, for his public leadership, scholarship, and service.  What an opportune time to mention the Daniel J. Evans Centennial Tree at the Washington Park Arboretum…a coast redwood  (Sequoia sempervirens) which he planted in the south Pinetum as part of the Washington State Arbor Day program.   

-Cyrena Thibodeau
The farm is starting to wrap up the summer season and transition into fall; the tomatoes are drastically slowing down, basil is being harvested and frozen for pesto, and winter cover crop is going in the ground. The following is a list of what is growing at each site and what is currently being harvested:
Growing at Mercer: carrots, parsnips, turnips, rutabaga, beets, rhubarb, tomatillos, bush beans, green onions, leeks, broccoli, kholrabi, kale, cilantro, dill, other herbs, cutting greens. 

Nate is a PhD Candidate who became involved with UW Botanic Gardens when he joined Professor Jon Bakker’s lab at the Center for Urban Horticulture in 2013. He grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and moved to Seattle in 2013 to start his studies at the UW.
He enjoys spending time hiking and backpacking in the mountains or along the coast. 

Pterocarya stenoptera, common name Chinese Wing Nut, has gorgeous lime green seed catkins 12-14″ long each bearing up to 80 seeds. That’s pretty amazing in itself but when these seed catkins are dripping off of each limb of a tall tree the effect is stunning.
The Wing Nut genus resides in the walnut family, or Juglandaceae, and is used for ornamental purposes in gardens around the world.   

What do evolution and the Emperor of Japan have to do with art about slime molds?

~Rae Russell
Seattlites are fortunate to not only enjoy the benefits of a maritime climate that allows us to grow year-round, but to have access to so many wonderful gardening and farming resources. Whether you want to take a short workshop on container gardening, complete a serious course in sustainable farming, or simply find some tips and plant lists, everything that you need can be found nearby, even land! 

In honor of the annual Elisabeth Miller Memorial Lecture, this month’s plant profile features one of Betty’s favorite trees.

Meet Lisa Dora Sanphillippo! Lisa is the School Fieldtrips Coordinator for UW Botanic Gardens.
She lived in L.A. until she was 8 years old.  Her mom “got a little freaked out” by the big city, big crime and smog so she moved them to a tiny town in Idaho called Kamiah (population 2500).  The family lived in the middle of a National Forest and the Clearwater River. 

How some trees react to high winds.
1)  Pseudotsuga menziesii                Douglas Fir

The detritus lying on the ground following a wind event in the Pacific Northwest provides ample evidence of how P. menziesii defends itself against wind.
The wood of P. menziesii is brittle and can snap. When a strong wind acts on a Douglas Fir, the tree sacrifices small pieces of foliage to shed the wind’s energy.