Volume 3, Issue 5 
Flora Celtica by William Milliken and Sam Bridgewater
reviewed by Brian Thompson

Excerpted from the Winter 2008 Arboretum Bulletin; read the full review on our website.

If I could only have one book on Scottish plants, it would be Flora Celtica: Plants and People in Scotland. While the main title suggests a comprehensive, taxonomic review of natives, authors William Milliken and Sam Bridgewater instead use ethnobotany as their framework to categorize plants by their impact on humans.

And there is quite a range to this impact. Besides the expected foods, traditional crafts and medicines, this book both looks to the past -- recounting much folklore and ceremony -- and to the future, exploring the role of plants as we grapple with climate change, restoration and sustainability of resources.

The genius is in the presentation -- turn to any page and find fascinating biographies, historical photos and drawings, even poetry and lyrics of traditional songs, all woven around a very readable text. But this is not just about history -- the photographs (many by author Milliken) clearly illustrate the landscape and people of today.

Deadline extended for student poster submissions

Students, please take this opportunity to share your latest research with the general public. All students in Environmental Science and Resource Management or Restoration Ecology and Environmental Horticulture are invited to create a 14 x 14 inch mini-poster in .pdf format to display at the Miller Library May 8 though June 13. Past posters are available on our website. Send your poster to the library (hortlib@uw.edu) by this Friday, May 6 to participate. We'll see you at the Work in Progress opening night party Friday, May 13, from 5 to 7 pm.

Top Ten from the Miller Library
reported by Laura Blumhagen

What do our library users borrow? Since October 2012, eight of our ten most-borrowed items have been Pacific Northwest Connections Collection resources, many written by local authors about native plants, wildlife and gardens. Our borrowers take on practical  projects, from pruning a rhododendron to planting a dry shady site. They study fascinating topics, including Union Bay Natural Area wildlife and Seattle's historical flora. Several scholarly works, a field guide, and children's picture book make the top ten very diverse this year. Check out this list!

1. Plants of the Pacific Northwest coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska
compiled and edited by Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon; written by Paul Alaback ... [et al.]
2. Encyclopedia of northwest native plants for gardens and landscapes
Kathleen A. Robson, Alice Richter & Marianne Filbert.
3. The flora of Seattle in 1850: major species and landscapes prior to urban development Raymond Larson.
4. Planting the dry shade garden Graham Rice; photography by Judy White and Graham Rice.
5. Trees of Seattle Arthur Lee Jacobson.
6. Encyclopedia of garden ferns Sue Olsen.
7. Second nature: tales from the Montlake Fill Constance Sidles.
8. Native plants in the coastal garden: a guide for gardeners in BC and the Pacific Northwest
April Pettinger with Brenda Costanzo.
9. Cass Turnbull's guide to pruning: what, when, where & how to prune for a more beautiful garden
by the founder of PlantAmnesty; illustrations by Kate Allen.
10. The princess and the peas Caryl Hart; illustrated by Sarah Warburton.
New to the Library