February 2026

The Annual Meeting is Almost Here; Save the Date!

We'll be back at Floral Hall on March 10th for EA&G's annual meeting where you get to enjoy a catered dinner, vote on board members, hear updates on 2025 projects and what's scheduled for 2026, and then enjoy a talk by multi-award winning author Lynda Mapes followed by Trevor Cameron's perennially (pun intended) popular preview of what's new in the plant world. It's also an opportunity to meet your board members, see old friends, and maybe even make some new ones.

Check out the menu and make your reservation now by clicking on the annual meeting button below. You do need to be a member to attend. If you haven't renewed your membership yet, use the membership link below.

If you would rather skip the dinner and just attend the program, please let us know by emailing contactus@evergreenarboretum.com. If the cost of the dinner is problematic, use the same email address to let us know. A generous donor is funding a limited number of dinners to ensure everyone can enjoy the entire program.

Trevor Cameron: manager of Sunnyside Nursery, former Arboretum president

Lynda Mapes: Award winning author of "The Trees Are Speaking"

Docents Needed: No Experience Necessary

The Arboretum is a popular place for garden clubs, senior living facilities, and schools to enjoy a docent-led tour. And these tours are a wonderful way for the Arboretum to connect with our community. But we can't provide them without docents, and as demand has increased, our docent roster is shrinking.

You don't need to be a plant expert--you just need to care about the Arboretum. We'll provide training, including working with an experienced docent while you learn the ropes. If you would like more information about how the program works or are ready to get started, click on the button below and send us an email.

Or just show up at the Classroom on Tuesday, February 24th at 1:00 p.m. for an introduction to the docent program.

Messages from the Wishing Trees

Deck the Boughs featured three wishing trees. We provided tags for visitors to write down their wishes and then hang them on a tree. By the end of the month, the trees were full of wishes. We saved them, and your editor read each and every one.

Many people wished for peace, an end to hunger, or joy in the coming year. Some were poignant--wishes that a partner would find work in their field, hopes that a family member would safely return from deployment, prayers that someone would recover from cancer, or expressions of love for a departed pet. And some were just fun.

We hope Emma got her kitty. Sorry about the lack of snow.

A Huge Thank You to The Plant Nerds

The Plant Nerds approached us in early January to see if we were interested in a volunteer day of landscaping work in the Arboretum. They wanted to keep their crew busy in a slower season, provide additional on the job training, and help the Arboretum out. Of course we were delighted to accept their generous offer.

They showed up on Thursday morning, January 29th with a crew of eight experienced landscapers and by the time they left later in the afternoon, the Arboretum was looking great. They were joined by about 18 Arboretum volunteers who emptied full carts of trimmings almost as fast as the Nerds filled them up.

The Plant Nerds did a major pruning job on the Viewing Mound, Native Plant Walk, and Nativar Garden, and also worked in the Backyard Garden, removed a rogue laurel from the Backyard Garden, and trimmed overgrown hydrangeas. EA&G volunteers who weren't getting their steps in by hauling full wheelbarrows of debris to the green waste pile removed leaves from hellebores and dying fronds from ferns, trimmed back skimmia and osmanthus in the Backyard Garden, and weeded and raked in the Small Tree Walk.

And everyone enjoyed a hot lunch provided by board members Jeanne Crisp and Lee Borgatta with sweet treats from Libbie Soden and Eileen Simmons.

On the Viewing Mound

Still trimming lonicera

When it was all over...

Who's Visiting the Arboretum?

This little girl and her mother were visiting in January while volunteers were removing Deck the Boughs decorations. She was very interested in the pompoms--so we gave her one. She carried it around for the rest of her visit.

She stood out not only because she's pretty cute, but also because of her stylish apparel. I was particularly envious of her nature-themed winter coat as well as a warm and cozy-looking hat with not one but two furry pompoms. Her mother said she loves the Arboretum and they visit often.

Snohomish County Conservation District Says Free Fruit Trees Are Available

Imagine your home shaded by fruit trees that feed your family and support the local environment. The Urban and Community Forests Program is partnering with households in Everett, Marysville, and Tulalip to make that vision a reality.

They are offering free trees to qualifying sites to bring the benefits of fresh fruit and green spaces to their communities. These plantings strengthen neighborhood connections, improve air and water quality, and create lasting local impact.

Trees will be delivered in Spring 2026. Shade trees are available for earlier delivery.

 To earn more and see if you qualify click on this link: free fruit trees

Nature in the City

Your editor was visiting family in Cambridge, Massachusetts, recently. During a family outing to a Harvard Square bookstore, we encountered a group of wild turkeys wandering around. One was blocking traffic and seemed to have no interest in moving despite a lot of irate horn honking. We didn't stick around to see how the stand-off was resolved--it was pretty cold. Wild turkeys are not an uncommon sight in Cambridge, but it was kind of fun to see this one standing its ground in the face of oncoming cars.

Arboretum Calendar for 2026 as of January: For those who like to plan ahead, here's a preview of what's in the works for the coming year.

Work parties continue on the first Wednesday and third Saturday of each month. Dates may change depending on event schedule. If you're on our volunteer list, you'll get an email notification--or you can read this monthly newsletter.

Thursday Plant Sale work parties will start in March. Look for more information in the next newsletter.

Annual Members Meeting: March 10th, Floral Hall. Doors open at 5 p.m.

What to look forward to: beginning in mid-March another Perennial Path walk-and-talk series and Arboretum Tree Talks. Earth Day family fun in April.

We are planning to add a few special events we think you will enjoy. Be sure to read the newsletter or check out our website to see what's coming up.



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