PHOTO: Azalea Way, the centerpiece of the Olmsted design of Washington Park Arboretum.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted. Numerous celebrations are taking place around the country to mark the bicentennial of this iconic landscape architect, author, abolitionist, and public servant.
This summer’s Arboretum Bulletin celebrates the life and legacy of Olmsted, including his and his sons’ impact on the Washington Park Arboretum. It features an interview with environmental historian Jennifer Ott, who talks about the history of the Arboretum land, the story behind the Olmsted Brothers design of the Seattle parks system and Lake Washington Boulevard, and the genesis of the Olmsteds’ schematic plan for the Arboretum (including beautiful Azalea Way, pictured above).
