By John A. Wott, Director Emeritus Since its founding 35 years ago, the Center for Urban Horticulture (now a part of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens) has produced numerous students, staff, and faculty who have continued on to illustrious horticultural careers. A few days ago, I received this photograph of Dr. Harold B. Tukey, Jr., founding director, and associate professor James R.
Read more »Washington Park Arboretum Oaks Rescued
Along with the constant rain and drizzle, winter in the Pacific Northwest often brings the occasional wind and snow events. Damage to trees (and caused by trees!) is inevitable following these storms. While wind events tend to cause the most spectacular tree failures, snow loads have been known to fell their fair share of limbs. Damage to Arboretum trees has been lower than expected during the course of the most recent snow; however, our evergreen oak collection in Rhododendron Glen took a severe hit.
Read more »Boyer Parking Lot Tree Protection
One of the most widespread problems with trees in the urban environment is the failure to recognize the tree’s mature size. If one doesn’t take into account the space required when the tree grows up, conflicts are sure to arise. To make matters worse, the tree is often faulted for encroachment! Several trees surrounding the Arboretum’s Boyer Parking Lot have grown up and encroached on the gravel parking spaces.
Read more »Mason Bees in the Arboretum
With the goal of enhancing pollination efforts, several mason bee houses have been placed throughout the Arboretum. What are mason bees? Well, according to the provider of the pollinators, Dave Richards of JohnnyAppleBeez, LLC: “The charming Mason Bee is a gentle, shiny blue-black metallic bee, and slightly smaller than a honey bee. They are a superior pollinator, but do not produce honey.
Read more »Losses to UWBG Pine Collection
A turkish pine (Pinus brutia) and a Chinese white pine (Pinus armandii) were recently removed from the Canal Reserve area near the Museum of History and Industry. Both trees declined suddenly over the past year and died over the winter. Blue staining was evident in the wood of both trees. We’re not sure exactly how these trees are infected with the fungus, but one theory is that a bark boring insect (red turpentine beetle) carries the pathogen into the tree.
Read more »Spring Pruning at the Arboretum
Recent Arboretum visitors may have noticed some unusual pruning, specifically in our Holly and Camellia collections. The camellia specimens, located near the Lookout parking lot, will be re-propagated and planted in a different location to make space for the Pacific Connections New Zealand focal forest. Large heading cuts were made to induce new epicormic growth, or watersprouts, which are ideal for propagation.
Read more »Sonic Tomography at the Arboretum
The University of Washington Botanic Gardens would like to thank Tree Solutions, Inc. for bringing the latest technology in tree risk assessment to the Washington Park Arboretum. Tree Solutions assessed a large western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) using sonic tomography, a device which measures sound waves to detect decay and other abnormalities in wood. Assessing the risk associated with trees is a vital component to maintaining the urban forest.
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