The semiarid climate of Central Washington (also known as the Columbia River Basin) provides unique conditions for display and study of native and exotic species of woody plants. There are over 2,000 specimens in the Arboretum's collection on 46 acres of land adjoining the riparian habitat of the Yakima River.

The Yakima Area Arboretum is a living museum of botanical specimens. The Arboretum's purpose is to educate, demonstrate, and inspire an appreciation of native and adapted non-native plants in an atmosphere of beauty and relaxation. The Arboretum encourages sound arboricultural practices, sustainable gardening and community participation.

Seasonal Highlights

January - February
Witch Hazel, Conifers, Hawthorn

March
Magnolia, Red Twig Dogwood

April
Forsythia, Serviceberry, Barberry, Crabapple, Viburnum, Cherry, Peach, Plum, Pear

May
Lilac, Dogwood, Redbud, Hawthorn, Enkianthus, Azalea, Viburnum

June - August
Golden Raintree, Linden, Kousa Dogwood, Potentilla, Tulip Tree, Ornamental Grasses, Stewartia, Smokebush

September
Walnuts, Almonds, Filberts, Pecans

October
Maple, Birch, Euonymous, Beech, Viburnum, Oak, Sumac, Ginkgo, Golden Desert Ash, Hornbeam, Dogwood, Sweetgum

November – December
Cotoneaster, Pine, Douglas Fir, Spruce, False Cypress, Cedar, Arborvitae, Juniper

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Board of Directors

President Elect: Doug Cairns
First Vice President: Lance Forsee
Second Vice President:
Secretary: Rebecca Pennell
Treasurer: Angela Richardson

Jim Black, Patty Clark, Claire Eastlund, Duward Massie, Ron McKitrick, Randy Murphy, Stu Simmons, Michelle Wyles

Life Trustees: Helen Garretson, Lacey Gentry, Yoshio Hata, Helen Jewett Shields

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Arboretum Staff

Co-Executive Directors: Jheri Ketcham & Colleen Adams-Schuppe
Office Assistant: Chrystal Gentry
Office Assistant: Donna Palmer
Gardener: Jeff Neal
Custodian: Suzanne Tarr
Care Taker: Bob & Joy Howell
Bookkeeper: Stephanie Ketchum

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How to Volunteer

If you would like to become more involved in the Yakima Area Arboretum, we welcome volunteers throughout the year.

Volunteer opportunities include: maintaining the Xeric Garden, assisting with youth programs; helping maintain plant records; weeding, planting, and mulching on the grounds; maintaining the Edward M. Schroeder Wetlands Trail; shelving and cataloging in the Library; helping in the Tree House Museum Store; participating in Arboretum events such as Arbor Day, plant sales, and the winter Luminaria.
Please call 509-248-7337 or e-mail us if you're interested in becoming an Arboretum volunteer.

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Tours & Field Trips

SELF-GUIDED TOURS - Anyone is welcome to visit the Arboretum to take a self-guided tour of the grounds. Each season brings new beauty, from the blooming fruit trees of April to the golden leaves of autumn. The tour begins at the Jewett Interpretive Center, where you can pick up a tour brochure in the Tree House Gift Shop (or outside the visitor center door when the center is closed).

SCHOOL TOURS - Fresh Science is a self-guided, interactive field experience designed to help children interact with nature. The activities are designed to involve children in the learning process as they experience the living laboratory. The program consists of a habitat-oriented curriculum and lab backpacks containing all of the materials needed to conduct the on-site tour. Pre- and post-tour activities are also provided in order to enhance the learning units. There are five backpacks available, and up to twelve students can work from one backpack.

Group tours are free of charge but must be scheduled in advance. Please call 509-248-7337 or e-mail for more information.

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Research and Information

PLANT COLLECTIONS - The Arboretum is working with national institutions to join the network and further increase the exotic specimens grown in the Yakima Area Arboretum. The Yakima Area Arboretum has a very unique climate among national arboreta and has great potential for testing hardiness and water demands to benefit future ecologic landscape design in northern America.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH - Every year local extension agents and master gardeners use the botanical garden to further their intensive training in plant problem diagnosis. This training benefits the community through the volunteer service returned by the Master Gardeners via free plant diagnosis.

RESEARCH - In addition to the research conducted by Arboretum staff, plant scientists from the W.S.U. Puyallup and Prosser research centers carry out research at the Arboretum, as do Washington State Department of Agriculture staff. Sample projects include: (1) testing Asian birch cultivars against the European birch to provide a tree for the urban forest resistant to bronze birch borer attack, (2) testing adaptability and hardiness of experimental species in order to increase botanical diversity in the urban environment; (3) testing for a water-conserving turfgrass known as buffalograss - aimed at reducing current water-demanding turfgrasses in central Washington; (4) testing integrated pest management for fruit tree pest control, including reduced pest populations in small-fruited residential crabapple cultivars.

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Herbarium

All arboretums strive to develop the growth and propagation of endangered plant species. An herbarium is housed in the facility featuring native plants of the central Washington region.

We know that nurturing the connection between people and plants is important. Trees and plants will remain essential to body and soul as long as life exists. Today, in the United States alone, more than one of every three plant species is under threat of extinction. As plants, and the planet, grow vulnerable, the Arboretum must meet its responsibility as Yakima's center for tree development and education.

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Walker Horticultural Library

The interpretive center houses the Wilma Belfield Walker Horticultural Library, Yakima Valley's only horticultural library. Users include Arboretum members and staff, area plant societies, university researchers, master gardeners, agriculturists, children & teachers, and visitors to the Yakima Valley. A computerized access terminal is visualized for the next decade. The Walker Library is a member of the Council on Botanic and Horticultural Libraries.

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