In the old Nursery along Arboretum Drive there is a group of Chaenomeles cathayensis (Cathay or Chinese Quince) shrubs in full bloom. This cluster of three shrubs make for a huge display as they are about 15 ft. tall and 20+ ft. across. Covered in these lovely pinkish white flowers right now, they will bear very fragrant pear sized fruits in the autumn. 

The UW Farm. Oh what a place.
I was first introduced to the farm in August before my freshman year of college. I grew up with 18 raised beds in our backyard in Oregon that produced more vegetables than our family of four could use. My mom would fill baskets with the extra kale, peppers, tomatoes, lettuces, eggplants, cucumbers, and squash and send my brother and I off around the neighborhood to deliver the goodies. 

1)  Acer triflorum        Three Flower Maple

A small, slow-growing deciduous tree 20’ to 45’ where it is native in Manchuria and Korea.  An excellent landscape tree boasting light grey vertically-furrowed bark and vivid red and orange fall color.  The name refers to its flowers, which are borne in clusters of three.
Discovered by noted plant explorer, Ernest H. Wilson in 1917. 

The sun is shining, mosquitoes are buzzing, and blossoms are bursting open everywhere we look; it could just as easily be June in Seattle, but the calendar still tells us it’s winter no matter how incongruous that may seem. Students at the Fiddleheads Forest School are taking full advantage of the seasonal changes. The warm weather has meant that we are continuing to discover lots of mushrooms and fungus in and around the forest grove classroom. 

By John Wott, Director Emeritus
In those divisive times of the late 1960’s and 1970’s, many new ideas began to form regarding how to live on, properly use, and safeguard the resources on our earth. This included groups from the “flower children” to academics. Learned horticulturists, botanists, and academics in the Northwest created a plan which called for the creation of a new academic unit at the University of Washington to be called the Center for Urban Horticulture. 

We had amazing year in 2014, connecting with hundreds of students and community members through events, food, and farming. We’ve compiled a detailed summary of 2014 on Farm in our 2014 Annual Report. 

The manzanita is one of the most iconic of all West Coast native trees and shrubs, yet they are rarely ever seen in gardens. Like their famous relative, Arbutus menziesii (The Pacific Madrone), they’ve earned a reputation of being slow and difficult to establish. But with a strong emphasis in introducing more of our native flora into our gardens and the constant demand for drought tolerant plantings, the wide range of Manzanita species and hybrids have really started to come to the fore and gardeners are rediscovering their unique and stately presence in the landscape. 

Name: Sophie Solomon
Graduating in June, 2017
Major: Community, Environment, and Planning (intended)

What has been your involvement with the Farm? 
I started volunteering at the Farm as a Service Learner my first quarter of my freshman year. From there, I continued volunteering on the Farm and went on to be the Fundraising Coordinator. Now I’m the Manager of the ASUW Student Food Cooperative, a close partner of the UW Farm. 

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!