What's Happening

Seattle Times Article in the Pacific Magazine today.

‘See the whole world in lichens,’ the marvels that grow anywhere

by Lynda Mapes, Journalist for The Seattle Times

‘See the whole world in lichens,’ the marvels that grow anywhere | The Seattle Times

Lichen Hike in the Okanogan Highlands
Saturday, June 27·1:00 – 4:00 pm
Lost Lake Wetland and Wildlife Preserve, 1095B Lost Lake Rd, Oroville, WA 98844, USA

Lichens are one of Earth’s most iconic yet overlooked symbiotic relationships. These captivating assemblages of fungi and algae are found in land-based environments from pole to pole. During this guided walk, we will examine lichen species present in the Okanogan Highlands, including tips for sight identification, while discussing lichen biology, growth forms, reproduction, ecological roles, conservation, and human-lichen relationships.

Stephen Sharrett (MSc) is a lichenologist based in Olympia, Washington. His research uses interdisciplinary approaches to inform lichen biodiversity conservation. Stephen is currently an adjunct faculty member at the Evergreen State College, where he teaches botany, mycology, and biodiversity conservation.  

Location: Lost Lake Wetland and Wildlife Preserve
Time: 1 pm - 4 pm
Free and Open to All

K-12 educators can earn 3 clock hours (please RSVP to info@okanoganhighlands.org to register the clock hours!)

Carpooling will be available

To receive reminders and ALL the details, or register for clock hours, send an email to info@okanoganhighlands.org

https://okanoganhighlands.org/about/events/

Lichen Walk Bellevue Botanic Gardens

Friday, March 13, 2026

Looking for a winter activity for those shorter days in the Seattle & Bellevue area?

Why not consider lichens as an alternative? They grow on trees, shrubs and rocks in botanic gardens and can tell us about air quality and the make-up of plants and geology.  Botanic gardens can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and algae.  You will also learn about common lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart that lists lichens found in your neighborhood.

Always wondered about what lichens are and why they are found on your trees, fences, Rhododendrons and Azaleas? Lichens are harmless to your plants and add aesthetic value to trees and shrubs. We can actually use them as indicators of air pollution!  Join Dr. Katherine Glew for two hours at the Bellevue Botanic Gardens on Friday, March 13 to get a head start on learning lichens from one of the Seattle areas botanic gardens. The walk around the gardens is just over 1 mile.

Registration: Lichen Walk - Bellevue Botanical Garden

Fee: $28 - $40

Bring a hand lens & a copy of McCune/Geiser "Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest". The Lichen book can be purchased through Amazon or the University Book Store.

https://bellevuebotanical.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Garden-Map-MAP-ONLY-WITH-FUCHSIA-GARDEN.jpg

Walk through the Washington Park Arboretum and learn all about lichens and their growth!

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Looking for a Winter activity for those shorter days in Seattle? Why not consider lichens as an alternative? They grow on trees, shrubs and rocks in botanic gardens and can tell us about air quality and the make-up of plants and geology. Botanic gardens can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and algae. You will also learn about common lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart that lists lichens found in your neighborhood.

Join Dr. Katherine Glew for two hours at the Washington Park Arboretum on Saturday, March 7, to get a head start on learning lichens from one of Seattle’s botanic gardens. You can enjoy the late winter/early spring season by looking for lichens, rather than staying inside and missing out on the excitement of being outside.

The walk will cover about 1 mile.

Registration: 

UW Botanic Gardens

Scroll down to March 7 Lichen Walk.

A second date offered will be February 7.

Bring a hand lens or cell phone with a magnifier to view lichen details. A great field book is: "Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest" by McCune & Geiser. There are lots of lichen photos to use for identification. The book can be purchased through Amazon or The University Bookstore.

Registration Fee: $45

https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/washington-park-arboretum/visit/maps-trails/

LICHEN WALK at the BELLEVUE BOTANIC GARDENS
Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Looking for a winter activity for those shorter days in the Seattle & Bellevue area?

Why not consider lichens as an alternative? They grow on trees, shrubs and rocks in botanic gardens and can tell us about air quality and the make-up of plants and geology.  Botanic gardens can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and algae.  You will also learn about common lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart that lists lichens found in your neighborhood.

Always wondered about what lichens are and why they are found on your trees, fences, Rhododendrons and Azaleas? Lichens are harmless to your plants and add aesthetic value to trees and shrubs. We can actually use them as indicators of air pollution!  Join Dr. Katherine Glew for two hours at the Bellevue Botanic Gardens on Tuesday, February 10 to get a head start on learning lichens from one of the Seattle area's botanic gardens. The walk around the gardens is just over 1 mile.

Registration: Lichen Walk - Bellevue Botanical Garden

Fee: $28 - $40

Bring a hand lens & a copy of McCune/Geiser "Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest". The Lichen book can be purchased through Amazon or the University Book Store.

Walk through the Washington Park Arboretum and learn all about lichens and their growth!

Saturday, February 7, 2026

Looking for a Winter activity for those shorter days in Seattle? Why not consider lichens as an alternative? They grow on trees, shrubs and rocks in botanic gardens and can tell us about air quality and the make-up of plants and geology. Botanic gardens can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and algae. You will also learn about common lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart that lists lichens found in your neighborhood.

Join Dr. Katherine Glew for two hours at the Washington Park Arboretum on Saturday, February 7, to get a head start on learning lichens from one of Seattle’s botanic gardens. You can enjoy the winter season by looking for lichens, rather than staying inside and missing out on the excitement of being outside.

The walk will cover about 1 mile.

Registration: 

UW Botanic Gardens

Scroll down to February 7 Lichen Walk

A second date offered will be March 7.

Bring a hand lens or cell phone with a magnifier to view lichen details. A great field book is: "Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest" by McCune & Geiser. There are lots of lichen photos to use for identification. The book can be purchased through Amazon or The University Bookstore.

Registration Fee: $45

Maps & Trails | University of Washington Botanic Gardens

Walk through the Washington Park Arboretum and learn all about lichens and their growth!

Sunday, November 16, 2025

Looking for a Fall activity for those shorter days in Seattle? Why not consider lichens as an alternative? They grow on trees, shrubs and rocks in botanic gardens and can tell us about air quality and the make-up of plants and geology. Botanic gardens can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and algae. You will also learn about common lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart that lists lichens found in your neighborhood.

Join Dr. Katherine Glew for two hours at the Washington Park Arboretum on Sunday, November 16, to get a head start on learning lichens from one of Seattle’s botanic gardens. You can enjoy the late fall season by looking for lichens, rather than staying inside and missing out on the excitement of being outside. We will be walking about 1 mile.

Fee: $45

Registration: Classes & Workshops | University of Washington Botanic Gardens (uw.edu)

Bring a hand lens or cell phone with a magnifier to view lichen details. Consider "Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest." 2023. McCune & Geiser. 3rd Edition.

Wear clothing appropriate for the weather & water to drink.

Friday November 7, 2025

Looking for a Fall activity for those shorter days in the Seattle & Bellevue area?

Why not consider lichens as an alternative? They grow on trees, shrubs and rocks in botanic gardens and can tell us about air quality and the make-up of plants and geology.  Botanic gardens can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and algae.  You will also learn about common lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart that lists lichens found in your neighborhood.

Always wondered about what lichens are and why they are found on your trees, fences, Rhododendrons and Azaleas? Lichens are harmless to your plants and add aesthetic value to trees and shrubs. We can actually use them as indicators of air pollution!  Join Dr. Katherine Glew for two hours at the Bellevue Botanic Gardens on Friday, November 7 to get a head start on learning lichens from one of the Seattle areas botanic gardens.  

We will be walking about 1 mile.

Registration: Lichen Walk - Bellevue Botanical Garden

Fee: $24.50 - $35

Bring a hand lens, if you have one, water & McCune & Geiser 2023, "Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest".

Wear clothing appropriate for the weather.

Cemetery Lichens - Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Seattle

Katherine Glew, PhD

​

Saturday, October 25, 2025

Ghosts and Goblins in a cemetery for Hallowe'en?
Why not consider lichens as an alternative?  Lichens are friendly and
interesting organisms that love to grow on headstones and old trees.
Cemeteries can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic
organism made up of a fungus and algae.  You will also learn about common
lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart
that lists lichens found in your neighborhood.

Always wondered about what lichens are and why they are found on your trees
and Rhododendrons?  Lichens are harmless to your plants and add aesthetic
value to trees and shrubs. We can actually use them as indicators of air
pollution!  Join Dr. Katherine Glew and the Mount Pleasant Cemetery on Saturday, October 25 to get a head start on learning lichens from your local
cemetery.  You can enjoy Hallowe'en looking for lichens rather than scary
witches and pumpkin heads.

Dr. Katherine Glew is offering a 2 hour lichen experience at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Queen Anne in Seattle, Saturday, October 25 from 10:00am to noon. This offering will occur - rain, shine, wind, snow.........

To sign up for the course and read a description, go to the following link:

Classes & Workshops | University of Washington Botanic Gardens (uw.edu)

Bring a hand lens or cell phone with a magnifier to view lichen details. Consider "Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest", 2023 McCune & Geiser. 3rd Edition.

Wear appropriate clothing for the weather & water to drink.

Cost: $45 per lichen enthusiast

FALL LICHEN WALK at the BELLEVUE BOTANIC GARDENS 

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Looking for a Fall activity for those shorter days in the Seattle & Bellevue area?

Why not consider lichens as an alternative? They grow on trees, shrubs and rocks in botanic gardens and can tell us about air quality and the make-up of plants and geology.  Botanic gardens can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and algae.  You will also learn about common lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart that lists lichens found in your neighborhood.

Always wondered about what lichens are and why they are found on your trees, fences, Rhododendrons and Azaleas? Lichens are harmless to your plants and add aesthetic value to trees and shrubs. We can actually use them as indicators of air pollution!  Join Dr. Katherine Glew for two hours at the Bellevue Botanic Gardens on Tuesday, October 14 to get a head start on learning lichens from one of the Seattle areas botanic gardens.  

We will be walking about a mile.

Registration: Lichen Walk - Bellevue Botanical Garden

Fee: $24.50 - $35

Bring a hand lens, if you have one & a copy of "Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest" 2023, McCune & Geiser. 3rd Edition.

Wear appropriate clothing for the weather & water to drink.