Hoyt Arboretum Blog 
The growing chaos, conflict, and division in our world often feels overwhelming. As a combat veteran who enlisted after 9/11, I scarcely recognize the country I once risked my life to defend. But in recent months, I’ve found a potent antidote to despair in my volunteer work at Hoyt Arboretum. Discovering the Joy of Volunteering … Read more
I firmly believe that trees are more than landmarks; each one carries its own significance on earth. As a certified tree hugger, I grew up surrounded by tropical trees and had no trouble identifying them from a young age. But when I walked the trails of Hoyt Arboretum for the first-time last November, I was … Read more
Hi, I am a Pacific Banana Slug. Scientists call me Ariolimax columbianus and say that I am the second largest slug in the world, growing to nearly 10 inches long. I am native to the Pacific Northwest region and love dark, cool and wet forest floors like the densely forested portions of Hoyt Arboretum. I … Read more
The next time you wind your way along the sunny switchbacks of the Overlook Trail, you may spy some conspicuously non-tree additions to our living plant collections. On one exposed patch of soil, knee-high starts of milkweed and coneflower sway bravely in the summer sun. These small plants, often valued for their pollinator impact, are … Read more
Just for a moment, close your eyes and think back. Do you remember your first walk in a forest? Can you hear soft footfalls on the trail as leaves rustle above? Smell the sweet scent of fir? Feel the rough bark against your fingertips? For many of us, these “firsts” were experienced before we could … Read more