Washington Park Arboretum
Use a canoe, or your feet, to explore the 230 acres and 4,000 species of trees, vines, shrubs and plants at this arboretum.
Washington Park Arboretum features
- Pacific Connections Garden
- Witt Winter Garden
- Shoreline
- Japanese Garden
Plant Collections of the Arboretum
The Arboretum is a hidden gem on the shores of Lake Washington. Jointly managed by UW and the City of Seattle, its 230 acres are a dynamic assortment of plants found nowhere else. The Graham Visitors Center contains an information desk and a gift shop managed by the Arboretum Foundation. The Japanese Garden, located at the south end of the Arboretum has an entrance fee and is managed by the City of Seattle.
Washington Park Arboretum Shoreline
Foster and Marsh Island Notes
The Arboretum's Waterfront Trail leads you to Marsh and Foster Islands. Pick up a trail guide, keyed to numbered posts along the trail, at the Graham Visitors Center. If you visit in the spring, look for the blue, scented flowers of China's empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa). In summer, a breeze may cause "snow" to fall from the cottonwoods (Populus). In the fall, look for golden-hued needles of the larch (Larix).
Many kinds of trees mingle here: willows (Salix species) on the water's edge, an alder grove (Alnus species), the sleek madrona (Arbutus menziesii), pines (Pinus), Douglas-firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii), maples (Acer) and oaks (Quercus). Smaller woody plants such as salal (Gaultheris shallon) and serviceberry (Amelanchier) grow in the understory.
Management
The City of Seattle owns the land and the University owns all of the trees and plant collections. In terms of care, maintenance and management, the City takes care of the park-like functions (trails, benches, garbage) and the UW Botanic Gardens takes care of the gardens, trees, and plant collections. The Japanese Garden is managed and maintained by the City.
The Arboretum and Botanical Garden Committee (ABGC) advises the University of Washington, City of Seattle and The Arboretum Foundation on the management and stewardship of the Washington Park Arboretum for the benefit of current and future generations.
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