Seattle Official Visitors Guide 2008 - (Page 21) main feature, a 22-foot waterfall cascading down a rock formation into a Japanese-style pool. Japanese influence is also evident in other places throughout Seattle. A prime example is the city’s plentiful cherry trees, which were first planted by Japanese residents nearly a century ago. While rows of shady cherry trees pepper all of Seattle, the best place to enjoy their beautiful pinkand-white springtime blossoms is on the University of Washington campus. Blooming cherry trees lining the Liberal Arts Quadrangle cause passersby in April and May to stop and stare. Find a quiet place on the green lawn to practice “hanami,” the Japanese tradition of viewing cherry blossoms, a passion that many Seattleites have adopted. Also on the University of Washington campus is the Medicinal Herb Garden, a two-and-a-half-acre plot that houses 1,000 plant species from all over the world. A portion of the garden dates back to 1911, and today the collection represents plants that have been associated with the treatment of ailments either historically or in modern times (or both) and, in some cases, have been used for food, fiber, dye, spices and ceremonial purposes. As you walk through the thriving gardens, you can see unusual plants such as pomegranate, Madagascar periwinkle and squirting cucumber. And perhaps best of all, the garden air is saturated with herbal scents, providing a dose of natural aromatherapy. Seattle’s array of flora goes far beyond herb gardens and cherry trees, and the best place to check it all out is at the Washington Park Arboretum. The arboretum’s 230 acres are home to more than 20,000 trees, shrubs and vines, including 139 plants on the endangered species list. Here you’ll also find Seattle’s Japanese Garden featuring plants and sculptures from the Land of the Rising Sun. A new exhibit, the Pacific Connections Garden, is opening in summer 2008. The garden will showcase plants from Australia, New Zealand, China, Chile and the Pacific Northwest. For exotica of the fauna variety, head to Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, where more than 1,000 animals are featured in carefully designed, bio-climatic habitats. The zoo’s 92 acres resemble a botanic garden and provide a scenic, peaceful setting for a leisurely stroll. Whether you’re looking for outdoor activities in a picturesque park or the perfect spot for a picnic, Seattle has plenty of serene, green places to relax and recharge. WWW.VISITSEATTLE.ORG 21 http://WWW.VISITSEATTLE.ORG
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