The University of Washington Botanic Gardens and partners City of Seattle Parks and Recreation and Arboretum Foundation are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Washington Park Arboretum this year. We will be hosting a series of special programs to celebrate this milestone. Scroll down to see what's already scheduled and sign up for our free electronic newsletter to get the latest updates. View the slide show by the Alumni Association.

This beloved park and treasured horticultural resource has evolved over the years, but it remains a place where visitors can escape the bustle of the city and experience the beauty and tranquility of nature. It has also become a hotspot of biodiversity and plant conservation, with some of the leading collections of woody plants in North America.

Read more Arboretum history on our website and the 2003 Washington Park Arboretum Historic Review. This illustrated report was prepared by BOLA Architecture + Planning and Karen Kiest, Landscape Architect.

Special Events

The Arboretum Foundation is also hosting a series of special celebratory events. For more information, please visit: www.arboretumfoundation.org.

October 29 – Scot Medbury Lecture: "The Olmsted Legacy of the Arboretum"

Thursday, October 29
Open House is from 5:30 - 7:00pm
Lecture begins at 7:00pm
NHS Hall at the UW Botanic Gardens'
Center for Urban Horticulture

Register in advance for guaranteed seating. $25 per person. For reservations, call (206) 543-0540 or visit www.uwalum.com.

As part of the Arboretum's 75th Anniversary celebrations, "The Once and Future Arboretum" lecture will reveal how the Washington Park Arboretum's past continues to shape its future, and point to the ways all urban gardens can better fulfill their roles as places of learning, beauty and sanctuary.

UW Alumnus Scot Medbury ('90) is president of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and brings to Seattle a unique appreciation for and understanding of the Washington Park Arboretum, having conducted his thesis project on the origins and development of the woody plant collections there.

Prior to the lecture, join us at 5:30pm for an opportunity to see "behind the scenes" at the UW Botanic Gardens. Learn about student research, get a tour of the greenhouse, talk with faculty in their labs, and more.
Light refreshments will be served.

October 31 – Halloween Park in the Dark Spooktacular:
  A family program for parents and children, ages 6 - 12

Meet at the Graham Visitors Center,
Washington Park Arboretum

Pre-registration is required. $6 per person.
BYOF (Bring Your Own Flashlight)

For more information, contact Jean Robins at jrobins@u.washington.edu or 206-685-8033.

November and Dember – History of the Arboretum Exhibit in the Miller Library

(photos left to right): 1)The "Speed Way" in 1908, along the site of the future Azalea Way; 2) Azalea Way Before Improvement. Asahel Curtis glass slide of Olmsted Brothers Photo, 1934; 3) Proposed treatment for Azalea Walk. Asahel Curtis glass slide, of Olmsted Brothers Drawing, 1936.

Previous Events

April 7 – Celebration Kick-off with Dan Hinkley lecture

May 10 – Mother's Day at the Arboretum

Sunday, May 10, 1 – 4 p.m.

Don't miss this delightful annual tradition at the Arboretum. Enjoy a walk along Azalea Way, with beautiful azalea bushes and cherry trees in full bloom. Take photos of mom and all the family, then come to the Graham Visitors Center, where families can enjoy fun, plant-themed activities. More information: www.arboretumfoundation.org.

May 16 – Azalea Way History Walking Tour

Saturday, May 16, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Fee: $15, $10 students. Preregistration required. Meet at Graham Visitors Center, Washington Park Arboretum.

Join Professor John Wott, former director of the Washington Park Arboretum, on a walking tour of historic Azalea Way. Dr. Wott will discuss the history of this much-loved part of the Arboretum, overall design and how it has changed over time, kinds of plants, and more, drawing on his vast knowledge and delivered with his inimitable sense of humor. Preregister to reserve your spot by contacting Jean Robins at jrobins@u.washington.edu or 206-685-8033, space is limited for this unique tour.

Fourth Saturdays – Park in the Dark Family Program

Fourth Saturdays, July - Sept., 7 to 9 p.m.
Families with children ages 6-12.
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. $6 per person.

July 25: It’s nighttime in the Arboretum, but the forest isn’t sleeping! Learn about the adaptations of nocturnal animals and see the gardens in whole new light during this special family adventure. Become a bat or moth, test your sense of smell, and use your “Deer Ears” to hear night sounds. Games and activities are designed for families with children.

Contact Jean Robins at jrobins@u.washington.edu or 206-685-8033.

Summer Garden Party

Thursday, July 30, 6 – 8 p.m.

Enjoy a guided tour of the Arboretum, led by UW Botanic Gardens education staff, plus delicious hand-crafted ice cream.

Two separate tours: one for families with kids, and another for adults only. Both tours leave from the Graham Visitors Center at 6:45 p.m. and run until 7:30 p.m.

Fee: $5 per person; free for kids ages 5 and under. For more information, visit The Arboretum Foundation. Sponsored by Snoqualmie Gourmet Ice Cream

Kayak Tours of Foster Island

Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15

Be sure to sign up for our summer kayak tours, a special offering to celebrate the Arboretum’s 75th anniversary!

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from the Agua Verde Café and Paddle Club, we will offer tours on Friday, August 14, at 3 p.m., and Saturday, August 15, and noon and 2 p.m. Explore the Arboretum’s woods and wildlife from the water’s edge as we paddle along the bay. $25 per person, recommended for ages 12 and up.

For information and registration, please contact Jean Robins at jrobins@u.washington.edu or 206-685-8033.