According to Cliff Mass, UW meteorologist, our past winter of 2012-2013 was the most “boring” on record. There were no major weather events such as wind storms, artic blasts, snowfalls in the lowlands or major flooding. This was indeed good news for the UWBG horticulture staff.

Director Sarah Reichard muses on another reason to visit Cuba: fabulous birds. “I may not shift to studying birds instead of plants, but I thoroughly enjoyed my foray into bird-watching in Cuba.”

Most visitors experiencing the beauty of our historic Azalea Way flowering cherries from now through May probably have no idea of how intensive maintaining their health and prolonging their longevity truly is for the UW Botanic Gardens horticulture staff.

The Red or Swamp Maple, Acer rubrum, is always noticed for its intense flame color in the fall, but I love these trees best right now – when they are covered in flowers prior to foliation.
From a distance the light gray bark of the tree sets off the pink & maroon flowers creating a stunning effect – it’s as if the tree is full of red fuzz.   

Pacific Connections Garden
1)  Corokia x virgata    ‘Sunsplash’

An odd shrub from New Zealand with variegated foliage and wiry, twisty branches.
This carefree evergreen tolerates some dry and looks great in containers.
Specimens can be found in the New Zealand Entry Garden.

2)  Grevillea victoriae

Fine-textured foliage, long thin flower clusters and drought tolerance make these evergreen shrubs very popular.
Also known as Royal Grevillea, it is endemic to parts of Victoria in Australia. 

In September, the UW Botanic Gardens will open an outdoor, nature-based preschool. The Fiddlehead Forest School is a play-based, exploratory and outdoor program that creates opportunities for children to develop meaningful and caring relationships with one another and the natural world.
GRAND OPENING SEPTEMBER 2013
Fiddleheads Forest School: A Nature Preschool at the UW Botanic Gardens
Take a moment to envision a three year old. 

UWBG Director, Sarah Reichard, recounts her recent study tour to Cuba, a beautiful, musical and confounding country.

If you have walked around Shoveler’s Pond in the Union Bau Natural Area this month you have seen the area undergoing a flurry of activity from plowing to bulldozers moving dirt.

The 2.5 acre New Zealand focal forest construction project is scheduled to be completed by the end of June. Planting will begin in June. There will be approximately 10,000 total plants representing over 90 taxa for the 9 plant communities that will be represented.

1)  Camellia japonica  ‘High Hat’

One of our earlier-flowering Japanese camellias.
This specimen can be found along the west side of Arboretum Drive near the construction zone detour.

2)  Pieris japonica  ‘Valentine’s Day’

Showing its large panicles of pink flowers.
Can be found on Azalea Way just south of the Lilacs.

3)  Rhododendron floribundum

Native to the Szechwan Province of China.