Trees to See in the Pacific NW

Northwest Native Conifers--backside of sign at Naturscaping Wildlife Botanical Gardens, Brush Prairie, WA

Arbor Day Dates Across America  https://www.arborday.org/celebrate/dates.cfm     
City Lot Arboretum, photos at right taken 4-8-20: 
​Arbor Day in Washington, Arbor Week in Oregon; and 4-24-20, National Arbor Day (a lot of change in 2 wks)
Scroll down for Arboretums
​     in Oregon & Washington

Travel with me in your mind to the 100-acre wood, or Sherwood Forest, whichever matches your taste for adventure!  Can you see the trees for the forest?  Travel the wood-originated pages of literature:  A Poem (not) as Lovely as a Tree, The Giving Tree, Enchanted Forests, Mysterious and Magical forests, sometimes Dangerous--as for Snow White and Red Riding Hood.  Continue to the forests of Middle Earth or Narnia, the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts, The Enchanted Wood where the Magic Faraway Tree lives.  Join some serious travels and travelers, or others with gentle humor.  But they are all engaging and entertaining. We’ll whistle like the Wind in the Willows, or weep with them—in sorrow or joy.
 
Let us sing the praises of trees, for In the Leafy Treetops the Birds Sing Good Morning.  We celebrate Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and sing O Tannenbaum in wonder at their fortitude.  We Tie our hopes with Yellow Ribbons ‘Round the Old Oak Tree.  Sometimes we Talk to the Trees when nobody else wants to hear, or when we don’t want anyone else to hear.  Tall Timber is Callin’ us to walk the wooded trails and hear how all nature sings, from the trees and their inhabitants to ourselves.  We sit Under the Apple Tree with our sweethearts, or make them shed tears with the carving of our love.
 
Trees have given us homes, as well as a great many other plant and animal species that are a part of our habitations, and the web of life.  From trees we have whittled ways to travel, ways to communicate, food to eat, protection from dangers.  Ancient forests still fuel our world.  They even provide us the Air That [we] Breathe!
 
And in this challenging time of travel restrictions, we can thankfully travel vicariously through video, to dream and plan for life after virus when those constraints will be lifted and we will all burst out of doors to recreate ourselves in the forests, the woods, the Arboretums that celebrate the beauty, the endurance, the interconnecting of them with our culture and historic economy--especially here in the Pacific Northwest. 
 
Ancient Gingko Forest turned to stone:  https://parks.state.wa.us/288/Ginkgo-Petrified-Forest
and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkgo_Petrified_Forest_State_Park
 
Where to find petrified wood in Oregon:  https://oregondiscovery.com/petrified-wood
 
Following are Arboretums in Oregon, and in Washington:
 
Arboretums in Oregon, from south to north
 
Skyrman Central Point Arboretum
This is a city park in Central Point, near Medford, OR.
https://www.centralpointoregon.gov/parksrec/page/skyrman-central-point-arboretum
 
Mount Pisgah Arboretum, 209 acres, free
near Eugene/Springfield, OR
http://www.mountpisgaharboretum.org/
Trails are not ADA, but you may be able to manage with a helper.  Two restrooms are said to be ADA.
 
Peavy Arboretum (OSU), 40 acres, free
Corvallis, OR
https://cf.forestry.oregonstate.edu/our-forests/arboretum
     "Peavy Arboretum has served as an outdoor teaching lab for generations of children and adults, and is a welcoming place for visitors interested in a picnic by the pond or a long hike in the moutains.  Its history is rich, and the land still shows evidence of use by the Kalapuya people, the Oregon State Forest Nursery, and the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Arboretum.  Currently, the Arboretum hosts trailheads and walking paths open to the public, the George Brown Logging Sports Arena, and the OSU Research Forests Business Office.  Arboretum maintenance is funded entirely by timber harvested on the OSU Research Forests."
     Sat May 30, 2020 Get Outdoors Day, Peavy would have hosted a free event, which had to be cancelled for this year.  It would have had parking at the HS, w/shuttle
“Getting Around the Event with a Disability
     For folks attending Get Outdoors Day who live with disabilities, we want to make sure you enjoy the event too! Ask the welcome tent and we'll send a shuttle to transport you between activities or have it arranged so you may drive in your own vehicle.”
     For more information, call the OSU Extension Service at (541)766-6750 or email [email protected]
 
Delbert Hunter Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Dallas OR, west of Salem
http://www.delberthunterarboretum.org/
Contiguous with Dallas City Park.  Wetlands, stream, rock gardens, rare shrubs and flowers, alpine plants, native northwest plants and trees, benches . . .
 
Bush's Pasture Park, 91 acres, built 1878
Salem, OR
https://www.cityofsalem.net/bushs-pasture-park
“lush, wooded areas and open meadows.  Bring friends for . . . Frisbee, or bring the kids to enjoy any of the playgrounds, including the Crooked House Playground.  There are many trails that are perfect for walking, jogging, or running at whatever pace you prefer.  Enjoy the Rhododendron and Rose Gardens.  Play tennis at one of the four lighted tennis courts.  Visit the Bush House Museum or the Bush Art Center and gallery, home of the annual Salem Art Fair.”  Baseball fields, horseshoes, reservable, restrooms, stage.

The Oregon Garden is a great arboretum, as well as 20 other kinds of gardens.  See "May Days--Public Gardens to Delight", I posted here 5-17-20 (but added the Oregon Garden Aug 2020).   https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/may-days-gardens-to-delight
​
Leach Botanical Garden, free (donations encouraged)
Portland, OR
https://leachgarden.org/
Offers classes & events, summer theater camps, opportunities to volunteer and internships.
Website has a newsletter with more information.
 
Hoyt Arboretum, almost 200 acres, free, free tours on Saturdays and Sundays
Portland, OR
https://www.hoytarboretum.org/
     Hoyt Arboretum Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/HoytArboretumFriends/posts/learn-about-the-fascinating-story-of-the-dawn-redwood-a-tree-with-a-very-special/2431854513533277/
     This informative 7 minute video by Access Recreation is very good, not just for the disabled.
          https://vimeo.com/124194044
      A 7 min video of the 90th Anniversary, by Garden Time, Apr 11, 2018
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq1bNDnQftw
      A 3 min video of the 90th anniversary, by KGW News, Apr 12, 2018
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE6ndzq8QKs
Lots of private persons have also posted videos of the Hoyt Arboretum. 
 
Columbia Children's Arboretum, 27 acres
Portland, OR
https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/finder/index.cfm?propertyid=15&action=ViewPark
Arboretum and natural area.
 
Oregon Trail Arboretum, free
Echo, OR
http://www.echo-oregon.com/arboretum.html
Across from the elementary school.  Over 100 trees and shrubs, older ones labeled.  Gazebo and interpretive panels. 
 
 
Arboretums in Washington,
​roughly south to north
 
Wind River Arboretum, est 1912
Carson, WA
https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/26075
     Oldest arboretum in the Northwest.  “The initial objective was to test the suitability of trees from all parts of the world for [planting  west of the Cascades in Oregon & Washington].”  Later the objectives have been broadened.
      "The Wind River is best known for its old-growth forests of Coast Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock. Other species include Western Redcedar and Pacific Silver Fir, Grand Fir, and Noble Fir. Understory trees include Pacific Yew, Vine Maple, Pacific Dogwood, and Red Alder. Much of the forest is more than 400 years old."  Wikipedia
 
Washinton State University Arboretum, 100 acres
Pullman, WA
http://www.arboretum.wsu.edu/
Goals include providing a landscape to experience science, develop appreciation of the Palouse, show how art, science, and culture interact.  It is to be a teaching and research arboretum, national bear center, wild herbivore center, a raptor center, and a story circle.  They have a science blog with some great photos at https://wsu-nature.org/  Contact them about hiking/visiting/tours email [email protected] <[email protected] 
 
John A. Finch Arboretum, 65 acres, free
Spokane, WA
https://my.spokanecity.org/urbanforestry/programs/finch-arboretum/
Download a Walking Guide for a self-guided tour.  Seasonal activities year-round, tours available.  Call the Arboretum at 509.363.5466.
 
Yakima Area Arboretum, 46 acres
Yakima, WA
https://www.ahtrees.org/
Nature walk, garden classes, Nature Preschool, Nature Day Camp, orienteering, rentals for events, field trip, etc.  Jewett Interpretive Center & restrooms wheelchair accessible.  Grounds are mostly flat, tended lawn similar to a golf greens.  You can reserve a golf cart for an hour for free.  509-248-7337
For great Yakima links:  https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sh/4902KvS
 
Lake Wilderness Arboretum, free
Maple Valley, WA
https://www.lakewildernessarboretum.org/
Spring 2020 plant sale cancelled, fall 2020 plant sale in Sept to include vendors and more plants.  Five display gardens, Tribal Life Trail, 2nd growth forest.  March annual Hellebore Tea at the Lake Wilderness Lodge.  Events can be arranged.
 
South Seattle College Arboretum, 5 acres, free
Seattle, WA
https://southseattle.edu/campus-arboretum
Borders Seattle Chinese Garden.  Lab and outdoor classroom, as well as a garden for the community. 
 
Washington Park Arboretum, Pacific Connections Gardens, free
Seattle
https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/washington-park-arboretum/gardens/pacific-connections-garden/
"Wouldn’t it be great if you could travel through Cascadia, Australia, China, Chile and New Zealand all in one day?"     https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/washington-park-arboretum/
 
Bellevue Botanical Garden, 53 acres
Bellevue, WA
https://bellevuebotanical.org/
Cultivated gardens, restored woodlands, natural wetlands.  “Bellevue Botanical Garden displays the best plants and gardening practices for healthy, beautiful Northwest gardens. Visitors are encouraged to participate in Garden volunteerism, events and programs that are engaging, educational and inspiring.”
 
Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens, 3.5 acres, free
Everett, WA
http://www.evergreenarboretum.com/
10 themed gardens, sculptures...ADA paths. “Showcasing northwest plants since 1963 . . . Year around docent tours are available to groups of any size. Please plan your tour one month in advance and make an appointment by contacting us at [email protected] or call 425-257-8597.”  Virtual tours/slideshows on the website.
 
Bonhoeffer Botanical Gardens, part of the Pilchuck Learning Center
Stanwood, WA (between Marysville and Burlington)
http://www.plc215.org/
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/BonhoefferBotanicalGardens
“We are located at the northbound Exit 215 Locationof the I-5 Freeway, 49 minutes north of Seattle.  View NW Native Plants: indigenous trees, shrubs, vines, and ferns along with grass, moss, mushroom, pond, flower and groundcover species within 3 types of wetlands in a remnant of the destroyed West Fork of Church Creek.  The Gardens are intended to serve as an outdoor educational and recreational resource for the coming generations and contain 3/4 miles of a continuous accessible path. The latter hosts 16 interpretive rainy-day kiosks that provide information about native flora, as well as local and natural history.  Kiosks’ roofs are planted to attract butterfly species requiring specific native as larva hosts and native birds.”
 
Sehome Hill Arboretum, 175 acres, 2nd growth forest
Bellingham, WA, next to Western Washington University
https://www.cob.org/services/recreation/parks-trails/Pages/sehome-arboretum.aspx
Trails, native mature tree canopy, old quarry, geological outcrop, observation tower lends sweeping view of the city and the Bay.  6 miles of trails.