By John A. Wott, Director Emeritus
This photograph, taken on April 4, 1950, is located somewhere to the left of the location of the Lookout Shelter. It points southwest. Originally, the hillside held a large collection of Ceanothus, but they were killed during severe winters and never replaced. If one looks closely you can see “tracks” on Azalea Way, the outline of Arboretum Creek, and East Lake Washington Boulevard. 

Joseph Rock’s Peony has been prized by gardeners and avid collectors for decades.

Paulownia tomentosa, Common name Empress Tree
Right now this tree’s large purple panicled flowers, which look similar to foxglove flowers, are blooming and the scent is wonderful. There are several in the UWBG collection, most located at the North end of the park where the wetlands trail begins.
It is a very fast growing tree that can reach 80 ft. in height, and is prized for its large heart-shaped fuzzy leaves. 

1)   Rhododendron spp.           Azalea

Azaleas are in the genus Rhododendron, with evergreen azaleas in the subgenus Tsutsusi and deciduous azaleas in the subgenus Pentanthera.
The Olmstead Brothers originally planned for 11,000 azaleas to be planted along Azalea Way. More than 3,100 have been planted and over 2,000 remain.
Azalea Way contains 21 species of azalea and more than 200 hybrids.

2)  Tsuga heterophylla           Western Hemlock

Our native western hemlocks are currently laden with new female cones which are deep purple when immature. 

Earth Day 2014
On Saturday, April 12th, over 220 people joined together at Washington Park Arboretum to celebrate Earth Day with SCA! The day began with Seattle mayor Ed Murray, SCA founder Liz Putnam, current SCA student Diana Furukawa, and others celebrating the day and imploring volunteers to consider the effects of climate change and to take action in their communities. 

1)   Melicytus angustifolius

This southern hemisphere Violaceae relative thrives in rocky places in mountains or on coasts, or in evergreen forests.
Is ‘dioecious’ or ‘of two houses’ in Greek translation; male and female flowers are present on separate plants.

2)   Erica arborea var. alpina

Found along the southern end of Arboretum Drive, this is one of the older collections in the Washington Park Arboretum, dating back to 1947. 

Rhododendron macabeanum is one of the finest big leaved Rhododendron species and has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award Of Garden Merit.  It has large yellow/white flowers often blotched purple inside with an interesting bright pink stigma.  The leaves are a dark glossy green and about 1′ in length with a light colored indumentum on the underside.  It also bears a nice silvery young leaf and bright red bud scales. 

Last Thursday, the UW Botanic Gardens’ Education Team was honored at the UW’s annual Distinguished Staff Award Reception held at the HUB Ballroom.  The team, seen posing above at the reception, was 1 of 11 teams nominated to receive this year’s DSA.  Both individual and team winners will be chosen in the coming month and honored at the Annual Awards of Excellence on June 12th in Meany Hall Auditorium.  

The cone represents our collections and the importance of conifers in our landscape.

1)  Berberis x lologensis

A natural hybrid of B. darwinii and B. linearifolia originally found near Lake Lolog, Argentina in 1927
If you can get past the thorns, enjoy the rich, spicy fragrance.
Located in grid 14-6E near Arboretum Drive.

 
 
2)  Acer tegmentosum  ‘Joe Witt’

This striped-bark maple is named for former Arboretum Director Joseph Witt.
Located in the Witt Winter Garden and on Arboretum Drive in the Peonies.