Preserving and Enhancing a Northwest treasure!
Arbor eNotes October 2019
Opening Night Tickets on Sale Early December!

Mark your calendars! Our annual Opening Night Party & Auction at the NW Flower & Garden Festival returns February 25, 2020. Tickets for the region's most anticipated garden party will go on sale  Tuesday, December 3. The party has sold out the last two years. Stay tuned for details about this winter's event!  And please join us for an unforgettable evening benefiting the Arboretum!

Day of Caring Volunteers Help Restore the Arboretum

Another year, another wonderful Day of Caring! On lucky Friday, September 13, more than 130 volunteers from Microsoft, Amazon, Impinj, D.A. Davidson, Chef Software, US Bank, and Physicians Insurance spent the day in the Arboretum pulling weeds, spreading mulch, and cleaning signs and benches. Some neighborhood volunteers also joined in the fun.

Maple Festival Begins Today

The Seattle Japanese Garden at the Arboretum hosts its annual Maple Festival from Thursday, October 3 through Sunday, October 13. The family-friendly event series includes musical and theater performances, maple scavenger hunts, maple origami, and self-guided maple tours. Enjoy eye-popping fall foliage and inspiring cultural activities!

Donated Irises for Sale in Nursery

It's bulb planting season! And thanks to a generous gift from the King County Iris Society, we have a diverse suite of spring-blooming irises available in the Donations Nursery. These include species irises and a mix of Iris spuria and siberica cultivars in purple, blue, pink, and yellow. You'll also find a good selection of other perennials and grasses for sale. But hurry! The nursery will be closing for the winter season after October 16.

Medlar: Forgotten Fruit of the Ancients

A slow-growing small tree from Europe and western Asia, medlar has been cultivated for its fruits since ancient times. When ripe in late fall, the inch-wide, brown pomes yields a soft flesh reminiscent of spiced applesauce. Once prized as a winter sweet treat, medlar has fallen in relative obscurity -- but it's gaining popularity again among foodies.  Learn more about this tasty member of the rose family and where to find it in Arboretum.

Free Lecture: "How Does Nature Benefit Us"

Our partner at UW Botanic Gardens is hosting a free lecture about the health benefits of nature on  Tuesday, October 29, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Center for Urban Horticulture. Donald Rakow, associate professor of horticulture at Cornell University and the director of the Nature Rx@Cornell program, will discuss the ways in which nature experiences positively affect different age groups, from children to adults. No RSVP required.
Arboretum & Related News


Holiday Sale Heads-up
Gifts & Greens Galore returns on Saturday, December 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shop for everyone on your holiday list while helping support the Arboretum!

Help Steward the Park!
The volunteer Garden Stewards work Tues and Thurs mornings, helping staff gardeners care for the Arboretum. Click here for the October schedule/locations. 

Celebrating Trees
This month, the Miller Library hosts an exhibit of botanical art, silk, and glass by Linda Vorobik and Terri Roush inspired by trees the artists have known and loved.
Banner image | Early fall color in the Viburnum Collection at the Arboretum.
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