If you missed our peak magnolia bloom, you can extend their beauty virtually here enjoying several wonderful photos of a few of my personal favorites.  Many thanks to both Niall Dunne – Arboretum Foundation Communications Manager and Bulletin editor, Ray Larson – UW Botanic Gardens Interim Director and Skylar Lin – PSGO aerial photographer for sharing their extraordinary photos capturing these magnificent magnolias in bloom! 

1)   Abies bornmuelleriana                                                                Turkish Fir This species is allied to the Caucasian Fir (A. Nordmanniana), but with some characteristics of the Greek Fir (A. cephalonica), notably the resinous buds and glabrous shoots. It has a small range in northwestern Asia Minor, where it forms forests on the Bithynian Olympus. With regards to our collections at the Arboretum, we have a few specimens in the Northwest Pinetum, as well as the one shown here residing below the Pacific Connections New Zealand Garden. 

1)  Leucothoe davisiae                                                                                   Sierra Laurel This evergreen member of the Heath family is native to the mountains of eastern and northern California where it grows in bogs and seeps. The hot-pink buds will open in spring to reveal white urn-shaped flowers. You can find Leucothoe davisiae in the Cascadia Forest.                 2)  Magnolia sargentiana var. 

Several genera at the Washington Park Arboretum are part of a multi-site nationally-accredited plant collection administered through the Plant Collections Network of the American Public Gardens Association. The Plant Collections Network is one of the most significant networks of cultivated living plant collections on Earth and is used for taxonomic studies, evaluation, breeding, and other research. The Network stewards diverse living collections at public gardens across North America to safeguard plants and share them with the world. 

1)  Chamaecyparis pisifera  ‘Plumosa Compressa’                      Dwarf Sawara Cypress This cultivar of the Japanese native, Sawara Cypress, has soft blue-green foliage. Growing only one to six inches per year, this 50 year-old specimen can be seen just at the entrance to the Graham Visitors Center along Arboretum Drive.                 2)  Corylus maxima  ‘Atropurpurea Superba’                                   Purple Giant Filbert This cultivar of the Giant Filbert, or Hazel, produces long red male catkins in winter before the bright red young leaves emerge. 

1)  Coprosma propinqua                                       Mingimingi Coprosma is a genus of about 90 species of shrubs and trees found in various Pacific regions, including New Zealand and Australia.  They range from trees to low-growing spreading shrubs and those with a divaricating habit. A member of the plant family Rubiaceae, C. propinqua is found in swampy areas and near streams throughout New Zealand.  The leaves are very small and oblong and the berries are a translucent blue color. 

1)  Stewartia monadelpha                                                                  Orange Bark Stewartia Stewartia monadelpha is a small tree (up to 25 feet high) with stunning cinnamon bark. A member of the Camellia family, the white flowers resemble those of small, simple Camellias and can be viewed in early summer. Several beautiful specimens can be viewed at the southern end of the Camellia Collection. 2)   Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei  ‘Muskogee’                             Muskogee Crepe Myrtle   This garden hybrid was developed by the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.