Our Work
Volunteer community, maintenance programs, and enhancement projects
The Foundation preserves and enhances the Washington Park Arboretum through a variety of dynamic programs and projects. We recruit and manage a vibrant volunteer community that supports every facet of Arboretum operations—from grounds maintenance to fundraising events. We help fund the salaries of UW Botanic Gardens arborists, gardeners, and environmental educators working in the Arboretum. We fund revitalization projects, such as the restoration of historic Rhododendron Glen, and the creation of new horticultural displays, such as the Pacific Connections Garden. We are also the support organization for the Seattle Japanese Garden in the Arboretum.
Become a volunteer and enjoy everything the Arboretum community offers. Meet great people and like-minded spirits.
Caring for the Arboretum’s plant collection, and ensuring the health and safety of the trees, is a major expense and our biggest pride and joy.
We are funding the restoration of Rhododendron Glen, Lake Washington Boulevard, and other beloved spaces in the Arboretum.
We’re helping children and adults learn about the vital role plants, forests, and wetlands play in the urban environment.
We are the support partner for the Japanese Garden at the Arboretum, managing public programs and volunteers, and raising vital funds.
We fund and support Master Plan improvement projects, including the Pacific Connections Garden and the Arboretum Loop Trail.
News Articles
Earth Day Volunteers Pull 50+ Cubic Yards of Weeds!
A total of 116 volunteers participated in our annual Earth Day at the Arboretum work-service event on April 23. They removed more than 50 cubic yards of ivy, blackberry, and other invasive weeds from plant collection beds and natural areas—covering a combined area of...
Arboretum-Based Research Tackles the Azalea Lace Bug
Since 2015, the invasive azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pyrioides) has been causing serious damage to azaleas and rhododendrons in our state, including in the Arboretum. A tiny aphid relative, the lace bug removes chlorophyll from Rhododendron foliage, weakening the...
Wild and Wonderful Willows of the Arboretum
Beautiful willows, such as the Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys' pictured here, are blooming in the Arboretum's Witt Winter Garden and beyond. In the latest issue of the Arboretum Bulletin, writer and estate gardener Daniel Mount discusses the wild and weedy willows...