Published: Thursday, May 20, 2010
Rediscover Everett’s secret garden
-
Michael O’Leary / The Herald
Arboretum visitors can view “Clarity,” a glass and steel sculpture by Merrilee Moore, in the conifer garden at the arboretum.
-
Arboretum president Hap Wertheirmer guides a group.
-
Michael O’Leary / The Herald
Columns by Bainbridge Island artists Little and Lewis welcome visitors to the Evergreen Arboretum Gardens.
-
Michael O’Leary / The Herald
“Big Red,” by Skagit County artist Arnie Garborg, was donated to the city of Everett in 2006. Though it is now on display in the arboretum’s Japanese maple garden, it will soon be moved to the corner of Pacific Avenue and Colby Avenue in downtown Everett.
Related Items
- Photo Galleries
Have you ever been to Everett’s secret garden?
If not, now is a great time to visit the renowned but often overlooked arboretum, officially known as the Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens.
Not only is the 3.3-acre north Everett park alive with vibrant color and greenery, it’s almost time for its official tour season.
Simply show up at 1 p.m. Saturdays June through September and you’ll find specially trained tour guides ready to walk you through the lush landscapes, point out notable features and share a little arboretum history, all free.
There are now 10 theme gardens within the volunteer-run arboretum, including a brand new rain garden at the southern tip of the immersive, elongated park.
Works of art in wood, stone, metal and glass play off the botanical wonders here, grouped into collections such as perennials, Japanese maples, conifers, native
plants, ferns, shade-loving plants and rockery stars.
If summer Saturdays don’t work for you, guided tours are available on other days by appointment, said docent coordinator Christy Andre, who started the tour guide training program three years ago.
“Most people in Everett don’t know about this,” Andre said on a recent tour with a volunteer group of about 25 gardeners from the 230-acre Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle. “This is such a special place.”
Interest in tour guide training is high, Andre said, especially since the minimum commitment for docents is just one summer Saturday after an eight-hour training program.
Docents, who give a general overview of the arboretum, don’t have to be plant experts, just arboretum enthusiasts.
“People really want to do this,” Andre said. “It’s a nice way to get involved in your community and be in a pretty place.”
Founded in the 1960s by the Everett Garden Club, the arboretum has been evolving and maturing ever since. The more recent demonstration gardens include a viewing mound topped with a stunning water feature, and a peaceful native plant walk that leads to a covered pavilion, which provides a discussion platform in front of the new rain garden.
Visitors with kids should allow extra time to walk the curvy pathways and to stop at the water feature perched at the highest point in the arboretum, which is actually a large sculpture by local artist Pam Hom.
Water cascades continuously over the abstract metal dome, which visitors have likened to a drill bit coming out of the earth, a spaceship or a pinecone.
Its title is “Fibonacci,” inspired by Italian mathematician Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci, who is perhaps best know for popularizing a Hindu number sequence that became known to the Western world as the Fibonacci sequence.
The Fibonacci sequence is present in flower-petal formations, leaf arrangements, pinecones and even in nautilus shells, said docent and arboretum board president Hap Wertheimer, who led the recent tour group from Seattle’s arboretum.
Tour participant Christine Pelletreau said Everett’s arboretum isn’t just beautiful, it’s also a practical resource for gardeners, who are trying to choose plants and trees wisely.
Pelletreau, who lives in Edmonds, was especially impressed with the arboretum’s urban tree walk, featuring small trees that typically grow to no more than 25 feet high so they can be planted under power lines.
Oyama magnolia was one of the urban trees in bloom, with white petals surrounding brilliant crimson centers.
“I love how this arboretum is trying to show people what they can do,” Pelletreau said. “You can go home with some ideas.”
Though many cities have lists of trees best suited for under-power-line placement, seeing them in person — and even in a variety of seasons — is far better, said Pelletreau, who runs her own landscape design and maintenance business, Good Nature Gardening.
“It just looks absolutely lovely,” Pelletreau said of the arboretum. “It is a gem.”
Sarah Jackson: 425-339-3037, sjackson@heraldnet.com.
Take a tour
The Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens is open for free tours at 1 p.m. Saturdays June through September, rain or shine.
Private tours for groups are available by appointment. Call 425-257-8597 or write contactus@evergreenarboretum.com to set up a tour or to find out more about the arboretum docent training program.
Year-round self-touring hours are daily from dawn to 10 p.m. (8 p.m. in winter) at the arboretum, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett, next to American Legion Memorial Park and Legion Memorial Golf Course.
If you plan to attend Sorticulture — Everett’s garden and arts festival June 11 to 13 at Legion Park — you’ll be right next door to the arboretum. Just look for the bright periwinkle-colored columns that mark the arboretum entrance. See www.everettwa.org/arts for more about Sorticulture.
Take a free class
Everett’s arboretum continues its free monthly gardening classes at noon Saturday with “Growing Great Roses,” by rose guru Sandy Schumacher. Schumacher will discuss the best rose varieties and growing practices for Northwest gardeners at the arboretum’s horticultural center.
Reservations are required. Call 360-301-6306 to reserve a free space.
Future free class topics include insects (June 19), conifers (July 24), attracting birds (Aug. 21), fall gardening (Sept. 25), putting the garden to bed (Oct. 23), winter containers (Nov. 13), and winter-interest plants with Steve Smith, The Whistling Gardener of Sunnyside Nursery (Dec. 4).
Interested in volunteering? Arrive early on class days for volunteer work parties, usually 9 a.m. to noon.
Learn more about the arboretum at www.evergreenarboretum.com.
Gardens of Merit
Gardens of Merit, an arboretum fundraiser now in its 10th year, will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 26.
Tickets will be $10. Six local garden and six artists will be featured on the tour, along with the arboretum, which will also host a plant sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the event.
If not, now is a great time to visit the renowned but often overlooked arboretum, officially known as the Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens.
Not only is the 3.3-acre north Everett park alive with vibrant color and greenery, it’s almost time for its official tour season.
Simply show up at 1 p.m. Saturdays June through September and you’ll find specially trained tour guides ready to walk you through the lush landscapes, point out notable features and share a little arboretum history, all free.
There are now 10 theme gardens within the volunteer-run arboretum, including a brand new rain garden at the southern tip of the immersive, elongated park.
Works of art in wood, stone, metal and glass play off the botanical wonders here, grouped into collections such as perennials, Japanese maples, conifers, native
plants, ferns, shade-loving plants and rockery stars.
If summer Saturdays don’t work for you, guided tours are available on other days by appointment, said docent coordinator Christy Andre, who started the tour guide training program three years ago.
“Most people in Everett don’t know about this,” Andre said on a recent tour with a volunteer group of about 25 gardeners from the 230-acre Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle. “This is such a special place.”
Interest in tour guide training is high, Andre said, especially since the minimum commitment for docents is just one summer Saturday after an eight-hour training program.
Docents, who give a general overview of the arboretum, don’t have to be plant experts, just arboretum enthusiasts.
“People really want to do this,” Andre said. “It’s a nice way to get involved in your community and be in a pretty place.”
Founded in the 1960s by the Everett Garden Club, the arboretum has been evolving and maturing ever since. The more recent demonstration gardens include a viewing mound topped with a stunning water feature, and a peaceful native plant walk that leads to a covered pavilion, which provides a discussion platform in front of the new rain garden.
Visitors with kids should allow extra time to walk the curvy pathways and to stop at the water feature perched at the highest point in the arboretum, which is actually a large sculpture by local artist Pam Hom.
Water cascades continuously over the abstract metal dome, which visitors have likened to a drill bit coming out of the earth, a spaceship or a pinecone.
Its title is “Fibonacci,” inspired by Italian mathematician Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci, who is perhaps best know for popularizing a Hindu number sequence that became known to the Western world as the Fibonacci sequence.
The Fibonacci sequence is present in flower-petal formations, leaf arrangements, pinecones and even in nautilus shells, said docent and arboretum board president Hap Wertheimer, who led the recent tour group from Seattle’s arboretum.
Tour participant Christine Pelletreau said Everett’s arboretum isn’t just beautiful, it’s also a practical resource for gardeners, who are trying to choose plants and trees wisely.
Pelletreau, who lives in Edmonds, was especially impressed with the arboretum’s urban tree walk, featuring small trees that typically grow to no more than 25 feet high so they can be planted under power lines.
Oyama magnolia was one of the urban trees in bloom, with white petals surrounding brilliant crimson centers.
“I love how this arboretum is trying to show people what they can do,” Pelletreau said. “You can go home with some ideas.”
Though many cities have lists of trees best suited for under-power-line placement, seeing them in person — and even in a variety of seasons — is far better, said Pelletreau, who runs her own landscape design and maintenance business, Good Nature Gardening.
“It just looks absolutely lovely,” Pelletreau said of the arboretum. “It is a gem.”
Sarah Jackson: 425-339-3037, sjackson@heraldnet.com.
Take a tour
The Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens is open for free tours at 1 p.m. Saturdays June through September, rain or shine.
Private tours for groups are available by appointment. Call 425-257-8597 or write contactus@evergreenarboretum.com to set up a tour or to find out more about the arboretum docent training program.
Year-round self-touring hours are daily from dawn to 10 p.m. (8 p.m. in winter) at the arboretum, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett, next to American Legion Memorial Park and Legion Memorial Golf Course.
If you plan to attend Sorticulture — Everett’s garden and arts festival June 11 to 13 at Legion Park — you’ll be right next door to the arboretum. Just look for the bright periwinkle-colored columns that mark the arboretum entrance. See www.everettwa.org/arts for more about Sorticulture.
Take a free class
Everett’s arboretum continues its free monthly gardening classes at noon Saturday with “Growing Great Roses,” by rose guru Sandy Schumacher. Schumacher will discuss the best rose varieties and growing practices for Northwest gardeners at the arboretum’s horticultural center.
Reservations are required. Call 360-301-6306 to reserve a free space.
Future free class topics include insects (June 19), conifers (July 24), attracting birds (Aug. 21), fall gardening (Sept. 25), putting the garden to bed (Oct. 23), winter containers (Nov. 13), and winter-interest plants with Steve Smith, The Whistling Gardener of Sunnyside Nursery (Dec. 4).
Interested in volunteering? Arrive early on class days for volunteer work parties, usually 9 a.m. to noon.
Learn more about the arboretum at www.evergreenarboretum.com.
Gardens of Merit
Gardens of Merit, an arboretum fundraiser now in its 10th year, will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 26.
Tickets will be $10. Six local garden and six artists will be featured on the tour, along with the arboretum, which will also host a plant sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the event.
Comments
(