UW Botanic Gardens

05/25/2026

Do you dream of gifting beautiful bouquets made of flowers grown in your own yard? Join Sarah Nayani to learn how to plan, grow, and care for a cut-flower garden! She'll also cover how to harvest the flowers and foliage as well as the basics of arranging. Registration closes soon! Register online: https://bit.ly/4nAVIOZ

05/19/2026

Create a personalized hand-stitched frame to remember a special memory! Join fiber artist Melissa Galbraith and learn hand embroidery stitches such as the satin stitch, split back stitch, stem stitch, and French knot, then apply those stitches to your very own keepsake. Registration closes soon - all skill levels welcome! Register online: https://bit.ly/42DoHIt

05/08/2026

Planning to visit the Washington Park Arboretum or Center for Urban Horticulture this weekend for Mother's Day? Make sure to plan ahead and check the traffic and road closures! Eastbound 520 and all associated on- and off- ramps between I-5 and Montlake Blvd. will be closed for construction Friday evening through Monday morning. The Montlake Blvd. on-ramp to eastbound SR 520 will also close during this time.
For more information, visit WSDOT's website here: https://sr520construction.com/eastbound-sr-520-closed-between-i-5-and-montlake-blvd-in-seattle-may-8-11/

Drive safe this weekend!

05/05/2026

Still looking for the perfect Mother's Day gift? Celebrate with the UW Botanic Gardens! Gift certificates for classes are available to purchase now. Upcoming classes include:
Botanical print-making
Botanical-inspired embroidery
Cut-flower gardening
Botanical sketching and painting
Native Plant ID..and so much more!

And as always, our spaces at the Washington Park Arboretum and the Center for Urban Horticulture are open and free to the public, so if a paid-for-class doesn't work for your schedule or budget, you're always welcome to visit and enjoy the gardens with your loved ones. We can particularly recommend the Fragrance Garden at the Center for Urban Horticulture, co-maintained in partnership with the Seattle Garden Club - well worth slowing down to smell the flowers!

04/18/2026

Want to reduce waste this Earth Day and coax more life out of the clothes you already own? Join us and fiber artist Melissa Galbraith to learn how to use hand embroidery to mend minor flaws, cover small stains, or just add some flare to your wardrobe!

04/16/2026

This rainy weather is perfect for spring planting! Swing by the Native Plant Sale run by the UW chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration and pick up some native plants - every plant purchase directly supports this student-run organization!

04/15/2026

There's still time to register for tonight's Organic Integrated Pest Management for Native Gardens, taught by Oxbow Farm Native Plant Nursery Manager Lea Dyga! This class introduces the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with a focus on organic and ecologically friendly practices. We’ll cover common pests of the Pacific Northwest, how to identify and prevent them, and strategies that work with nature—including beneficial insects, mechanical and cultural controls, and safe organic alternatives to pesticides. Register online: https://bit.ly/4mvUXq2

This class will be delivered via Zoom; a class recording will be made available to registrants for 2 weeks after the class date.

04/06/2026

Tempted by big box store plant sales, and then find that the plant you purchased is a lemon (metaphorically)? Join us and instructor Adelaide Nitroy of Fancy Plants Seattle for Clearance Rack Plant Rehab, where we’ll learn about which plants are worth rehabbing and how to bring a struggling plant back to life. No experience necessary! Register online: https://bit.ly/4dSLuXk

04/02/2026

Today's (4/2) free first Thursday tour is full, and registration is now closed. We really hate to turn folks away, but capping our tours at 25 participants per group helps to ensure a positive tour experience and is crucial for the safety of our visitors, guides, and collections.

Registration for our May and June tours is open! You can register here:

  Free Educational Tours at the Washington Park Arboretum are led by trained guides and focus on seasonal topics of interest and special plant collections. Interested in scheduling a private/group tour? More information here. Free First Thursday Walking Tours, 11:30am-1pm: Offered on the first Thur...