Volume 1, Issue 4

Fifth Annual University of Washington
Student Mini-Poster Display

Students, here is an opportunity to share your groundbreaking research with the general public. Create a 14 x 14 inch mini-poster in .pdf format to display at the Miller Library beginning May 9. Send your poster to Martha Ferguson (mferg@uw.edu) by May 2 to participate. Don't miss the opening night party Friday, May 9, from 5 to 7 pm.

Featured Book: Field Guide to the
Rare Plants of Washington

Edited by Pamela Camp and John G. Camon
University of Washington Press, 2011

Most field botany guides help with identifying the most common trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Washington takes a very different approach by choosing as its subjects over 300 of the rarest plants, ferns, and lichens in the state.

Why do this? Editors Pamela Camp and John G. Gamon, and the many contributors, anticipate that by helping both professional and amateur botanists in recognizing and identifying rare plants, this will promote conservation of these plants. The hope is also to engage more "...nature enthusiasts, opening a window into the beauty and diversity of Washington's rare flora."

That said, this book takes a solid base of botanical knowledge to appreciate. Selections are arranged alphabetically by genus within four broad plant types (lichens, ferns, dicots, and monocots). This means you must identify an unknown plant to the genus level before you can make use of the detailed plant and habitat descriptions to determine if you've found something rare. Most entries have line drawings and both close-up and site photographs, but these are for fine-tuning identification and not for the beginner. (Read the full review on our website, here.)

Reviewed by Curator of Horticultural Literature, Brian Thompson. Excerpted from the Fall 2011 Arboretum Bulletin.

Book Sale April 4th and 5th

Love gardening, plants, trees, flowers or edible plants? Can't pass up a bargain? You won't want to miss the 9th annual GARDEN LOVERS' BOOK SALE of new and used books at the Center for Urban Horticulture. This important benefit for the Elisabeth C. Miller Library funds the purchase of new books and magazine subscriptions.

Beautiful art from the Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists will also be for sale (see below).

Friday, April 4, 5 – 8pm
Enjoy wine and light refreshments while browsing a fantastic selection of gardening books. Please purchase tickets in advance, $20.00. To purchase tickets call 206-543-0415.

Saturday, April 5, 9am - 3pm
Free, public sale.

Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists Annual Show

PNBA will hold its seventh annual exhibit at the Miller Library in April. The exhibit will open on the evening of the library’s book sale preview party, Friday April 4, 2014, and run through Saturday, May 3. Artwork on display will be for sale, as will a large selection of prints and cards. A percentage of sales helps to support the library.

At left, Passiflora Passionflower © Lisa Valore.

At right, Fragaria x ananassa © Sylvia Portillo.

New to the Library March 2014