UW Botanic Gardens Newsletter, Vol 6 Issue 10, October 2011
Feb 22-Mar 4, 2012: Cuba's land stewardship may surprise you
The amount of agricultural innovation and the number of gardens and conservation areas in Cuba is nothing short of remarkable, given its history of revolution and economic hardship. Now is an amazing time to experience this country's rich culture and landscape, before increasing tourism leaves its mark. From Feb. 22 to Mar. 4, 2012, UW Botanic Gardens Director Sarah Reichard and outstanding local experts - from a botanical researcher to conservation specialists to owners of orchid gardens - will guide you through Old Havana, botanical and private gardens, farms and natural areas. Learn more.
Oct 20 & Oct 22: Admire trees in Miller Library
Four Pacific Northwest artists - Jacqui Beck, Donna Leavitt, Cheryl Richey and Elizabeth Smith - share an affinity for trees. "Honoring Trees" features their work through Nov. 23. Meet the artists this Thursday, Oct. 20, from 5:00-7:00 PM, during a free artists' reception in the Miller Library. Can't wait? Read the stories that inspire their art. "Trees have been imprinted upon my psyche," says Ms. Leavitt. "I am enthralled."
Then, what better setting for the free Trees are Terrific Story Program this Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10:30-11:15 AM? Bring your children to hear The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward and other stories from the Miller Library's Children's Collection, and try your hand at making a tree picture of your own!
Oct 21-22: Arboretum greenhouse to serve as Science Central
Teams are forming for the 24-hour Autumn Bioblitz in the Washington Park Arboretum this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22. Would you like to join an owl prowl? Go birding by land or by kayak? Search for night-time insects, mammals, plants or fungi? Check the schedule and pre-register by sending us an email or calling 206-543-8801. After the first Bioblitz shift wraps up Friday evening, Rachel Mitchell, UW PhD student in plant ecology, will give an ecology presentation. Whatever your experience level, there's a way for you to be involved in this exciting Citizen Science project!
Nov. 1: Hear audio clips from new Oral History Collection
"I think access to an arboretum shouldn’t be through a gate," says Art Kruckeberg, recalling the rejection of a proposed fence and admission fee for the Washington Park Arboretum.
Thanks to funding provided by many donors spearheaded by John Wott, the Miller Library now contains a collection of interviews offering a variety of perspectives on the Arboretum, the Arboretum Foundation and the Center for Urban Horticulture. Meet some of the narrators during an open house featuring light refreshments and a presentation of the Oral History Project Tuesday, Nov. 1, 5:00-7:00 PM.
Several displays with audio clips from the interview collection will be on exhibit in the library from Oct. 22 through Nov. 21.
Learn more about oral history and this project in the Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin.
UW Botanic Gardens honors volunteers
Last week, the UW Botanic Gardens and Arboretum Foundation hosted their annual appreciation dinner in gratitude to hundreds of volunteers for the thousands of hours they contribute to our gardens, plant sales, conservation programs, library, administrative projects and more. The Brian O. Mulligan Awards were presented to James Angliss for ten years of service to the Center for Urban Horticulture, where he waters container plants every week and supports staff in all kinds of horticultural and mechanical tasks, and to Catherine Nelson for leading programs for children and adults at the Washington Park Arboretum for more than three years. The Arboretum Foundation recognized Rex and JoAnn Clark for at least a dozen years of selfless service, including regular staffing of the Arboretum Gift Shop on Sundays. Thank you to all of our volunteers for the vital role you play in stewarding and conserving our gardens and resources!
Last month, the Washington Chapter of CenturyLink Pioneers celebrated the completion of their yearlong Centennial Project in the Arboretum's Holly Collection, where they devoted more than 650 hours to weeding, planting and mulching, and creating a new display bed. In addition, they provided grant funding for interpretive signage, soil and plants, as well as two new park benches, which were dedicated during the celebration. The CenturyLink Pioneers' Centennial Project commemorated their parent organization's 100th anniversary.
Plan now: winter quarter classes present mosaic, plant & tree ID, photo editing, landscape design & pruning
For plant professionals, Pruning Wood Plants will be taught at the Washington Park Arboretum Feb. 21.
Public education classes offer a variety of ways to learn more and play more! Design your own landscape Jan. 21-Feb. 25, create an 8' tile mosaic for your garden on Feb. 19, or practice retouching, resizing, correcting and removing unwanted objects from your digital photographs on Feb. 25, all at the Center for Urban Horticulture.
Want to get better at recognizing what you see? Learn to identify Seattle's common landscape trees Feb. 18 in the Arboretum. Develop your plant field identification and keying skills with Dr. David Giblin while becoming familiar with Washington's 25 most common plant families Mar. 6-Apr. 10, or take a tree tour with Arthur Lee Jacobson on Apr. 8, both on Seattle's Main Campus.
Learn more and sign up before the early bird discounts end!
Plant Profile: Vitis coignetiae
[by Soest Gardener Riz Reyes] Another woody plant has captured our attention this month, and that’s the Crimson Glory Vine. This outstandingly large and colorful vine is mesmerizing to see, especially when backlit by the western exposure of the sun. An entire kaleidoscope of rich purples, bright crimsons, yellow, reds and oranges, along with the aging green, is a sight to see.
It is readily available and fairly easy to care for. It should receive full sun (but can tolerate part shade) and moderate irrigation. It also requires quite a bit of space but responds pretty well to pruning in mid-summer to control its size and habit on a trellis or similar structure.
Common Name: Crimson Glory Vine
Family: Vitaceae
Location: On trellises north of Merrill Hall and south of Isaacson Hall
Origin: Russia, Korea and Japan
Height and Spread: 20-30 ft.
Bloom Time: Early June
Bloom Type/Color/Fruit: Almost inconspicuous racemes with small white flowers, later forming into chalky purple blue fruit
View additional photos in the complete plant profile.
twigs . . .
Oct. 28 is the closing day for submitting abstracts for presentations and posters for Conserving Plant Biodiversity in a Changing World, a conference hosted by UW Botanic Gardens Mar. 13-14, 2012. Artists and photographers, the conference will also feature a Botanical Art Exhibit and Contest. Deadline for digital submissions is Jan. 1, 2012.
Discover "Fruits, Nuts & Wildlife" during a free guided tour in Washington Park Arboretum this Sunday, Nov. 6 and 20, starting at 11:00 AM. Or enjoy a Tour du Jour at 1:00 PM tour. Meet at the Graham Visitors Center.
Constance Sidles's new book, Second Nature, explores the daily dramas and mysteries of the birds found in the Montlake Fill (Union Bay Natural Area). Enjoy a free dessert reception, book launch and reading in the Miller Library Tuesday, Nov. 22, 6:30-8:00 PM.
Ray Larson, Garden Manager of the UW President's residence Hill-Crest, earned his M.S. in Urban Horticulture at the UW and served as the Center for Urban Horticulture's Facilities Coordinator. Hill-Crest serves as a lab for testing plants' hardiness and landscape value and for practicing wise use of resources.
A stunning image by Steve Ringman of a Washington Park Arboretum spider is included on this Seattle Times photography page. Scroll down to see his photograph.
Val Easton recommends a walk through Union Bay Natural Area at this time of year for terrific birding and "grasses...at their tawny best." When you click here for her article, scroll down to "Walk wetlands right in the city."
Among the recently-published books added to the Miller Library's lending library are Designing with Grasses by Neil Lucas and Tomorrow's Garden: Design and Inspiration for a New Age of Sustainable Gardening by Stephen Orr.
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
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Phone: 206.543.8616
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