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Within each of the forest formations,
a well-developed ecogeographic exhibit will represent a corresponding
plant community found in the maritime Pacific Northwest (Washington
and Oregon west of the Cascades). The native deciduous/ broadleaf forest
represenation will occupy a lowland Puget Sound riparian forest community,
with native poplars, alders, willows, ashes, etc., along the banks of
Arboretum Creek.
In addition to ecogeographic exhibits of native plants, a special set
of collection exhibits will permit the Arboretum to grow, exhibit, and
compare woody plants form other cool winter rain regions of the world,
as well as from wetter places, such as Eastern Asia and New Zealand,
that are yielding successful landscape plants. Four such geographic
clusters are proposed:
- The Asian Hillside, presenting the best introductions from China,
Korea, and Japan, grown in a naturalistic landscape.
- South-central Chile, one of the principal sources of new, ecologically
appropriate landscape plants for the Northwest. (Visit Chile; our
own Randall Hitchin (plant recorder) traveled to Chile for a plant
collecting exhibition. So click here to visit CHILE
)
- New Zealand, incorporating a relocated assemblage of hardy plants
from the Southern Alps.
- The Mediterranean Slope, a naturalistic arrangement of specialized
plants which thrive in the Pacific Northwest climate.
Each of these geographic clusters (plus the Pacific Northwest mixed
coniferous/broadleaf forest representation), envelop a transect that
illustrates changes in vegetation with increased elevation. Some transects
begin with shrub communities at their lower slopes and ascend into forests
(e.g., Cascades/Olympics; Andes), while others begin with forests and
ascend into shrubland (South Alps; Central China).
Other cool mediterranean climates for small displays will include South
Africa, Southern Australia, and Tasmania.
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