1)  Camellia japonica      ‘Nina Avery’

Due to this year’s mild winter thus far, many plants here have begun flowering much earlier than normal, and Camellias are certainly no exception. Many specimens can be seen in bloom along Arboretum Drive near Rhododendron Glen.

2)  Camellia x williamsii      ‘Mary Christian’

Soon after C. saluenensis began to flower it was crossed with C. japonica, notably by J. 

Name: Elizabeth Muntean
Graduating in June, 2015
Major: Evolution and Conservation Biology
Minor: Environmental Science and Terrestrial Resource Management

What has been your involvement with the Farm?
I was a volunteer at the UW Farm for 2 years and am currently a coordinator at the CUH site.
How has the Farm impacted your experience at UW?
Being involved at the farm has allowed me to grow into the person that I wanted to become, surrounded by a wonderful support group that brings sunshine in the gloomiest of days! 

Internship Title: UW Farm Intern (3 positions)

The goals of the UW Urban Farm are multiple:

Provide students with practical urban farming experience, from plan to production to table;
Link directly to academic programs in the study of food, including but not limited to: coursework, independent research, and capstone and culminating experiences;
Create a model of sustainable urban production at the UW;
Provide reliable, predictable, and quality produce for UW Housing & Food Services, CSA members, and other customers;
Provide produce for other uses including but not limited to events, fund-raisers, and gleaning;

Internship Description:
During the course of the 2015 growing season, student farm interns will learn and practice practical aspects of sustainable urban agriculture including: greenhouse work, transplanting, direct seeding, irrigation, pest/disease and weed control, harvesting, washing and marketing. 

Read below for more information, or visit our crowdfunding page at https://uw.useed.net/projects/120/home

 Help us Grow The UW Farm!
We’ve just launched a crowd-funding campaign to raise $9000 to grow the Farm and add much needed infrastructure to make us an even better resource for students and the community.
We are looking to build:

a new cob oven1 and shelter for gatherings,
reusable and portable hoop houses2,
and a new, conveniently located wash station. 

The UW Farm has launched a USEED crowdfunding campaign with the goal of raising $9,000 to build a new cob oven and structure, a new wash station, and reusable and portable hoop houses.

Donald Culross Peattie in the Washington Park Arboretum
Staff horticulturist, Ryan Garrison recently listened to an audio version of Donald Culross Peattie’s book, “A Natural History of North American Trees.” He very much enjoyed its mix of science and literary art, and would like to share a few gems about trees in the collection with you.
1)  Carya ovata – Shellbark or Scalybark Hickory
“To everyone with a feeling for things American, and for American history, the Shagbark seems like a symbol of the pioneer age, with its hard sinewy limbs and rude, shaggy coat, like the pioneer himself in fringed deerskin hunting shirt. 

By John A. Wott, Director Emeritus
A former staff member, Rebecca Johnson, shared with me a copy of the “First Annual Northwest Flower and Garden Show” program, held on Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 17-20, 1989.   On February 10, 2015, the 26th Show will open. I am proud to say that I have attended each one, including the Preview Party, a benefit for the Washington Park Arboretum. 

A common sight and scent in the winter garden, Sweet Box never fails to perform.

The Washington Park Arboretum rang in the new year with a series of windstorms that broke limbs, downed trees and dulled chain saws. What the storms didn’t do, however, was cause extensive damage to collections, structures, or visitors. “Lucky” might be your first thought, but luck had little to do with it. Proper tree care and a knowledgeable and observant tree care crew allow us to consider our recent tree ‘failures’ successful. 

Witt Winter Garden
1)  Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’         Bloodtwig Dogwood

Young stems of this cultivar are orange-yellow with the sunny side turning carmine red.
Stem color of species is gray to purple, while the color of C.s. ‘Midwinter Fire’ is yellow-green in summer changing to winter colors rapidly at leaf drop in fall.

2)  Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Pallida’             Witch Hazel

This hybrid of H.