Yakima Area Arboretum and Botanical Garden — Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025

After setting up camp at Big Pines CG in Yakima Canyon, we drove to the arboretum and enjoyed the many fall colors in the area. The Arboretum was established in 1967 by the Central Washington Federation of Garden Clubs. It is described as a "Living Museum" of over 1000 trees, grasses, a rose garden, wetland area, butterfly garden and it gives access to the Yakima Greenway Trail. Most of the trees have identification labels attached to their lower branches on the south side of the tree. There is a brochure describing the Self-Guided Tour. Oaks, Mountain Ash, Linden, Sequoia, Hawthorn, Spruces and Pines, Firs, Sweetgum, larch, cedars, Ginkgo, Beech, Maples, and Nut Trees are among the trees seen. One could spend a lot of time enjoying the area in all seasons of the year. The tour begins at the Jewitt Interpretive Center which was a gift from Don and Helen Jewitt of Yakima in 1992. It seems every time we visit here we find at least one new tree. One of them today was the Osage Orange tree which produces yellow-green fruits which are known  as "hedge apples" and are produced by the female tree. This is not a destination hike from Seattle, but is a good "add on" if you are hiking or camping in the area!