Preserving a Northwest Treasure 
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2300 Arboretum Drive East Seattle WA 98112
206-325-4510

Arbor eNotes April 2015
Western hemlock, our state tree.
Specialty Licence Plate
Will Benefit the Arboretum, if Approved by Senate
In February, the State House Transportation Committee passed a bill approving a specialty license plate for our state tree, the Western hemlock. The bill now awaits hearing by the Senate Transportation Committee. If all goes well, the plate will be available for purchase in January, 2017. After reimbursing the Department of Licensing, the plate's fees will benefit both Washington Park Arboretum and Spokane's John Finch Arboretum. Help needed! But we need someone from the Senate majority caucus (Republican) to ask transportation committee chairman Senator Curtis King to schedule a hearing for the bill. If you know of anyone who might help us, please email Paige Miller immediately or call 206-325-4510.
Buy plants while enjoying the lovely surroundings of the Arboretum!
Early Bloomers
Saturday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Graham Visitors Center
Don't miss our first plant sale of the spring! Early Bloomers takes place on April 11 and is a showcase for our Plant Donations Nursery and Pat Calvert Greenhouse. This year, the nursery will be offering a good supply of spring-flowering perennials, including trout lilies, trilliums, cyclamen, primroses, hellebores, and hostas. The greenhouse will be selling lots of young camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, and hydrangeas propagated from Arboretum collections.
FlorAbundance returns to Magnuson Park.
FlorAbundance Returns
Join Us on April 25 and 26
The region's largest and best plant sale - Ciscoe Morris calls it "the big daddy of them all" - will soon be upon us. The Foundation's annual FlorAbundance Spring Plant Sale will take place on Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Building 30, in Magnuson Park, Seattle. As always, the sale will feature dozens of specialty nurseries selling an amazing selection of locally grown edibles, annuals, perennials, and woody plants.
Get Your Member Pre-Sale Tickets Today!
Arboretum members and their guests are invited to attend the FlorAbundance Member Pre-Sale & Party, on Friday, April 24, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Get the first pick of plants at the sale, while enjoying delicious local wine and tasty appetizers from the celebrated Skillet food truck. Early-bird tickets are $40. Tickets purchased after April 10 will be $50.
Rhododendron scabrifolium in bloom. (Photo by Daniel Mount)
Rough-Leaved Rhody
A Hidden Treasure of the Arboretum
Native to the Yunnan Province of China, the rough-leaved rhododendron (Rhododendron scabrifolium) offers lovely pink-tinged, silky white flowers in late March and early April. In the latest issue of the Bulletin, garden writer Daniel Mount profiles the species and tells you how to find the Arboretum's lone specimen. Read the full article.

Thank to our sponsors: The spring 2015 issue of the 

Stock your garden book shelves!
Garden Book Sale 
Saturday, April 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Center for Urban Hort
The Miller Library's 10th annual Garden Lover's Book Sale is this Saturday. Thousands of gently used gardening books will be on offer, and proceeds will benefit the library. Admission and parking is free. After you've bought your books, check out the 8th annual Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists exhibit, which runs now through May 2 in the Miller Library. Artwork, prints, and cards will be for sale, with a portion of the sales benefiting the library.
Other Arboretum News
BANNER PHOTO: Malus purpurea 'Lemoinei' blooming in Crabapple Meadow.
In This Issue
License Plate Bill Needs Support!
Early Bloomers Plant Sale
Fabulous FlorAbundance
Get Your Tickets to the PreSale!
Rough-Leaved Rhody
Garden Lover's Book Sale

 

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Save the Date!

 

The 2015 GiveBIG takes place on Tuesday, May 5. Please contribute to the Arboretum on this annual, one-day, online charitable giving event. 

 

azalea way

Free Sunday Tours to Highlight Azalea Way

 

UWBG-trained garden guides lead

from 1 to 2:30 p.m. every Sunday. This April, the tours will focus on Azalea Way and the many gorgeous early-blooming species in the Rhododendron Collection. Meet at the Graham Visitors Center.



See Photos from Opening Night!

Relive the magic of our Garden Show gala on February 10, which raised more than $130,000 for the Arboretum.



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