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UW Botanic Gardens Newsletter, Vol 12 Issue 12, December 2016
December E-Flora: Gifts of the Season
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Upcoming Events
Free Weekend Walks
Our Free Weekend Walks will take a break for the month of December and will return on weekends in January.
On Exhibit in the Miller Library
Alongside other artists at the Holiday Art, Craft, & Gift Sale, Seattle artist and teacher Molly Hashimoto explores the flora and fauna of the West, from both garden and wild habitats, in watercolors and block prints.
Molly's work will be on display in the Miller Library through December 23rd.
New Books in the Miller Library
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Support Local Artists at the Holiday Art, Craft, & Gift Sale
Get your shopping done early and support local artists! Join us in the Elisabeth C. Miller Library at the Center for Urban Horticulture for a reception on Friday, December 2nd. Exhibit and sale runs through December 23rd. We’ll have a selection of locally made arts and crafts available for purchase. Read more.
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Give the Gift of Gardens: A Garden Connoisseur’s Tour of Savannah & Charleston
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Experience southern charm and hospitality while exploring secret gardens, elegant homes, magnificent plantations, hidden alleys, and quaint, picturesque cobblestone streets in March 2017, with Eve Rickenbaker of the UW Botanic Gardens and Susan McLeod Epstein of the Preservation Society of Charleston.
You’ll spend three nights in Savannah, Georgia and four nights in Charleston, South Carolina. The guided journey will take you to some of the oldest churches, homes and gardens in America, strolling through 330 years of fascinating history and rich culture with fellow garden enthusiasts. Learn more
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2016 Wott Fellowship Winner Named
Pictured, left-to-right, are Dr. John A. Wott, Director emeritus, UW Botanic Gardens; Kelsey Taylor, recipient; and Fred Hoyt, Interim Director, UW Botanic Gardens.
The winner of the John A. Wott Botanic Gardens Endowed Fellowship for 2016 is Kelsey Taylor, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences M.S. candidate. Kelsey was selected earlier this year through the leadership of the late Dr. Sarah Reichard, Director UW Botanic Gardens. Read more about Kelsey's background and her reserach project.
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The Fine (Evergreen) Foliage of Fall
Celebrate nature's green gifts of the season. This news post shares the latest plant collection highlights selected from the Washington Park Arboretum by our skilled horticulture team.
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| December Plant Profile: Arbutus unedo |
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Except for their bright red fruits and similar common names, the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo) and the Strawberry (Fragraria spp.) have nothing in common. This tree is valued as an ornamental broadleaf evergreen for gardens and it has a long history of appreciation in Western cultures. Learn more about the landscape value and interesting cutural history of this month's plant pick.
Common Names: Strawberry Tree, Cain Apple and Bearberry (English), Madroñhiero (Portugese), Madroños, (Spanish), Corbezzolo (Italian), Koumaria (Greek), Caithne (Gaelic for Cain Apple)
Genus: Arbutus
Species: unedo
Family: Ericaceae
Locations: A. unedo ‘Rubra’ (3) just off Arboretum Dr. S. of Fiddleheads Forest School classroom (652-60*C-E, 20-3E & 21-3E), A. unedo (6) between Graham Visitors Center parking lot and South Patio, A. unedo at the head of Rhododendron Glen (1018-37*A-F, 11-8E & 12-8E). The variety ‘Compacta’ is planted south of the entry drive at the Center for Urban Horticulture.
Origin: Ireland, Southern to Eastern Europe, Turkey, Syria and some parts of North Africa.
Height and Spread: can reach 30’ tall by 25’ wide, but is typically about 15-20’ tall with a 10-15’ spread to the crown.
Bloom Time: early autumn through late winter
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| Glimpse into the past - Puget Sound Rhododendron Hybrid Garden |
Pictured, left-to-right, are John Behnke, past President, Arboretum Foundation; John A. Wott, Director Emeritus, UW Botanic Gardens; Mary Pinkham, Arboretum Foundation volunteer and leader; Lynn Watts, President, American Rhododendron Society
Since the late 1930s, the Puget Sound region has been regarded by some as the best rhododendron growing region in the U.S.A., with documentation for over 2000 hybrid rhododendrons. Washington Park Arboretum has always been a leader in showcasing rhododendrons, including species and hybrids. The hybridization of rhododendrons was one of the legacies of both the former curator, Joe Witt, and the former director Brian O. Mulligan. A few of their specimens still grace the early springtime show in the Arboretum. Read about the history and renovations in the Puget Sound Rhododendron Hybrid Garden.
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Stop by the Elisabeth C. Miller Library this month for a special book display focusing on the science and practice of ecological restoration.
Get your trees and shrubs in shape! The 2017 session of the popular Master Pruner Series is now open for registration.
Planning a special event in 2017? Keep us in mind for beautiful indoor and outdoor rental venues.
Early 2017 brings us a great slate of academic and professional symposia. Mark your calendars now and keep an eye on our Conferences and Symposia page for updates!
- January 11-12, 2017: Urban Natural Areas Seminar
- March 15, 2017: First Washington Botanical Symposium
- May 23, 2017: Urban Forest Symposium: Equity and the Urban Forest
The programs of UW Botanic Gardens are supported in large part by private donations. Please consider supporting our work with a gift.
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