Influential Women of the Arboretum and Center for Urban Horticulture
Rebecca “ Becky ” Johnson
Becky at her retirement party in 2006 . ( Photo courtesy Miller Library )
B y J o h n W o t t
I never met a person or plant I didn ’ t like !
This line — adapted from a saying by Will Rogers — typifies many of the people who work or volunteer at the Arboretum and Center for Urban Horticulture ( CUH ). For Rebecca “ Becky ” Johnson , who spent more than two decades meeting and greeting people at the CUH , it could not have been more true .
I cannot remember when I first met Becky , but I imagine it was soon after I arrived in Seattle in 1981 . One of the most gregarious people you could ever encounter , she always seemed to have a smile on her face , her gentle blond hair encircling it .
Becky was a member of the Arboretum Foundation , was highly involved with the organization ’ s plant study groups , and — for years — was the chair of the “ annuals department ” for its spring plant sale . In those days , the volunteers usually propagated the plants themselves , and Becky had innovative ways of starting annuals in her garage and kitchen , as well as coaxing others to do the same .
By 1984 , Becky convinced me to “ hire ” her — without pay — as a receptionist , volunteer coordinator and conference coordinator at the brand new CUH . She became so indispensable that , by 1988 , a paid job was created just for her . She worked with all the plant groups , visitors and lecturers who were then flocking to the CUH . She helped to set up the after-hours system for event rentals . By 1993 , she was promoted to facilities and event rental manager . Ray Larson — then an undergraduate student and now UWBG ’ s curator of Living Collections — was one of her first employees !
Becky had a lust for collecting and growing plants . At her Laurelhurst home , close to the CUH , she had a street-side rose garden — the only sunny spot in her yard . She configured her small back garden into an ever-changing smorgasbord of plants . She also became a master gardener and ran the pre-party for the Master Gardeners of King County annual spring plant sale at CUH .
Upon retirement in 2006 , she and her husband , Mark , purchased a waterfront property on Sea Tac ’ s Angle Lake , modernizing the house and , of course , renovating yet another garden to her liking . She had a large vegetable garden and developed an innovative way of using concrete blocks to heat her raised beds . In her small greenhouse , she propagated tomato and pepper plants for Master Gardener sales ( and for me , too ).
Her passion for helping others landed her a position on the Seattle Youth Garden Works Board ( now merged with Seattle Tilth ). She chaired their annual fund-raising party for several years and helped propel the organization into a vital service for underserved youth of the community . Their last party , held at the Mountaineers Program Center ( a new building at the time in Magnuson Park ) was one of her best .
Becky Johnson left a legacy at the Center of Urban Horticulture and the Arboretum , and also in the larger community . Taking great pride and joy in all that she did , she was typical of all those who never aspire to a higher office but work in “ the trenches ” and achieve so much for so many . Becky passed away on November 3 , 2020 . m
John Wott was director emeritus of UW Botanic Gardens and a member of the “ Bulletin ” Editorial Board . Look for a tribute to John in our upcoming winter issue .
Fall 2021 v 9