UW Botanic Gardens Newsletter, Vol 6 Issue 3, March 2011
Hinkley to lecture at spring plant sale
As if it weren’t enough to surround yourself with spring ephemerals and other plants just begging to be brought home. This Saturday, March 12, the Northwest Horticultural Society Spring Plant Sale at the Center for Urban Horticulture features lectures by Dan Hinkley, demonstrations by Walt Bubelis and Bob Lilly, a horticultural display, Hellebore “Theatre,” drawings for prizes, nearly two dozen vendors, and a warm and fuzzy feeling from knowing that the proceeds from your spring splurge benefit the Elisabeth C. Miller Library. Plan ahead to get a seat at the lectures.
Early Bird deadline for Botanical Drawing is tomorrow
Create a fully rendered botanical drawing with attention to light and shadow under the practiced eye of Kathleen McKeehen during Botanical Drawing II. This 5-part class begins Thursday, March 17. If you missed Botanical Drawing I, the instructor is happy to discuss whether starting at this level will be a good fit for you. Register by Thursday, March 10, to secure a discount.
Peruse thousands of plant books in the company of original art
The 6th Annual Garden Lovers’ Book Sale is a gold mine of ideas, inspiration, knowledge and beauty. Extract the best finds during the Wine and Cheese Preview Party Friday, April 1, 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Tickets are on sale now for $20; call the Miller Library at 206-543-0415. There's no admission to the sale Saturday, April 2, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Proceeds enable the Elisabeth C. Miller Library to purchase the best and newest horticultural books and journals. You may also view and purchase original artwork by Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists (chapter of the American Society of Botanical Artists), on exhibit in the Library through May 8. (By the way, there's still time to donate your gently used books to the sale.)
How may trees & urban infrastructure coexist?
Ecologists, arborists, landscape architects and utility planners present technical solutions, political strategies and more during the 2011 Urban Forest Symposium, cosponsored by the UW Botanic Gardens and Plant Amnesty Monday, May 9, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Center for Urban Horticulture. Keynote speaker Chris Maser, considered a courageous writer, knowledgeable consultant and “Gandhi of the Forest,” offers insight and wisdom on how to design the urban forest to effectively serve the citizens of the city.
McVay Courtyard gets a facelift
When you come to the plant sale, botanical illustration class, book sale or symposium, step into the McVay Courtyard to view the facelift now in progress. The courtyard's original designer, UW Landscape Architecture Professor Iain Robertson (who also designed the Arboretum’s Winter Garden) is planning a design refresher with input from UWBG Horticulture Staff Supervisor David Zuckerman and Collections Manager Randall Hitchin. Gardeners Annie Bilotta and Riz Reyes have already moved Edgeworthia out of the west bed. They’ll enhance the soil before installing Acer shirasawanum ‘Palmatifolium,’ a maple quite similar in form to the existing mature A. japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’ grove. Exciting new groundcovers and grasses are also coming.
First-grade field botanists?
Sure! First- through sixth-graders will become urban farmers, ethnobotanists and field botanists during three special week-long summer camps in the Washington Park Arboretum. Little Green Thumbs, Arboretum Detectives, and Native Plants and People feature hands-on exploration, play and experiential learning in a 230-acre outdoor classroom.
Plant Profile: the genus Helleborus
[by Riz Reyes, Soest Gardener] The popularity of this tough and resilient perennial has made it one of the most revered and sought after of all winter blooming plants in our climate. The range of varieties and color forms now available is remarkable, and selecting just one for your garden is nearly impossible.
By far the most popular and well known are the diverse hybrids of Helleborus x hybridus (often incorrectly dubbed as Helleborus orientalis) or the Lenten Rose. These represent the wide range of colors and forms that currently exist, and 
some of the finest examples come from a breeder who generously donated to UW Botanic Gardens some previous breeding stock, which are in full bloom at the Center for Urban Horticulture. Ernie and Marietta O’Byrne of Northwest Garden Nursery developed the fabulous Winter Jewels Series. Thousands of crosses comprised of hybrids bred from at least 16 species showcase improved flower forms, exquisite colors and unusual markings. . . .
A brand new hybrid that is getting established and looking quite lovely is Helleborus x ‘Rosemary’ (shown here). An unusual cross between H. x hybridus and H. niger bring out the fine qualities of both plants. . . . [Read the complete profile.]
twigs. . .
Help care for the Arboretum’s Ilex Collection this Saturday, Mar. 12, from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. Check in at the Boyer parking lot on Lake Washington Boulevard between the Japanese Garden and Boyer Avenue, or contact David 
Zuckerman to learn more about joining a Qwest Pioneer volunteer work party. Everyone is welcome.
Celebrate the simple enjoyment of being outdoors in the garden during Saturday Stories in the Miller Library, March 19, 10:30 to 11:15 AM. After the stories, your child can make a nature journal to take home.
Join a knowledgeable docent for a free Arboretum tour Sunday, March 20. Meet at the Graham Visitors Center at 11:00 AM for “Harbingers of Spring,” or 1:00 PM for the tour du jour.
The Arboretum Foundation’s Early Bloomers Plant Sale features spring-blooming perennials, shrubs, small trees and surprises Saturday, April 9, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Plant Donations Nursery and Pat Calvert Greenhouse.
Branch out this spring
Mar. 12: Northwest Horticultural Society Spring Plant Sale
Mar. 12: Arboretum Volunteer Work Party
Mar. 17: Botanical Drawing II
Mar. 19: Saturday Stories
Mar. 20: Guided Arboretum Walks
Apr. 1: Garden Lovers Book Sale Preview Party
Apr. 2: Garden Lovers Book Sale
Apr. 2: Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists exhibit opens
Apr. 3: Guided Arboretum Walks
Apr. 9: Early Bloomers Plant Sale
Apr. 16: Saturday Stories
Apr. 17: Guided Arboretum Walks
Apr. 30-May 1: FlorAbundance Spring Plant Sale
May 9: Urban Forest Symposium
May 14: Saturday Stories
E-Flora is a regular online newsletter of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens
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Sustaining managed to natural ecosystems and the human spirit through plant research, display, and education
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