University of Washington lorticulturc Spring, 1998 director’s notes Longtime residents of the Montlake and Laurelhurst neighborhoods remember the days when the 100-acre area west of the Center’s buildings was a giant garbage dump. In 1966 the dump was capped with fill dirt, and today the Center manages 60 acres of it as our Union Bay Natural Area. Our goals for the Natural Area are the protection and restoration of natural habitats and native species, both plant and animal, plus research, teaching, and demonstration concerning urban habitat restoration. We are pleased at the support and volunteerism of the community as we turn a nasty, degraded site into a wildlife-rich functioning ecosystem. Dr. Kern Ewing, CUH Associate Professor of Urban Ecology, and his classes and volunteers have conducted upwards of 15 habitat restoration projects in the Natural Area since 1992, and now they are embarking on what may be the most exciting of all. The easternmost 40% of the old gravel parking lot within the Natural Area was recently decommissioned for transformation to a natural state; and Ewing’s class in Restoration Ecology is planting it with species that grow in native prairie of the Southern Puget Sound country. All these restoration projects directly benefit wildlife (and wildlife aficionados), train students to conduct similar efforts after they graduate, and provide important experimental data on the relative success of different restoration techniques. I encourage all of you to visit the Natural Area, walk the improved trails, see the resident and migratory bird life, and follow the long-term progress toward a rich matrix of native prairie, woodland, wetlands, and dedicated habitat for shorebirds and waterfowl. As you visit the Center, I hope you are as excited as I am at the building of the Orin and Althea Soest Herbaceous Display Garden east of NHS Hall. Expect the grand unveiling this summer, when you will be able to study and enjoy perennials, annuals, and bulbs displayed according to the soil, light, and water conditions that best promote their success. Final note: Miller Library supporters will want to turn out on May 3 for the Third Annual Library Endowment Auction sponsored by the Northwest Horticultural Society; contact NHS soon for details. Clement Hamilton, Director, Center for Urban Horticulture arboretum plant study program Each section of this year-round study program focuses on a different set of trees, shrubs, vines, *■ and ground covers in the Washington Park Arboretum, and includes field work on plant identification, plus “ discussions of plant selection, placement, and function within the urban environment. In each section you will study at least 15 plants not covered in any other section during the same calendar year; over 300 plants will be covered annually. Plants will be studied in the season of their most distinguishing characteristics (flowers, fruits, etc.). Section A: Saturday, April 4, from 9 a.m. to Noon Instructor: Scott Conner, Consultant Horticulturist, Conner Enterprises Location: Washington Park Arboretum, departure from Graham Visitors Center pee: $17 general public, $15 Arboretum Foundation members; pre-registration required, class size limited Section B: Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to Noon Instructor: Midori Murai, M.S. Student, UW Center for Urban Horticulture (UW-CUH) Location: Washington Park Arboretum, departure from Graham Visitors Center Fee: $17 general public, $15 Arboretum Foundation members; pre-registration required, class size limited Section C; Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to Noon Instructor: Location: Fee: Dr. Clement Hamilton, Director, UW-CUH, Associate Professor of Plant Taxonomy Washington Park Arboretum, departure from Graham Visitors Center $17 general public, $15 Arboretum Foundation members; pre-registration required, class size limited Section D: Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to Noon Instructor: Location: Fee: Aaron Cady, M.S. Student, UW-CUH Washington Park Arboretum, departure from Graham Visitors Center $17 general public,. $15 Arboretum Foundation members; pre-registration required, class size limited Section E: Saturday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to Noon Instructor: Location: Fee: Randall Hitchin, Registrar, UW-CUH Washington Park Arboretum Washington Park Arboretum, departure from Graham Visitors Center $17 general public, $15 Arboretum Foundation members; pre-registration required, class size limited april calendar of events 19 10am UB Master Gardener Sale 6 7:30pm, UB Iris Society 26 2:30pm. UB Cactus Society 10am Arboretum Foundation Spring Plant Sale Ham, UB African Violet Sale Every Sunday: lpm. WPA Sunday at One Guided Tour 13 27 7:30pm, UB Ornithological Society 7pm, UB Orchid Society 7pm, UB Puget Sound Bonsai Association 14 7pm, UB Six Steps to Natural Lawn Care 12:30pm, WPA Tuesdays in the Garden Work Party: Rock Garden 8 1:30pm* NHS Class: Spring Cutting & Seed Propagation 7pm, WPA* Prop Shop: Vegetables from Seed 21 7:30pm, UB Puget Sound Mycological Society 7:30pm, UB Rose Society 28 6:30pm, UB Association for Women in Landscaping 15 7pm, UB PlantAmnesty 7pm, UB Drought-proofing Your Lawn & Garden 22 7pm, UB* Botanical Illustration 29 7pm, UB* Botanical Illustration 7pm, UB* Botanical Illustration 16 7:40pm, UB Rock Garden Society 7pm, UB* NHS Lecture: Ann Lovejoy 7pm, UB Audubon Society 30 7:30pm, UB* UW/WSU Lecture: Native Plants for your Home Garden 7pm, UB Creating A Beautiful Waterwise Garden 4 9am, WPA* Arboretum Plant Study Program 18 9am, WPA* Arboretum Plant Study Program 9am, UB Master Gardener Sale 25 9:30am, UB Seattle Tree Fruit Society 10am Arboretum Foundation Spring Plant Sale 12pm, UB African Violet Sale Every Saturday: lpm, WPA Saturday at One Guided Tour may 17 2pm, WPA* Behind the Scenes: Magnolias 2:30pm. UB Cactus Society li 7:30pm, UB Ornithological Society 7pm, UB Orchid Society 12 7pm, UB* NHS Lecture: Nancy Goodwin 19 12:30pm, WPA Tuesdays in the Garden Work Party: Loderi Valley 7:30pm, UB Puget Sound Mycological Society 13 7pm, UB* Botanical Illustration 14 20 7pm, UB* Botanical Illustration 21 Every Sunday: lpm, WPA Sunday at One Guided Tour 7pm, UB The Wisely Watered Landscape 7pm, UB* Botanical Illustration 27 7pm, UB* Botanical Illustration 7:40pm, UB Rock Garden Society 7pm, UB Audubon Society 29 lpm, UB NHS Fern Festival 7:30pm, UB* UW/WSU Lecture: Colorful Containers 7pm, UB* NHS Lecture: Don Jacobs 16 9am, WPA* Arboretum Plant Study Program 23 10am. WPA* Garlic Baskets 7:30pm, UB Rose Society 26 7pm, UB Drip Irrigation 30 9am, UB* Design Studio: Focus on Mixed Perennial Borders 10am, UB NHS Fern Festival Every Saturday: lpm, WPA Saturday at One Guided Tour June 8:30am* NHS Garden Tour 21 3pm, UB Puget Sound Bonsai Association 8 2:30pm, UB Cactus Society 22 7:30pm, UB Ornithological Society 7pm, UB Orchid Society 7pm, UB Puget Sound Bonsai Association 12:30pm, WPA Tuesdays in the Garden Work Party: Sorbus Collection 7:30pm, UB Puget Sound Mycological Society Every Sunday: lpm, WPA Sunday at One Guided Tour 23 7:30pm, UB Rose Society 6:30pm, UB Association for Women in Landscaping 7pm, UB* Botanical Illustration 10 7pm, UB* Native Plant Propagation Workshop 17 24 7pm, UB PlantAmnesty 6:30pm, WPA* Summer Stroll: Southern Exposure 6:30pm, WPA* Summer Stroll: Azalea Way 11 7pm, UB* Spring Arrangements from your Garden 18 7:40pm, UB Rock Garden Society 7:30pm, UB* UW/WSU Lecture: Garden Accessories 12 8am* Nursery Tour: Vashon & Tacoma 8am* Nusery Tour: Shoreline & Kitsap 19 lpm, UB* Northwest Perennial Alliance Lecture: Container Design 26 8am* Nursery Tour: Snohomish & Gold Bar Q 6 9am, WPA* Arboretum Plant Study Program 13 7pm, UB* NHS Lecture: Holly Shimizu 20 9am, UB* Native Plant Propagation Workshop 27 9am, WPA* Arboretum Plant Study Program 9am, WPA* General Garden Carpentry Skills 10am, WPA* Hypertufa Every Saturday: lpm, WPA Saturday at One Guided Tour UB = WPA = * Union Bay Campus Washington Park Arboretum Fee university of Washington center for urban horticulture The University of Washington Center for Urban Horticul- ture is dedicated to research, teaching, and public service concerning the selection, management, and role of plants and of ecosystems in urban landscapes. Director Clement W. Hamilton Continuing and Public Education Douglas Research Conservatory Elisabeth C. Miller Library Otis Douglas Hyde Hortorium 4 Undergraduate and Graduate Education Union Bay Gardens Union Bay Natural Areas Washington Park Arboretum Center for Urban Horticulture University of Washington Union Bay Campus Box 354115 3501 NE 41st Street Seattle, Washington 98195-4115 (206)685-8033 phone (206) 685-2692 fax Urban Horticulture Newsletter, Vol 15. No. 2 CUH/CFR Continuing & Public Education Staff Dave Stockdale, Education Coordinator (Adult & Professional Washington Park Arboretum Box 358010 2300 Arboretum Drive East Seattle, Washington 98195-8010 (206) 543-8800 phone (206) 325-8893 fax Programs) Julie DeBarr, Education Coordinator (Youth & Community Outreach Programs) Jean Robins, Program Coordinator Kirsten Bilodeau, Education Assistant Aaror^ady^rogran^ssistan^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ CUH Building & Rentals Management Staff Becky Johnson, Union Bay Facilities Manager Josey Fast, WPA Facilities Manager (temporary) Ray Larson, Union Bay Facilities Manager Assistant youth & family programs For more information or to schedule any of the following programs, please contact the Arboretum Education Office, Monday-Friday, at (206) 543-8800. You may also call to request a free School Program Guide which offers a detailed listing of Arboretum ^ educational programs available to educators and parents. New Arboretum Adventures Program Arboretum Adventures is a new program that provides children ages 7-14 the opportunity to explore the natural world around them through interactive tours and hands-on art and science activities. Programs are on the third Sunday of every month, FREE and require pre-registration. • • School Program Tours at the Arboretum Tours led by trained Arboretum guides, 60 to 90 minutes in length, are available for your class or youth group. Tour topics include: Plants & People of the Pacific Northwest, Seasonal Splendors, & Wetland Ecology. The fee is $10 for each group of 15 or fewer and requires three weeks advance registration. Sign-up for the Arboretum’s Spring Saplings Program Saplings programs are designed specifically for 3rd through 5th grade students and are available during April and May. Explore an urban wetland, observe aquatic insects, and discover the many habitats of a freshwater marsh in our Wet & Wild Saplings program or trace a plant’s life cycle from flowers to fruit and learn what it takes to make a new plant in Spring Sprouts. Saplings programs are FREE, and very popular, so pre-registration is required. Arboretum Explorer Packs Lead your own group or family on an exploration of the Arboretum. Marsh Madness or Tree-Tective packs are equipped with field guides, magnifying lenses and activity ideas to help you learn about the habitats, plants, animals, and insects found in the Arboretum. A two hour rental fee is $15 for a group of 7 or more; $5 for 6 or fewer, and FREE to Arboretum Foundation members. Arbor Day Celebration Experience firsthand the TREEmendous Forest Story. Learn about trees, animals, birds, water, recycling and other parts of a forest system and related ecosys- tems at the UW College of Forest Resources’ Annual Arbor Day Fair. Fun activities for kids grades K-3 will be conducted from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 9-11. For more information or to pre-register (required) for this FREE event, contact Ellen McKinley at (206) 685-4485 extension 215. design studio These studios provide the opportunity to problem solve with a top landscape designer. They are not for those individuals interested in designing their garden from scratch, but rather are for persons working to correct or enhance existing landscapes. Each studio includes a brief discussion of the focus topic, followed by opportunities for each attendee to discuss their needs with the designer while the rest of the attendees listen to and participate in the problem solving discussions that ensue. In order to enhance the studio experience, each student is asked to bring along a scale drawing of the garden area under consideration, as well as photos, illustrations or other relevant resources on the site to be discussed. Focus on Mixed Perennial Borders Date & Time: Instructor: Location: Fee: Saturday, May 23, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Terry Hershey, Cotswold Garden & Design, Vashon Douglas Classroom, Union Bay $25; pre-registration required, class size limited to 15 construction demonstrations General Garden Carpentry Skills Date & Time: Saturday, June 27, from 9 to 11 a.m. Tom Penticoff, Owner, Garden View Landscaping Graham Visitors Center, Washington Park Arboretum $23 general public, $20 Arboretum Foundation members; pre-registration required Instructor: Location: Fee: Learn all the basics for doing garden carpentry work. Discussion will focus on three key areas: woods, tools, fasteners. First study the variety of woods available, where and how to purchase them, and their suitability for different projects. Next review the range of carpentry tools normally used, and practice using them safely. Finally, learn about wood screws, nails, glue and other fasteners and how and when to use which. This course is an optional prerequisite to the upcoming summer sessions that will focus on fence building and arbor construction (these courses will not cover any of the information in this course, but rather will proceed immediately into discussion's of design considerations and demonstrations of the construction techniques of the featured projects). HOME SITES NEEDED: CUFI is looking for three home sites to use for Construction Demonstration programs in July and August. Specifically, we need a site for building a wood fence, a site for building an arbor, and a site for building a paver/stone patio or path- way. Sites should be in the Seattle area (near to UW if possible) and easy to get to, with parking available. Homeowner must provide materials and understand that the project will not be completed during class time and will require additional labor to finish. If you are interested in providing a site, contact the Education office at (206) 685-8033. gardening & horticulture pro Drought-proofing Your Lawn & Garden Date & Time: Instructor: Location: Fee: Thursday, April 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. Mary Robson, WSU Extension Agent Isaacson Classroom, Union Bay Campus FREE, pre-registration required, seating is limited; the costs for this program have been underwritten by the Seattle Public Utilities and your local water utility Learn basic principles that can be used for drought-proofing your existing lawn and garden or for designing a new one. These simple, practical steps are low in cost and will save you time and water! Six Steps to Natural Lawn Care Date & Time: Instructor: Location: Fee: Tuesday, April 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. David McDonald, Horticulturist Douglas Classroom, Union Bay Campus FREE, pre-registration required, seating is limited: the costs for this program have been underwritten by the Seattle Public Utilities and your local water utility Natural lawns need less water, fertilizer, pesticides, and rely on healthy soil to grow vigorous, weed and pest-resistant turf. Learn the basics of soil improvement, mowing (including a mulching mower demonstration), watering, and fertilizing for a healthy lawn. Botanical Illustration Dates & Times: Instructor: Location: Fee: Eight-part course, Wednesdays, April 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. each night Louise Smith, Botanical Illustrator Douglas Classroom, Union Bay Campus $130 not including materials; pre-registration required, class size limited This introductory level course will focus on developing accurate pencil drawing and wash and dry brush techniques. Course includes homework. Students should bring drawing paper and pencil only to the first class; an additional materials list will be provided at the first class, and students will be given an option to purchase those items from the instructor (around $40) or independently (approximately $80-$100). Creating a Beautiful Waterwise Garden Date & Time: Instructor: Location: Fee: Thursday, April 30, from 7 to 9 p.m. Jil Stenn, Stenn Design Douglas Classroom, Union Bay Campus FREE, pre-registration required, seating is limited; the costs for this program have been under- written by the Seattle Public Utilities and your local water utility Transform your garden into a beautiful, low water use and lower maintenance space. Study the design process step by step illustrated by beauti- ful slides and learn to create a workable plan for your garden. <1 N The Wisely Watered Landscape: Is an Automatic System Really Better? Date & Time: Instructor: Location: Fee: Tuesday, May 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. Howard Stenn, Stenn Design Douglas Classroom, Union Bay Campus FREE, pre-registration required, seating is limited; the costs for this program have been under- written by the Seattle Public Utilities and your local water utility How much water do my plants need? Which watering system is best? Can I make my system more efficient? Discover the answer to these common questions and more! Study how plants use water and how to improve the ability of your plants to access water and nutrients. Drip Irrigation Made Easy Tuesday, May 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. Howard Stenn, Stenn Design Douglas Classroom, Union Bay Campus FREE, although pre-registration required since seating is limited: the costs for this program have been under- written by the Seattle Public Utilities and your local water utility Discover how to design and use a drip irrigation system appropriate to your unique garden beds in this hands-on program. Examine drip compo- nents and learn how they are assembled, where to buy them and what to avoid, and learn to use your drip irrigation system in an economical manner. Date & Time: Instructor: Location: Fee: Natural Beauty: Spring Arrangements from your Garden Thursday, June 4, from 7 to 9 p.m. Val Easton, Horticultural Librarian Douglas Classroom, Union Bay Campus $15 general public, $12 Arboretum Foundation members; pre-registration required Study trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals that can be used for providing springtime cutting materials for indoor use. Plant placement and use within the garden and cultural information will be provided. The instructor will alsg demonstrate creating easy, natural and unique spring arrange- ments with items from her own garden. (There will also be summer, fall and winter sessions of this series offered this year.) Date & Time: Instructor: Location: Fee: WSU Practical Gardening Lectures These entry level lectures and demonstrations for beginning gardeners are planned jointly with the WSU Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program, and are presented by experienced WSU Master Gardeners and Cooperative Extension staff. Native Plants for your Home Garden Date & Time: Instructor: Location: Fee: Thursday, April 16, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Allen Davenport, WSU Master Gardener Douglas Classroom, Union Bay Campus $5; pre-registration required ms Creating and Caring for Colorful Containers Date & Time: Thursday, May 21, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Instructor: Gayle Walters, WSU Master Gardener Location: Douglas Classroom, Union Bay Campus Fee: $5; pre-registration required Furnishing Your Garden with Garden Accessories Date & Time: Thursday, June 18, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Instructor: Stephen Rutledge, WSU Master Gardener Location: Douglas Classroom, Union Bay Campus Fee: $5; pre-registration required prop shop Each section focuses on a different aspect of plant propagation and includes a discussion of the featured technique, including when and with which plants it is best used, followed by a demonstration of skills, and hands-on practice by participants whenever possible. Growing Summer Vegetables from Seeds Date & Time: Thursday, April 2, from 7 to 9 p.m. Instructor: Sally Anne Sadler, WSU Cooperative Extension Program Assistant Location: Greenhouse adjacent to Graham Visitors Center, Washington Park Arboretum (WPA) Fee: $16 general public, $14 Arboretum Foundation members; pre-registration required, class size limited special events NATIVE PLANT PROPAGATION WORKSHOP: Softwood Cuttings & Layering This is the first in a series of three Native Plant Propagation Workshops coproduced by the Center for Urban Horticulture and the Washington Native Plant Society. Future workshops will be conducted on propagation by seeds and by hardwood cuttings. Dates & Times: Two-part course; general lecture on Wednesday, June 10, from 7 to 9 p.m., and choice of hands-on work- shop on Saturday, June 13, either from 9 to 11 a.m., from 12 to 2 p.m., or from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. (see registration form) Instructor: Jim Ellingboe, Nurseryman, Wells Medina Nursery, and member of the Washington Native Plant Society Location: Lecture in NHS Hall, Union Bay campus, workshop in Douglas Classroom, Union Bay campus Fee: $35; pre-registration required, workshop sizes limited Native plants make attractive, hardy and useful additions to most landscapes. However, nursery sources for many native plants are difficult to find. The option? Learn to propagate native plants at home. Discover which native plants can be successfully propagated by softwood cuttings, when and how to collect and prepare the cuttings, and how to successfully root them at home. Also study techniques for layering plants, particularly ground covers. All participants attend the same evening lecture, but to keep student numbers small during the hands-on practice, participants will be divided into smaller groups for these sessions. Participants must select in order of preference their Saturday workshop sessions when registering. aff nature crafts This series provides hands-on opportunities to make and take home a variety of plant and plant-related projects. Planned and instructed under the leadership of the Arboretum Foundation Natural Crafts Study Group and the Arboretum Foundation Education Committee, these programs require advance registration through the Arboretum Foundation office by phoning 726-1954. Please do not send registrations to the University. Weave A Garlic Basket Date & Time: Location: Fee: Hypertufa Date & Time: Location: Fee: Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to Noon Graham Visitors Center, Washington Park Arboretum (WPA) $15 non-members, $10 Arboretum Foundation members; pre-registration required, call (206) 726-1954. Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to Noon Graham Visitors Center, WPA $25 non-members, $20 Arboretum Foundation members; pre-registration required, call (206) 726-1954. walks & tours Nursery Tour: Vashon & Tacoma Date & Time: Friday, June 5, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Depart From: East parking lot adjacent to Douglas Research Conservatory, Union Bay Fee: $35' transportation provided; pre-registration required, limited to 20 persons (we need space for what we buy!) JtUngletFe^fr Exotics in Tacoma, a unique site operated by Jerry Cearly and Darlene Allard and specializing in hardy garden exotics like bana, nf n?w'iSh0M t0 and Co vos Crfek Nursery- where owner Mike Lee emphasizes native and drought tolerant plants and produces numerous n f ^ ? and eV*T eacalyptus- We wl11 also visit Mlke's nearby private display garden. Then it’s on to Sylvia Matlock's DIG and its offerings annuals, perennials, heirlooms and other unique plants. We will be given a short tour at each site, followed by plenty of time for shopping! Nursery Tour: Shoreline & the Kitsap Peninsula Date & Time: Friday, June 12, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Depart From: East parking lot adjacent to Douglas Research Conservatory, Union Bay Fee: $35- transportation provided; pre-registration required, limited to 20 persons (we still need that space for purchases!) First stop on today’s touring and shopping journey is Kelly Dodson and Sue Skelly’s Reflective Gardens, a nursery featuring many rare or new to cultivation perennials and bulbs. Then it’s on to Heronswood, where after a tour of the private gardens of Dan Hinkley and Robert Jones, we spend time in their well-kno ^Uri/6Dy that featares trees- shrubs, perennials, vines and more from around the world. On the way back towards the Center, we stop at Mareen Kruckeberg’s MsK Rare Plant Nursery in Shoreline. This nursery specializes in plants native to temperate climates around the world. Nursery Tour: Snohomish & Gold Bar Date & Time: Friday, June 26, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Depart From: East parking lot adjacent to Douglas Research Conservatory, Union Bay Eee- $35, transportation provided; pre-registration required, limited to 20 persons (yes- we still need space for what we buy!) On our final tour & shopping sojourn of the season the first stop is A & D Peony & Perennial Nursery in Snohomish. Their selections of peonies, daylillies, hostas and iris are almost overwhelming! Then we visit Karen and Allen Oudean's Willow Creek Nursery to view their assortment of carnivorous plants and be and water plants. A midday detour takes us to Gold Bar and Fancy Fronds. Owner Judith Jones is an expert on ferns and her nursery is testimony to their bea and diversity. Finally, back to Snohomish to Cricklewood Nursery. Run by Evie Douglas, this nursery has great selections of old and English roses and a wide array of perennials. Tour: PRIVATE & PUBLIC GARDENS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA September 22-27 The Center for Urban Horticulture and the Northwest Horticulture Society are pleased to present this cosponsored tour to visit private and public gardens, nurseries and other sites in sunny Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Your guides are CUH’s Dave Stockdale and Richard Hartlage, Director/Curator of the Millf Botanical Garden. In Santa Barbara we will visit such sites as the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Keck Garden, Mission Santa Barbara & Gardens, San Marc Nursery, and the amusing and unusual Ganna Walska Lotusland. In Los Angeles we will tour the Virginia Robinson Gardens, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardi Huntington Botanic Garden, the private garden of famed designer Chris Rosmini plus other private gardens she has designed, a number of other special priva gardens, and a garden and collections tour at the new Getty Museum. For a brochure with complete itinerary and detailed descriptions of each site, plus costs and sign-up information, please contact Dave Stockdale or Jean Robi at the Center for Urban Horticulture at (206) 685-8033. The sign-up deadline is July 31. Behind The Scenes “Behind the Scenes” is a NEW staff-guided field study program designed to explore the plant collections of the Washington Park Arboretum. The Magnolia Collection & Its Renovation Date & Time: Instructor: Location: Fee: Sunday, May 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. Chris Pfeiffer, Horticulturist, UW-CUH, Washington Park Arboretum (WPA) Depart from the south patio of the Graham Visitors Center, WPA $5 general public, $3 Arboretum Foundation members; pre-registration required Summer Strolls Presented by CUH-Washington Park Arboretum and the Museum of History and Industry. Join Museum and Arboretum experts to explore this living museum’s history and natural beauty. All strolls begin at 6:30 p.m. and last about 90 minutes. Fees: Members $10, non-members $12; sign up for three or more strolls and receive a 15% discount Topics & Dates:Southern Exposure, Wednesday, June 17 Azalea Way: Heart of the Arboretum, Wednesday, June 24 Foster Island & the Waterfront Trail, Wednesday, July 1 The Reed Passage People: Native American History, Wednesday, July 8 To Register: Contact the Museum of History and Industry at (206) 324-1126, pre-registration is required and space is limited. Weekend Walks at One < Every Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. FREE public tours depart from the Graham Visitors Center. Walks highlight areas and collections of seasonal interest. Walks are not offered in December, on holidays, or on Husky home football game Saturdays. Guided Tours of the Arboretum Immerse yourself in azaleas, cherries, crabapples, magnolias, dogwoods, and rhododendrons, and the other vibrant colors and fragrances of spring. Tours led trained Arboretum guides are 60 to 90 minutes in length and are available to groups with a three week advance reservation. Topics available are Seasonal Tours, Native Plants & Ethnobotany, and Foster Island Ecology. The fee is $15 per 15 persons; $10 per 15 for Arboretum Foundation members. Call (206) 54 8800 to register or for more information. arboretum foundation 49th Annual Spring Plant Sale Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Sand Point Community Center (formerly the Naval Station). Kick off the season at the biggest and best plant sale of the year. A glorious variety of popular and unusual trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants will be for sale at great prices! Call (206) 325-4510 for more information. Pat Calvert Plant Sales A wide variety of plants are always available for purchase from the Pat Calvert Greenhouse in the Arboretum every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to Noon, and the first Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Foundation Volunteers grow plants from seeds or cuttings from the collections of the Arboretum. Plant Donations Sales news Member Discounts Arboretum Foundation members enjoy a 10% discount in the Arboretum Gift Shop, and discounts on selected UW-CUH programs, plus receive special invitations to members-only events. Call (206) 325- 4510 to join! The Plant Donations Department is open for the season through October. Members sell favorites from their own gardens at great prices. Current hours are Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to Noon. lorthwest horticultural society news Lectures, unless noted, are $5forNHS members, students & seniors, $10 for non-members; call NHS at (206) 527- 1794. Fern Festival Friday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Satur- day, September 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., CUPI. Wide variety of plants for sale, plus lecture at 7 p.m. on Friday by Don Jacobs. Propagation Class Spring Cutting & Seed Propagation, class by Richard Mail payment and registration to: Urban Horticulture Courses University of Washington Box 354115 Seattle, Washington 98195-4115 Or you may register in person at the Union Bay campus, 3501 NE 41st St., M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please make checks payable to the University of Washington. No bank cards. Registrations are filled in the order received. Enrollment is limited, classes fill rapidly; register early. A portion of fees may cover refreshments and speaker expenses. Refunds: Requests for refunds on events not attended must be made in advance in writing, by phone or fax, or in person. Requests received 7 days or less from first class meeting have a $5.00 handling fee deducted. No refunds can be given after the first class meeting. Hartlage, Wednesday, April 8, 1:30 p.m., Miller Botanical Garden; $15 member, $20 general public. Ann Lovejoy Lecture Lecture by author and columnist Ann Lovejoy, based on her newest book, Thursday, April 16, 7 p.m., NHS Hall, CUH. Nancy Goodwin Lecture The Gardens at Montrose, lecture by cyclamen authority Nancy Goodwin, Sunday, May 17, 7 p.m., NHS Hall, CUH. Old Roses Lecture Old Roses and Companion Plants: An Integrated Approach, lecture by Holly Shimizu, Director of the Lewis Ginter Botanic Garden, Saturday, June 6, 7 p.m., NHS Hall, CUH. Garden Tour In conjunction with Holly Shimizu’s visit there will be garden tour to a local site on Sunday, June 7, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call for details. Center for Urban Horticulture Union Bay Campus and Gardens] Union Bay Natural Areas | University of Washington Union Bay MontJake If a program is cancelled for any reason a full refund will be given to all enrollees. Refunds may require four weeks for processing. Returned Checks: An $18.00 service fee will be charged for returned checks. Special Needs: To request disability accommodation, please contact the Office of the ADA Coordinator at least ten days in advance of an event: (206) 543-6450 (voice); (206) 543-6452 (TDD); (206) 685-3885 (FAX); access@u.washington.edu (Email). Class Locations and Parking: Program locations are listed with each program description. The Graham Visitors Center at Washington Park Arboretum is located at 2300 Arboretum Drive East; free parking is located adjacent to the building. Douglas Classroom, NHS Hall and the other meeting facilities at Union Bay are located at 3501 NE 41st Street; prepaid parking is located adjacent to the buildings. Graham Visitors Center Washington Park Arboretum Broadmoor registration form program fee af members # spaces total fee Arboretum Plant Study Program Section A (April 4) $17 $15 Section B (April 18) $17 $15 Section C (May 16) $17 $15 Section D (June 6) $17 $15 Section E (June 20) $17 $15 Design Studio Focus on Mixed Perennial Borders $25 Construction Demonstrations General Garden Carpentry Skills $23 $20 Gardening & Horticulture Programs Drought-proofing your Lawn & Garden FREE Six Steps to Natural Lawn Care FREE Botanical Illustration $130 Creating a Beautiful Waterwise Garden FREE The Wisely Watered Landscape FREE Drip Irrigation Made Easy FREE Spring Arrangements from your Garden $15 $12 WSU Practical Gardening Lectures: Natives for your Landscape $5 program fee af members spaces total fee WSU Practical Gardening Lectures: Colorful Containers $5 WSU Practical Gardening Lectures: Garden Accessories $5 Prop Shop Summer Vegetables from Seed $16 $14 Special Events Native Plant Propagation Workshop $35 Saturday, 9 a.m. (select as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choice) Saturday, Noon (select as 1st, 2nd. or 3rd choice) Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (select as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choice) Walks & Tours Nursery Tour: Vashon & Tacoma $35 Nursery Tour: Shoreline & Kitsap Peninsula $35 Nursery Tour: Snohomish & Gold Bar $35 Behind the Scenes: Magnolias $5 — $3 Check enclosed for: (Please make check payable to University of Washington) Name Address City State Zip Phone - (day) (evening) Fax Branching Out: Branching Out, the Arboretum’s free after-school site-based program is back in full swing this spring. The twelve week program which began in March involves three local community centers and approximately 50 young stu- dents. The weekly interdisciplinary program encourages youth to develop an understand- ing and respect for themselves and the environment. If you would like to learn about ways to get involved in this unique educational program, which will have addi- tional sessions next fall and winter, please call the education office at (206) 543-8800. Library To Go On-Line: The Miller Charitable Foundation has awarded the Miller Library a generous grant for 1998 including sufficient funding for automation. The first step, now in progress, is to get the library catalog on- line, and then put it out on the world wide web. Ph.D. Awarded: Congratulations to Cynthia Gilbert for earning her Ph.D. at the Center for her research on the conservation of endangered species Polemonium pectinatum, for which urban landscapes offer some hope for ex situ conservation. She studied the ecology, population dynamics, and genetics of the species in order to provide informa- tion useful to managers of the few remain- ing populations, such as the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Cynthia becomes the fourth Ph.D. recipient in the Center’s his- tory, and the second advised by Director Clem Hamilton. Earthwork Northwest Comes to the Arboretum: The Arboretum will again be one of the project sites for the Student Conservation Association’s annual hands- on community volunteer day on Saturday, April 18 in support of Earth Day. The Arboretum’s work party effort is supported by the SCA, Arboretum staff, and the Arboretum Foundation. Volunteers will help us battle invasive brush, brambles, and ivy, as well as weeding and mulching plant beds, all of which will be a huge contribu- tion to the maintenance needs of the Arboretum. For more information call Christina Pfeiffer at the Arboretum at (206) 328-4182. Arbor Day Tree Stewardship at the Arbo- retum: On the weekend of April 4-5, volunteer arborists will join staff arborists from the Arboretum and the Seattle Parks Department to provide essential work on trees along Lake Washington Boulevard (which will be closed on those two days). The work will focus on the removal of the dying old Bolleana poplar next to the Wilcox bridge, and the pruning and groom- ing of several trees which have been impossible to work on with the constant flow of traffic on the road. Many Arbor Day celebrations focus on planting trees. But even more important is the long-term stewardship and care for the heritage of existing trees in our urban environment. Even with great care, some of our favorite trees will reach the end of their life span and must be removed. Such is the case with this old poplar, which has been declining over the past years and now has more dead and weak limbs than can be effectively pruned to retain the tree and maintain public safety. This work project represents a great collabo- ration of our local professional arborists to improve the health and safety of the trees along Lake Washington Boulevard. Washing- ton State Arbor Day falls on Wednesday, April 8. Celebrate our trees! Library Web Page: Remember to visit the Miller Library Web Page for listings of new books, our best reference questions, and links to other useful sites to Northwest gardeners. Check it out at http:// weber.u.washington.edu/~hortlib/ and let us know what you think! Arboretum Native Forest Matrix Study: The Washington Park Arboretum’s curation and long-range planning will now benefit from the just completed M.S. research by Randall Hitchin, who studied the native forest matrix of the Arboretum. Hitchin found that several parcels of forest matrix, which have grown up unmanaged over the years, reflect natural western Washington forest communities and are therefore the best candidates for educa- tion and interpretation concerning our native forest heritage. Hitchin collaborated with horticulturist Christina Pfeiffer and her Arboretum staff on the project. Library Hours for 1998: With support from NHS and the Miller Foundation grants, the Miller Library will be open Monday evenings until 8 p.m., and Saturdays (except in July and August) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. volunteer news & opportunities Volunteer Orientation: Look out for the volunteer orientation coming in April. Explore all the possibili- ties of volunteering at the Center and the Arboretum at this meeting. Learn more about the history and organization of these institutions, and go on a tour behind the scenes to see how it all really happens! For specifics call Julie DeBarr at (206) 543-8800. Perks! Perks! Perks!: The reception desk at the Center for Urban Horticulture needs you. Four-hour, weekly shifts at the reception desk can earn you credit towards the extensive classes that CUH offers, and provide you access to special volunteer lectures and receptions. Duties include answering the phone, greeting the public, and some light office work. Shifts are available in the mornings and afternoons, Monday through Friday. For more information call Ray Larson at (206) 616-9113. Tuesdays in the Garden Volunteers Needed: “Tuesdays In The Garden” work parties for the spring are set and need your help. These drop-in events are held from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. Upcoming projects include the Rock Garden on April 14, Loderi Valley on May 12, and the Sorbus Collection on June 9. Wear gloves and appropriate outerwear and bring along your favorite hand tools. You can also become a weekly “Tuesday Gardener” volunteer, assisting with a variety of garden tasks; call Christina Pfeiffer at (206) 328-4182 to sign up or for more information. center for urban 09-9615-123 spring 1998 University of Washington College of Forest Resources Center for Urban Horticulture Box 354115 Seattle, WA 98195-4115 horticulture Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Seattle, WA Permit No. 62