BY ALICIA HAMILTON
This week, close to 80 volunteers from Windsor Communities spent their annual GIVE Day at the Arboretum, putting their energy toward a major mulching and weeding project on the south end of the grounds near the Seattle Japanese Garden parking lot.
Starting at 9:30 am, teams armed with wheelbarrows, garden forks, and shovels arrived at the parking lot to distribute a huge, 40-cubic-yard pile of arborist wood chips to nearby trees and garden beds.
To add some friendly competition—and to allow organizers a simple way of tracking volunteer capacity at the site—teams were divided into color groups. Each group was paired with one of eight horticulture leads from UW Botanic Gardens, who provided tool guidance, safety tips, and context about how mulching supports plant health and the long-term care of the collections.
The saying “many hands make light work” was on full display. In just two hours, Windsor’s volunteers gave the equivalent of 160 hours of service—a meaningful boost for the maintenance of this 230-acre park and its carefully curated plantings.
Julia Magnuson, a general manager with Windsor, wrote us afterwards to say, “It was truly a joy to be part of such a meaningful project, and your team made the entire experience smooth, engaging, and impactful. Our staff came away energized and proud, knowing that our efforts are helping support the long-term health of the Arboretum’s beautiful plant collections. It was especially inspiring to learn that our work will contribute to the growth and strength of the trees—some of which will stand tall for another hundred years or more, for future generations to enjoy.”
The Arboretum Foundation, UW Botanic Gardens, and Seattle Parks and Recreation extend their gratitude to Windsor Communities for their commitment to community service.
If your company or organization is interested in a work service party at the Arboretum, please contact me at ahamilton@arboretumfoundation.org. Our program runs from March through November each year.
NOTE: Group project slots for the remainder of 2025 are now full. We are currently reserving slots for the 2026 season.
Alicia Hamilton is the Volunteer Programs Manager at the Arboretum Foundation.
