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UW Botanic Gardens Newsletter, Vol 13 Issue 3, March 2017
March E-Flora: Celebrating Horticulture, Botany and Books!
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Upcoming Events
Free Public Tours at the Washington Park Arboretum
Our Free Public Tours include First Thursday Tram Tours and Free Weekend Walks. Weekend walks offer programming for families with children on Saturdays and adult audiences on Sundays.
On Exhibit in the Miller Library
Through the Eye of a Weaver: Weaver and iPhone photographer Anna Klauder shares images from her garden celebrating the light, texture, and color that inspire her. The exhibit, on display through March 30, also includes a selection of her weavings.
New Books in the Miller Library
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Horticulture, Curation and Plant Records Team Nominated for UW Distinguished Staff Awards
Photo by Stephanie Colony
Congratulations to members of our horticulture, curation and plant records team, who are responsible for the care and stewardship of our world-class plant collections! The Distinguished Staff Award highlights University of Washington staff members who display a commitment to the UW and a passion for their work that never rests. This award represents our University’s highest honor by recognizing those who create a world of good through their hard work, dedication and selfless spirit. Award winners will be announced in April.
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First Washington Botanical Symposium
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Lewisiopsis tweedyi by Dick Olmsted
An extensive network of professional, academic, and amateur botanists are actively engaged in the conservation, management, and study of Washington’s diverse flora. Their expertise ranges from how best to manage biodiversity, to understanding climate change impacts on plant communities, to naming and classifying the flora’s rare, common, and invasive elements. Invited speakers and poster presentations will share new insights and discoveries about these topics and more. Participants from throughout Washington and adjacent areas will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues within and across disciplines.
Join us on March 15 for this exciting symposium.
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Garden Lovers' Party, Book Auction and Sale
Love gardening, plants, trees, flowers or growing food? Can't pass up a bargain? Mark your calendar now for the 12th annual Garden Lovers' Book Sale of used books at the Center for Urban Horticulture. This important benefit for the Elisabeth C. Miller Library funds the purchase of new books and magazine subscriptions.
Beautiful art will also be for sale from the Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists.
Join us for the party and auction on Friday, April 7, or come to the public sale on Saturday, April 8.
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| March 2017 Plant Profile: Corokia cotoneaster |
Corokia cotoneaster at UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley. Photo by James Galther.
Corokia cotoneaster may not be the first plant that you notice in the landscape, but it might be the plant keeps your attention the longest. This plant’s divaricate branching (having branches of wide angles) and its tiny dark evergreen leaves give it a sparse and angular look which is not a common sight among the green gardens in the Pacific Northwest. Add a spring bloom of tiny fragrant yellow flowers followed by red berries in autumn and this plant can be a focal point of any garden. Its common name is wire netting bush which describes the plant’s unique form.
There are several standout specimens of Corokia cotoneaster located in the McVay Courtyard at the Center for Urban Horticulture and many more plants are establishing in the New Zealand section of the Pacific Connections Garden at the Washington Park Arboretum. This plant gets better with age and can be admired throughout the year. It should be in bloom from April to May so be sure to take notice on your next visit.
Read more about this month's featured plant.
Common name: Korokio or Wire Netting Bush
Family: Argophyllaceae
Location: Several plants are on display in the McVay Courtyard at the Center for Urban Horticulture. Numerous specimens can be found throughout the New Zealand Forest’s Mountain and Snow Tussock zones at the Washington Park Arboretum (Grid 7-3E. 8-3E and 9-3E), and in the New Zealand Entry Garden (6-3E and 6-4E)
Origin: New Zealand
Height and spread: 6-8 ft in height and 4-6 feet in width. Cultivar ‘Little Prince’ is smaller, attaining a height of about 4 ft.
Hardiness: Cold hardy to USDA Zone 8
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| Glimpse into the past - Tree Care Then and Now |
Dick Hart, Arboretum crew leader, pruning trees with a power saw, standing in tractor scoop. March 27,1957.
The Arboretum was established in 1934, and tree care has always been a priority. After nearly 80 years, many of our trees are huge. Like the phenomenal growth of the Pacific Northwest trees, professional tree care has grown dramatically in recent decades, advancing from simple saws and ladders to sophisticated training, equipment, specific methods including testing and licensing. Today there are hundreds of professional certified arborists, working under the leadership of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
Take a "Glimpse into the past" with Director Emeritus John Wott, and see pictures of the “creative tree care” given by Arboretum crews in the late 1950s - 1960s. It is a wonder there were not more serious accidents. Today the arborists and crew in the Arboretum all use the latest techniques and equipment.
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Attention early childhood educators: Our Fiddleheads Forest School is partnering with Natural Start Alliance to offer training opportunities. Join us for Creating Outdoor Spaces that Encourage Exploration and Discovery, March 24, 9:30am-5pm.
We're currently hiring for someone to join our education team, leading our school age programs. Learn more.
March 28-30 we'll be co-hosting a series of arboriculture trainings in cooperation with the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. Learn more.
UW Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares are still available. Sign up here.
Planning a special event in 2017? Keep us in mind for beautiful indoor and outdoor rental venues.
The programs of UW Botanic Gardens are supported in large part by private donations. Please consider supporting our work with a gift.
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KEEP IN TOUCH: 
