Arthur Lee Jacobson, Seattle tree expert

Arthur Lee Jacobson is a Seattle resident with a life-long passion for plants.  He writes, teaches, and does hands-on gardening work for individuals and businesses.  As the season turns to spring, Mr. Jacobson leads walking tours of Seattle’s trees and plants.

Mr. Jacobson shares his enthusiasm and expertise through his walking tours in which people can benefit from personal interaction.  He says that “exploring Seattle plant occurrence, noting flowering and fruiting times, tasting edibles, and conversing, is a joy.”

Listed here are just the tours scheduled in February and March 2015; see the webpage of Arthur Lee Jacobson for more tours and events scheduled in April 2015.

On the day of the tour, dress for the weather; be prepared to walk. Usually at the tour’s end, Mr. Jacobson asks if anyone cares to join him to sit somewhere nearby for rest, chatting, a bite to eat and a drink. Tours proceed even if it rains or with a low turnout. Registrants will be called if an emergency occurs. Tours are limited to fifteen participants. Custom tours can be arranged for groups.

The cost per participant is $10 ( i.e., $9.17 plus $.83 sales tax ). Payment by cash or checks only. If you prepay for a tour, but miss it, you receive credit for a future one. For additional information, including the location of the meeting place for the tours, contact Mr. Jacobson.  To register, call Arthur Lee Jacobson at (206) 328-TREE (8733) or e-mail alj@consultant.com  When you register, Mr. Jacobson would like to know about your interest in the tour, your level of experience with plant identification, and anything else you would like to tell him.

Evergreen Trees in Washington Park Arboretum: Sunday, February 22, 3 to 5 PM:

For tree identification, Washington Park Arboretum is the best place to study trees. This introduction will emphasize Seattle native evergreens and noteworthy non-natives. Includes both needled evergreens (like pines) and broadleaf evergreens (like holly).  Learn how to tell spruces, firs, hemlocks, redwoods, etc.

Capitol Hill Trees: Sunday, March 22, 10 AM to noon:

Capitol Hill is Seattle’s premier neighborhood for old, large, diverse shade and ornamental trees.  We will see street trees and mansion specimens, and we will delight in some of Seattle’s finest vintage architecture.  Fresh spring flowers, tender green new foliage, and sprouting seedling trees will offer many lovely scenes.

Green Lake Trees: Sunday, March 29, 10 AM to noon: 

In 1992 Mr. Jacobson published the first edition of Trees of Green Lake.  At that time 162 different kinds of trees circled the lake; now over 200 exist. This two-hour tour will not get all the way around the lake. It will loop around the north and northwest part, which has some of the best trees. The Yoshino Cherry trees will be lovely, starting to bloom.