It’s
About
Time
…
One of the Arboretum’s many Pacific madrones (Arbutus
menziesii). As madrones mature, they develop stunning
exfoliating bark. The shedding takes place in mid-summer.
(Photo by Niall Dunne)
2 v Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin
e talk a lot about the changing of the
seasons at the Arboretum, but the
passage of time also marks the work
that we do. In an immediate sense, the end of the
fiscal year comes in summer, and we celebrate
a class of “graduating” Fiddleheads preschool-
ers, the impressive hours logged by our many
volunteers, and the progress on important
improvements such as the Japanese Garden
north pond renovation and the beautification
work along Lake Washington Boulevard.
Thinking more broadly, differing concepts
of time are woven throughout this issue of the
“Bulletin.” Corinne Kennedy describes the
role of time in the ongoing dance between the
gardener and his or her chosen canvas. We learn
about forest bathing as an opportunity to set aside
some therapeutic time to “turn up the volume on
our senses.” And in the Plant Answer Line, our
friends at the Miller Library even examine why
some plant names are properly consigned to the
dustbin of time!
The recent catalytic gift for the restoration of
Rhododendron Glen also highlights the impact
of time on the Arboretum’s collections. A 1937
document records gifts of rhododendrons from
all over the region and country to create this
beloved enclave in the park, yet over time, the
area has become shaded and the plants less varied
and vigorous. Thanks to the generosity of Mary
Ellen and Gordon Mulder, we have the oppor-
tunity to reinvigorate this destination site in the
Arboretum for the 21st century. See the interview
with Mary Ellen for musings from her 30 years’
time as a volunteer. Her words remind me that
while time manifests itself in different ways in the
Arboretum, the constant is the unchanging love
and need for this special place in our community.
Perhaps I’ll now think differently on the
saying, “Time is of the essence.” The heart, the
significance, the essence indeed!
Jane Stonecipher
Interim Executive Director,
Arboretum Foundation