Arboretum Foundation

Capital projects: the Foundation granted funds to the university of Washington botanic gardens and to the city of seattle for clean-up, plantings, removal of invasive plants, and general beautification on lake Washington boulevard near the recently completed Arboretum loop trail. The Foundation also granted funds to the university of Washington botanic gardens toward a new multi year project to renovate the rhododendron glen collection of the Arboretum. The Foundation also granted funds to the city of seattle for restoration of the central section of the pond at the seattle japanese garden. Other smaller projects were also undertaken.

Education: the Foundation exists primarily to support the Washington park Arboretum and programs occurring within the Arboretum. To this end, the Foundation provides volunteer opportunities, educational materials and funds for the k-12 programs that are run by the university of Washington botanic gardens. The majority of educational offerings were suspended or moved to virtual format during march-june due to the global covid-19 pandemic.

Maintenance: the Foundation made its regular annual grant for Arboretum maintenance and renewal to the university of Washington botanic gardens to support the arborist program and the pacific connections gardener. Other maintenance expenditures are made when needed. Due to the global covid-19 pandemic, the Arboretum ensured maintenance support through additional funding to the unviersity of Washington botanic gardens for maintenance support. The abroretum saw an increase in use during the pandemic as outdoor activity was a safer option for individuals looking for recreational activities.

More than 600 volunteers donated 8,000 hours of work, the equivalent of 4 full-time employees, to the Foundation during this fiscal year. The Foundation hires staff to coordinate the volunteer stewards program for pacific connections and azalea way. Foundation staff oversee the volunteer run plant donations nursery and the pat calvert greenhouse which have programs to provide ongoing education and skills training in horticulture. Foundation staff also coordinate a full slate of programming at the japanese garden and Foundation volunteer unit 86 provides docents to the japanese garden.