Plan a serene summer road trip with Quiet Beauty: The Japanese Gardens of North America

Reviewed by Curator of Horticultural Literature, Brian Thompson.
and excerpted from the Fall 2013 Arboretum Bulletin.

Quiet Beauty: The Japanese Gardens of North America is itself a book of quiet beauty, and an excellent introduction to Japanese-style gardens throughout Canada and the United States. Photographer David Cobb, from Mosier (near Hood River), Oregon, is particularly adept at emphasizing the contrasts between light and shadow, the subtle reflections in still waters, and the energy of moving water in his subjects. I have visited many of the 26 featured gardens and he captures the spirit of these very well. Read the full review on our website.

Summer Challenge students welcomed

For the fourth year, the Library, the Herbarium, and Gardeners at the Center for Urban Horticulture collaborated to offer a program for the UW’s Robinson Center for Young Scholars Summer Challenge for 5th and 6th graders.

Students spent a day at the Center for Urban Horticulture as part of fifteen days studying "The Incredible World of Plants." This year the group compared management needs and priorities for farms, ornamental gardens, and natural areas. Riz Reyes conducted an informative tour of gardens, Carrie Bowman gave a tour of the library and provided an activity there, and Eve Rickenbaker helped the kids mount pressed plant specimens.

Exhibit of oil paintings by Kathleen Wolfe  

Artist Kathleen Wolfe celebrates her love of nature with oil paintings on canvas featuring poppies, water lilies and majestic trees. Her paintings will be on display in the Library from August 5th to September 16th. Kathleen cites the natural beauty of our region as an early inspiration: "While growing up in Washington, I explored the forest and beach daily. Hiking, mountain climbing, skiing, sea kayaking, and travel were adventures that awakened my senses and curiosity."

Meet the artist at one of two free receptions at the Elisabeth C. Miller Library: Friday, August 8 from 5 to 7 pm and Wednesday, August 13 from 5 to 7 pm.

Collection grows with gifts of books and films

  We appreciate the many donors who have generously given books and films on ecology, botany, and horticulture so far this year. These thoughtful gifts in good condition build the collection, whether they are specific items the library needs right now, or spare copies that can be sold to benefit our book acquisition fund. Thank you!

New to the Library July 2014