UW Botanic Gardens Newsletter, Vol 7 Issue 5, May 2012

UWBG Student Works Poster Exhibit

Learn about many of the fascinating student research topics at the annual UWBG student research review. Student posters are on display May 11- 30 in the Miller Library. Want to meet the researchers? Then join us for the public reception May 11 from 5 -7 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Poster topics include:
•  Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands: Assessing Restoration Effectiveness After Tidal Dike Removal
•  Project E-PIG: Studying the Ecology of Pollinators in Gardens at Multiple Scales
•  Alternate hosts of threatened Castilleja levisecta (golden paintbrush): Improving PNW prairie restoration.

Spotlight on Volunteering

(This is a new column from Linda Haba, the UWBG volunteer Volunteer Coordinator)

The formal volunteer program started in the early 1980's. One important task early volunteers assisted with was mailing the newsletter. That enormous task involved printing and affixing all the mailing labels. There would be a big work party with lots of pizza to get the newsletter assembled and in the  mail. Now the newsletter is digital and gets mailed with the click of a mouse!

There are many different areas to volunteer within the UW Botanical Gardens. They are: the Arboretum Grounds; Pacific Connections Grounds; Union Bay Natural Area Grounds; CUH Grounds; Rare Care; the Herbarium; the Miller Library; Education Programs; and Facilities (reception at CUH and Graham Visitor Center).

In 2010-volunteers gave 12,902 hours of volunteering by 272 individuals which included 4 work parties.  (2011 hours are similar and not available yet):
   • The Herbarium had 1121 hours and 31 volunteers.
   • Center for Urban Horticulture reception had 144 hours and 1 volunteer.
   • Miller Library had 1251 volunteer hours and 12 volunteers.
   • CUH Grounds had 184 hours and 14 volunteers.
   • Youth and Family Education had 1156 hours and 23 volunteers.
   • The Arboretum had 1362 hours and 38 volunteers.
   • The Arboretum also had 10 work groups which volunteered 3771 hours.
   • Graham Visitor Center reception had 679 hours and 6 volunteers.
   • The Union Bay Natural Area had 112 hours by 4 work parties.
   • Rare Care had 4407 hours and 125 volunteers.
Do you see your group listed above?  Maybe you'd like to have a little challenge with one of the other groups listed and to see who can increase their numbers the most?  Or maybe you'd like to try volunteering in one of the other departments listed above?  Let me know and I'll help arrange it. You can contact me at uwbgvc@uw.edu.

Thank you to everyone who donated their time and energy!  We cannot do all that we do without you!

A Glimpse Into the Past

(A monthly column by Dr. John A. Wott, Director Emeritus) The staff of the University of Washington decided to recruit and train a new corps of volunteer guides for Washington Park Arboretum tours. In 1984, this group as part of their 23-week training requirement, participated in an all-day field trip to the UBC Botanical Garden in Vancouver, B.C.  Included are the fledgling guides as well as veterans.  Also pictured are staff members Christina Pfeiffer, Van Bobbitt, and Jan Pirzio-Biroli (from back left, #’s 5 ,6, & 7).  Also front left is Rebecca Johnson, who later joined the staff.  Recognize anyone else?   (Photo by J.A. Wott, UWBG Archives)

Be sure to view the full size image.

Mother's Day at the Arboretum

A trip to Washington Park Arboretum on Mother’s Day has become a springtime tradition for many Seattleites. Families come here in droves to stroll along historic Azalea Way and see the spectacular azaleas, rhododendrons, and dogwoods in full bloom. Mother’s Day takes place on Sunday, May 13th this year. The UWBG education department will be at the Graham Visitors Center from 1 to 4 p.m. hosting an array of fun family activities, including craft tables and a scavenger hunt.

May 2012 Plant Profile: Geum 'Totally Tangerine'

(by Soest Gardener Riz Reyes) One of the best performing new plants of the past two gardening seasons has been this incredibly vigorous Geum. A genus not often used here in gardens (I have no idea why), this selection was given to us by Skagit Gardens, who wanted us to evaluate its performance. So far, it’s been dependable with relatively low maintenance. You just need to shear back after the first main flush to allow it to continue blooming through the summer. What’s remarkable about this plant is it remains somewhat evergreen. Flower buds appear as early as March, it ramps up in April and is in full spectacular bloom by May and into June (with sporadic flushes throughout the summer). It looks smashing right now paired up with Euphorbia ‘Fireglow’ in Bed 8 of the Soest Garden.

Common Name: Avens
Location: Soest Garden – Bed 8
Origin: Garden Origin
Height and spread:
2.5ft high x 2 ft. wide
Bloom Time: Early Spring
Growing Conditions: Full Sun/ moderately moist soil. 

Classes, Lectures and Tours...Let's Learn!

Plants for Hedges and Screens Tuesday, May 8 at the Center for Urban Horticulture

Lichens in Our Midst Thursday, May 10, 246 Hitchcock, UW Main Campus

Azalea Way History Tour Wednesday, May 23, meet at Graham Visitors Center,
Washington Park Arboretum  

twigs 

A reminder that the 2012 Urban Forest Symposium is happening Monday, May 14, 2012 at the Center for Urban Horticulture. You can register at the UW website.

The popular Sunday Walks continue at the Washington Park Arboretum. The theme for May is "May in Bloom". No fee or sign-up, just show up at the Graham Visitors Center on Sundays a little before 1pm and allow 60-90 minutes.

Park in the Dark at the Arboretum features night hikes for the whole family! On this special family adventure, you'll learn how animals adapt to the dark and see the gardens in a whole new light! Fun for families with children ages 6-10. There are walks scheduled for May 19, June 23 and July 14, starting at 8pm. Cost is $8 per person and you can register online.

Come on by the Miller Library on Saturday, May 19 at 10:30am for the Wetland Wonders Story Program. Books will include In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming, Pond Circle by Betsy Franco, A Day in the Salt Marsh by Kevin Kurtz and You Can Be a Nature Detective by Peggy Kochanoff. These stories take us to the water's edge to see what we can learn there. After the stories, you can make fingerprint pictures in the program room and then take a self-guided tour of the Union Bay Natural Area. The program is for children ages 3 to 8 and their familes (but all are welcome).

An exhibit of David Fishman’s botanical photography will be on display at the Miller Library from June 2 to July 26. Due to his technique of using multiple exposures, they feature a phenomenal amount of detail and depth-of-field. You can get a preview of his work by going to David’s website.

Our friends at Rare Care just put out the latest issue of their newsletter. It's called the Rare Plant Press.

The Hardy Fern Foundation will be having their annual plant sale on June 1 & 2 in NHS Hall at CUH. This sale offers hundreds of species of ferns as well as a large assortment of other shade loving plants. Sale hours are 12noon to 6:30pm on Friday and 10am to 2pm on Saturday. More info can be found at the HFF website.

The UW Student Farm will be having a fundraiser on Saturday, May 12 at the University Heights Community Center. Admission includes dinner, silent auction, square dancing and live music from a local bluegrass band. All proceeds go towards the continued establishment of their new production site near CUH. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the UW Farm website.

The next time you’re visiting Yesler Swamp, take a look at the fantastic restoration work done by UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences students working on UW REN Project 2012. Thanks to Friends of Yesler Swamp member Rob Edsforth and to all the volunteers for their terrific work!

Speaking of Yesler Swamp, if you took advantage of their Earth Day swamp walk, the Friends of Yesler Swamp have another free trek coming up on Sunday, May 20 from 1pm-2pm. The theme is “Native Plants vs. The Invasives”. Elby Jones, Native Plant Steward of the Washington Native Plant Society, will explore the reasons why swamp restorers are battling invasive species of plants and replacing them with plants native to the Pacific Northwest. Meet in the east parking lot at the Center for Urban Horticulture.

If anyone has any information about the recent vandalism of three chilean wine palms and two monkey puzzle trees at the Arboretum, please call the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct at 206-684-4300.

E-Flora is a regular online newsletter of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens

University of Washington Botanic Gardens' mission:
Sustaining managed to natural ecosystems and the human spirit through plant research, display, and education

3501 NE 41st Street, Box 354115, Seattle, WA 98195-4115
Phone: 206.543.8616
Email: uwbg@u.washington.edu
Web: www.uwbotanicgardens.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/UWBotanicGardens

Donate to the UW Botanic Gardens

Forward this message
Change your email preferences

Privacy Policy
This e-mail message was sent to
Manage Your Subscriptions or Unsubscribe