SUMMER 1991 / Center for Urban Horticulture / Washington Park Arboretum / College of Forest Resources / University of Washington / Vol.8, No. 3 CENTER NEWS SIT BACK AND ENJOY SUMMER Our beautiful Northwest summers are meant to be enjoyed. To provide more time to participate in other activities, the number of courses and lectures offered is reduced during these summer months. But don't forget, there are still some ex- cellent activities planned, and the Wash- ington Park Arboretum is always an ex- citing place to visit. By the time you read this, we will be planning an exciting ex- tended collection of activities for fall! GENEROUS GIFT FOR WASHINGTON PARK ARBORETUM On March 15, 1 991 , a very generous gift from Orin and Althea Soest was an- nounced at a special reception in the Graham Visitors Center. The living trust of $1,500,000 was given in the Cam- paign for the University of Washington, and has been designated for use in the Washington Park Arboretum. The Soest's were presented with gifts from the Uni- versity of Washington, from the Arbore- tum Foundation, and a special plant in- troduction from the Arboretum. We are especially grateful to this wonderful fam- ily and look forward to their continued involvement in our programs. SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED Larry Vickerman, a second-quarter M.S. student has been awarded a $2,500 Scholarship from the Northwest Horti- cultural Society. Larry is majoring in bo- tanical garden and horticulture educa- tion. Sarah Reichard (Ph.D. student) and Nian Nian Chen (M.S. student) have each |.?po awarded $500 from the Chinook Gifaen Clubs. Sarah is studying the invasiveness of introduced plant species and Nian Nian has just arrived from China to begin her studies. Anneta Argyres has been awarded a National Science Foundation Grant for her three years of M.S. work on heavy metals in soils. MFR'S FINISH During the fall 1989 quarter, seven stu- dents entered the M.F.R. in Urban Horti- culture program. So far, James Glover, Paul West and Diana Shervy have com- pleted their programs. Several more will be completing their studies within the next few months. We also look forward to a new group of students in the fall of 1991. NEW GRADUATE SPECIALTY The Center and the University of Wash- ington are now offering a new graduate specialty in Botanical Garden Man- agement and Public Horticulture, lead- ing to the Master's Degree. This MFR- Urban Horticulture degree provides a se- cure background in plant science, supe- rior knowledge of plant materials using the rich palette of the Pacific Northwest, and the practical experience of an intern- ship emphasizing some aspect of public horticulture. This new program includes a rigorous core of plant science courses, elective courses directly relevant to public horti- culture such as curation of public gar- dens and public outreach in urban horti- culture, and additional elective courses in related areas. For further information and application materials, contact the Center for Urban Horticulture. NEW URBAN FORESTRY CURRICULUM One of the most exciting emerging fields in horticulture and forestry is that of Urban Forestry. A new Urban Forestry undergraduate curriculum is being of- fered at the University of Washington. This program will be based both in for- estry and horticulture and emphasize both biological and social processes. The curriculum will focus on plant science courses, planning and management courses, and studies in social processes and institutions. This program will also draw on studies from the fields of botany, landscape ar- chitecture, social science, environmental studies, public administration and urban planning. The professional potential of students is developed further through a directed work experience under the su- pervision of one of the program's faculty members. For more information, contact the Center for Urban Horticulture. VOLUNTEERS Our dedicated corps of volunteers con- tinues to grow. But we are always looking for additional help in answering tele- phones and visitors' questions in both the Graham Visitors Center and Merrill Hall. We especially need one or two experi- enced persons interested in helping pre- pare general and special news releases and feature stories. Please call the Center if you are interested. SPEAKERS BUREAU The faculty and staff have prepared a list of topics which they can present for a limited number of community horticul- tural meetings. Now is the time to make plans for fall and winter months. If you are interested, please call for a complete list of topics available for presentation. SLIDE LIBRARY The Center has assembled a collection of nearly 75,000 slides. These are available for use by teachers and lecturers for a nominal fee. You may arrange to check out slides from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. PUBLIC HORTICULTURE LECTURE SERIES MASTER GARDENER Practical gardening information for all, presented by WSU Master Gardeners. Held the THIRD THURSDAY of each month, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., CUH. No pre- registration necessary. WATER WISE July 18 $2, payable at the door Seattle's dry summers can cause stress to your garden plants. Study the basics of good watering techniques. Learn when, how much, and how often to water. You CAN conserve water while keeping your plants vibrant and growing throughout the summer months. SUMMER PESTS AND PROBLEMS August 1 5 $2, payable at the door Review procedures for diagnosing and managing some of the more common summer disease and insect problems. This is the time of year to watch out for plant damaging pests. Learn what to look for and what to start doing about it! DIRTY BUSINESS: SOILS AND SOIL PREPARATION September 1 9 $2, payable at the door September is a good time to begin pre- paring your garden soil for next year. Learn how and when to use amend- ments, which amendments work best, pH adjustment, and basic tilling prac- tices in preparation for the next growing season. PLANT PALETTE Combination lecture/field session pro- viding in-depth information on specific Arboretum plant collections. Meet at the Graham Visitors Center, Washington Park Arboretum. No pre-registration is required. OAKS July 20 9 to 1 1 a.m. $5, payable at the door The mighty oaks can be a commanding presence in the landscape. Curator Tim Hohn leads this lecture and field exami- nation of the Arboretum Quercus collec- tion. Appropriate and unusual selections for landscape use will be discussed. PLANT ENTHUSIAST Regional experts present in-depth lec- tures on specific plant groups. Normally held at CUH the SECOND WEDNESDAY of each month, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. No pre- registration is required. CONSIDERING LEGUMES July 1 0 $2, payable at the door Leguminous trees and shrubs provide spectacular blooms, unusual fruits, and uncommon texture in the landscape. Jan Pirzio-Biroli will highlight the unique characteristics of the Pea family and dis- cuss some of the appropriate selections available. BROWN BAG GARDEN TALKS First and third Wednesdays of each month, 12:10 to 12:50 p.m.. Usually held in the HUB, room 304, UW cam- pus, unless otherwise noted. FREE. SUMMER WEED WALK July 3 Do you feel like you're losing the battle of the weeds? Identification is the first step for control. A Master Gardener leads this campus walk to identify weedy in- vaders and give advice on control. Meet at the Botany Greenhouse. BOTANY GREENHOUSE TOUR July 17 Hold your nose, but keep your eyes open as Paul Beeman shows us the African Carrion flowers. Also featured will be the flowering Cacti, the Echeverias, and the Aloes. Don't miss this opportunity to ex- plore the Botany Greenhouse. Meet at the Botany Greenhouse. HERB GARDEN TREE & SHRUB WALK August 7 Arthur Lee Jacobson will lead this exami- nation of the diverse collection of trees and shrubs found in the Medicinal Herb Garden. The plantings in this garden have recently been labeled due to the efforts of the Friends of the Medicinal Herb Garden. Meet at the Medicinal Herb Garden. HEAVY METAL August 21 It's not the loud music, but the potentially toxic elements such as lead and arsenic found in our urban soils that will be discussed by Anneta Argyres. Learn about food production practices to mini- mize health risks. CAMPUS TREE WALK September 4 The University of Washington campus supports a unique selection of trees. Join Larry Vickerman as he discusses unusual specimens found on campus during this walking tour. Meet at the Red Square Entrance to Suzzallo Library PLANTS AND GARDENS OF THE WORLD Unique combination of travelogue, plant examination, and people and plant cul- tural information. Normally held the THIRD MONDAY of each month, 7 to 9 p.m. No pre-registration is necessary. WORLDS APART September 1 6 $4, payable at the door Part 1 — The Other Side of the Mountains The mountainous region of Tibet sup- ports an exciting diversity of plants, in- cluding dwarf rhododendrons growing at 1 7,000 feet. Join Jeanne and Art Gardiner as they explore the plants, people and culture of this remote area. Part 2 — A Chile(ing) Comparison Coastal Chile and the Pacific Northwest coast have similar cool Mediterranean climates. As a result, many of Chile's native plants can be grown in our area. Ciscoe Morris will lead this slide explora- tion of the Lake Region from Santiago south to Puerto Montt including a stop at the world's only Auraucaria (Monkey Puzzle Tree) forest. JULY 1991 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday i 2 ’ 12:10 p.m. HUB 3 Brown Bag Lecture Weed Walk FOURTH 4 OF JULY 5 6 Noon-4 p.m. WPA 7 Master Gardener Clinic 1 p.m. WPA Sundays at One Tour 8 9 7 p.m. CUH 10 Plant Amnesty 7:30 p.m. CUH* Landscape Legumes 7:30 p.m.* 11 Urban Wildlife — Attracting Birds 12 9 a.m.* 13 Hypertufa 9:30 a.m.* Urban Wildlife Noon-4 p.m. WPA 14 Master Gardener Clinic 1 p.m. WPA Sundays at One Tour 1 p.m. CUH Puget Sound Bonsai Association 15 16 12:10 p.m. HUB 17 Brown Bag Lecture Botany Greenhouse Tour 7:30 p.m. CUH* 18 Water Wise 19 8:30 a.m.* 20 Private Gardens Tour 9 a.m.* Fall Vegetables 9 a.m. WPA* Oaks Noon-4 p.m. WPA 21 Master Gardener Clinic 1 p.m. WPA Sundays at One Tour 2 p.m. CUH Cascade Cactus & Succulent Society 22 7 p.m.* 23 Broad-leafed Evergreens 7 p.m. CUH Association for Women in Landscaping 10 a.m. WPA 24 Explorers' Walk 7 p.m.* Weeds 7 p.m.* 25 Tree and Shrub Insects 26 9 a.m.* 27 Summer Nursery Tour 9 a.m.* Broad-leafed Evergreens Noon-4 p.m. WPA 28 Master Gardener Clinic 1 p.m. WPA Sundays at One Tour 29 30 31 AUGUST 1991 1 2 9 a.m.* 3 Identification of Perennials Noon— 4 p.m. WPA 4 Master Gardener Clinic 1 p.m. WPA Sundays at One Tour 5 6 12:10 p.m. HUB 7 Brown Bag Lecture Herb Garden Trees and Shrubs 8 9 10 Noon— 4 p.m. WPA 1 1 Master Gardener Clinic 1 p.m. WPA Sundays at One Tour 12 13 7 p.m. CUH 14 Plant Amnesty 7:30 p.m.* 15 Summer Pests and Problems 16 17 Noon-4 p.m. WPA 18 Master Gardener Clinic 1 p.m. WPA Sundays at One Tour 2 p.m. CUH Cascade Cactus & Succulent Society 19 20 12:10 p.m. HUB 21 Brown Bag Lecture Heavy Metals 22 23 24 Noon^l p.m. WPA 25 Master Gardener Clinic 1 p.m. WPA Sundays at One Tour 26 27 10 a.m. WPA 28 Explorers' Walk 29 30 31 SEPTEMBER 1991 Noon-4 p.m. WPA 1 Master Gardener Clinic 1 p.m. WPA Sundays at One Tour LABOR DAY 2 3 12:10 p.m. HUB 4 Brown Bag Lecture Campus Tree Walk 7:30 p.m. CUH Rhododendron Society 5 6 10 a.m.* 7 Field Sketching Noon-4 p.m. WPA 8 Master Gardener Clinic 1 p.m. WPA Sundays at One Tour 7 p.m. CUH 9 Iris Society 7 p.m. CUH Orchid Society 7:30 p.m. CUH 10 Puget Sound Mycological Society 7 p.m. CUH 11 Plant Amnesty 7 p.m. CUH 12 Rock Garden Society 7:30 p.m. CUH Rhododendron Hybridizers 13 14 Noon-4 p.m. WPA 15 Master Gardener Clinic 1 p.m. WPA Sundays at One Tour Noon CUH Northwest Perennial Alliance 7:30 p.m. CUH* 16 Worlds Apart — Tibet & Chile 17 18 7:30 p.m. CUH* 19 Dirty Business — Soils and Soil Preparation 10 a.m. CUH 20 Open House 10 a.m. CUH NHS Plant Sale 10 a.m. CUH 21 Open House 10 a.m. CUH NHS Plant Sale Noon-4 p.m. WPA 22 Master Gardener Clinic 1 p.m. WPA Sundays at One Tour 2 p.m. CUH Cascade Cactus & Succulent Society 6 p.m. CUH 23 Puget Sound Bonsai Association 7 p.m. CUH 24 Association for Women in Landscaping 10 a.m. WPA 25 Explorers' Walk 7 p.m.* Bulbs, Corms, Tubers 7 p.m.* 26 Bulbs, Corms, Tubers 27 28 Noon-4 p.m. WPA 29 Master Gardener Clinic 1 p.m. WPA Sundays at One Tour 30 CUH = Center for Urban Horticulture WPA = Washington Park Arboretum HUB = Husky Union Building * = Fee URBAN HORTICULTURE COURSES & TOURS You must PRE-REGISTER for all CUH classes. Registrations are confirmed upon receipt of payment. Classes fill quickly. Achievement program classes are aster- isked, with explanations at the end of the class listings. BEGINS IN JUNE! ANNUALS: Fast Track to Success* One of the fastest and easiest ways to achieve multitudes of color in your land- scape is through the use of annuals. Learn to identify common and not so common annuals for the Northwest. Study plant- ing, watering, fertilizing, grooming and other needs of these show-stoppers through both lecture and field trip. INSTRUCTOR: Diane O'Neill DATES & TIMES: Two part class: June 27, 7 to 9 p.m. and June 29, 9 to 1 1 a.m. FEE: $17 URBAN WILDLIFE HABITAT: Attracting Birds to Your Garden** Understanding food, shelter and other needs of birds will allow you to develop a home landscape that will attract and sup- port your favorite feathered friends. Dis- cover both native and introduced trees and shrubs to use in attracting birds to your yard, plus visit several established gardens. INSTRUCTOR: Keith Geller DATES & TIMES: Two part class: July 1 1 , 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and July 13, 9:30 a.m. to 1 2:30 p.m. FEE: $21 HIGHFALOOTIN HYPERTUFA— The Sequel This extremely popular class is being of- fered again to accommodate your de- mand! Learn to make your own simu- lated stone planter from a peat moss and cement recipe known as hypertufa. Stu- dents will construct a small container during class and gain the skills for making larger or more varied containers at home. REGISTRATION FORM Urban Horticulture Courses COURSE FEE STUDENT NAME(S) TOTAL $ CHECK ENCLOSED FOR Checks payable to University of Washington. No bank cards. Registrations filled in order received. Limited class enrollment; classes fill rapidly, so register early. Portion of fee may cover refreshments and speaker expenses. Refunds: Requests must be in writing or in person. Requests received 7 days or less from first class meeting have a $3.00 handling fee deducted. No refunds after the first class meeting. NAME Phone: Day_ _Evening_ ADDRESS Street City State ZIP Code Mail payment and registration to: Urban Horticulture Courses, GF-15 University of Washington Seattle, Washington 98195 A Gift of Learning: Give a gift certificate in the amount of one of the courses. Call 685-8033 for details. INSTRUCTOR: Barbara Selemon DATE & TIME: July 1 3, 9 a.m. to Noon FEE: $22 PLANNING AND PREPARING YOUR FALL VEGETABLE GARDEN Sure it seems early, but if you want to reap the incredible bounty of a fall gar- den— NOW is the time to start! Learn how to plan, prepare, plant, manage and harvest the wide array of crops easily grown during the fall and winter in the Northwest. INSTRUCTOR: Holly Kennell DATES & TIMES: July 20, 9 a.m. to Noon FEE: $15 PRIVATE GARDENS TOUR: The Designers and Their Gardens Join us for this rare opportunity to tour outstanding private gardens with two of Seattle's premier garden creators as our guides. A preview lecture/slide show by each will reveal the processes, concepts and planning that go into designing a garden. Then we will visit two private gardens for a personal showing and inter- pretation of their creations. Come hear and see why Micheal Moshier and Bob Chittock are such Northwest standouts! DATE & TIME: Saturday, July 20, 8:30 a.m. to 1 2:30 p.m. TOUR LEADERS: Robert Chittock, Micheal Moshier FEE: $35 Plants will be introduced and dis- cussed in class periods; individual fol- low-up study by students will be nec- essary to fully master plant materials. BROAD-LEAFED EVERGREEN IDENTIFICATION*** The extensive palette of broad-leafed ev- ergreens available in the Northwest makes it easier for us to maintain the nickname "Evergreen State". Learn to identify and recognize over 40 landscape useful broad-leafed plants in this lecture/ field trip class. INSTRUCTOR: Scott Conner DATES & TIMES: Three part class: July 23, 7 to 9 p.m., and July 27, 9 a.m. to Noon, and August 3, 9 a.m. to Noon. FEE: $33 MAJOR GARDEN WEEDS**** Earns 3 hours Pesticide Recertification Credit Learn to recognize common landscape and garden weeds and understand their life cycles for better management and control. To gain experience in identifying these invaders, live specimens will be provided. Chemical as well as alternative methods of control will be discussed. INSTRUCTOR: Catherine Hovanic DATES & TIMES: July 24, 7 to 10 p.m. FEE: $15 MAJOR TREE AND SHRUB INSECTS**** Earns 3 hours Pesticide Recertification Credit Recognizing the early symptoms of in- sect infestation, the potential for damage or destruction and understanding the life cycles of common pests will allow for more effective management and control. Learn to diagnose major tree and shrub insect problems and the integrated pest management techniques to reduce or eliminate them. Bring samples from home for identification and discussion. INSTRUCTOR: Eugene Davidson DATES & TIMES: July 25, 7 to 9:30 p.m. FEE: $15 SUMMER NURSERY TOUR: Wet Foot Wonders If you are looking for the unique and unusual-look no further. Wetland natives will thrive where other plants fail and ornamentals such as water lilies can serve as the centerpiece of any pond or pool. We'll visit one nursery specializing in aquatic ornamentals and another nurs- ery offering native wetland plants. Then, we will visit a restored wetland with CUH's Dr. Kern Ewing for a first- hand look at how these unique plants grow and can be utilized in the wetland environment. DATE & TIME: Saturday, July 27, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. TOUR LEADER: Larry Vickerman FEE: $27 IDENTIFICATION OF PERENNIALS* See a wide range of perennials growing and learn to recognize the differences between them. Common and lesser known plants will be covered, including their cultural requirements and appropri- ate landscape uses. INSTRUCTOR: Sue Buckles DATE & TIME: August 3, 9 a.m. to Noon FEE: $19 FIELD SKETCHING Cain the drawing skills needed to record your observations while enjoying nature. Whether your interest is scientific or per- sonal, learning to apply basic drawing skills to field situations will enhance your understanding of the natural world. A basic knowledge of drawing is recom- mended. INSTRUCTORS: Jean Emmons, Margaret Davidson DATE & TIME: September 7, 1 0 a.m. to 4 p.m. FEE: $37 BULBS, CORMS, TUBERS* Hot colors, subtle colors, surprising col- ors, and almost year-round color all can be attained using bulbs, corms and tubers in the landscape. Learn to identify the wide variety of these plants available as you study their botany and origins. Dis- cover how to select, properly plant and care for them just in time for all your fall planting. Plant up a small container of bulbs to take home for winter forcing! INSTRUCTOR: Mary Robson DATES & TIMES: Two part class: Septem- ber 25, 7 to 9:30 p.m. and September 26, 7 to 9:30 p.m. FEE: $22 *Also qualifies for the Herbaceous Plants category of the Achievement Pro- gram **Also qualifies for the Special Topics category of the Achievement Program ***Also qualifies for the Woody Plants category of the Achievement Program ****Also qualifies for the Pest Man- agement category of the Achievement Program NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY NEWS The 1991 NHS Plant Sale will be held September 20-21 at the Center for Urban Horticulture. The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on September 20, and from 1 0 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the 21 st. The theme for this sale is "Plants for All Places", and sale Chairman Joy Crothall notes that a wonderful variety of drought tolerant plants and other exciting choices will be available. Call Jan Palmer at the NHS office for details at 527-1 794. An informative lecture by Pamela Harper will be held June 24 at CUH. The pro- gram, entitled "Perennials for New Gar- dens" will begin at 10:30 a.m. Fee is $5 ($2.50 for students), payable at the door. LIBRARY NEWS Library Lending Collection Debut! The Miller Horticultural Library, while remaining primarily a reference and re- search collection, will establish a small lending collection early this summer. Consisting of several hundred titles of popular works, the collection will be available for loan to all Miller Library users. Funding for this pilot project was donated by the Northwest Horticultural Society and the Rare Plant Group of the Garden Clubs of America. Call the Library at 685-8033 for details. Summer hours are in effect until Labor Day, remaining open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The collection of historic nursery cata- logs donated by Sylvia Duryee and Jocelyn Horder is now available for use. Generous gifts from members of the Innis Arden Garden Club made possible the purchase of several new books, includ- ing The Art of Botanical Illustration by Rix; Bold Romantic Gardens by Oehme; Hardy Herbaceous Perennials by Jelitto; In an Irish Garden by Connolly; The Gar- dens of Europe by Hobhouse; and the Index volume to Rickett's Wildflowers of the United States. Several of these gifts will be in the Library's display case in July and August. The Center for Urban Horticulture is committed to excellence in re- search, teaching, and public service in urban horticulture. WASHINGTON PARK ARBORETUM NEWS The Washington Park Arboretum is a living museum of woody plants for education, research, conservation, and display. Arboretum Tours & Activities: SUNDAYS AT ONE (1 p.m.), Arboretum guides lead tours every Sunday highlight- ing plants of seasonal interest. FREE. EXPLORERS' WALK, fourth Wednesday of every month from 10 a.m. to Noon. Summer dates are: July 24, August 28, September 25. FREE. SPECIAL TOURS for school classes, gar- den clubs and other interested groups can be arranged with three weeks' ad- vance notice by calling 543-8800. GRAHAM VISITORS CENTER (including the Arboretum Foundation Gift Shop) is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from Noon to 4 p.m. on weekends. To become a VOLUNTEER at the Arbore- tum/Graham Visitors Center, call 543- 8800 for information. WSU MASTER GARDENERS will be at the Graham Visitors Center every Satur- day and Sunday from Noon to 4 p.m. to answer your gardening questions. SAPLINGS PROGRAM UPDATE The Saplings Program is a combination tour and hands-on study program for stu- dents in grades 2 through 6. The goal is to work cooperatively with local schools to promote responsible environmental edu- cation. Saplings programs were offered mid-April to mid-June this year and classes were given a choice of three ac- tivities: plant propagation, composting/ recycling, and water study. New themes will be developed for fall. Telephones CUH— 685-8033 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays WPA— 543-8800 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. weekdays Noon-4 :00 p.m. weekends, holidays ACHIEVEMENT OF MERIT EXAMS For those persons wishing to take ex- ams necessary to earn Achievement of Merit Awards, please note the fol- lowing summer testing schedule: Achievement Exams will be offered the first non-holiday Monday of each month, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Miller Horti- cultural Library, CUH. Summer dates are July 1 , August 5, September 9. Ask librarians for the exams you require. Exams must be completed in the library and returned to any library staff member before leaving. Continuing Education Staff John A. Wott, Associate Director, CUH Dave Stockdale, Coordinator, CUH Lynda ). Ransley, Coordinator, WPA Rebecca Johnson, Building Services Coordinator Jean Robins, Program Assistant Larry Vickerman, Graduate Student University of Washington, GF-1 5 College of Forest Resources Center for Urban Horticulture Seattle, WA 98195 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Seattle, Wash. PERMIT NO. 62