Lime Kiln Lighthouse

Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island, Washington

Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island, Washington

Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island, Washington

Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island, Washington

Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island, Washington

Friday, March 13, 2015

No. 307 Colorful Public Gardens around the Sound

Univerity of Washington Cherry Blossoms 2014University of Washington's Liberal Arts Quadrangle
Liberal Arts Quadrangle Cherry Blossoms
4182 NE Stevens Way, Seattle, WA 98105

One of the most popular places in Seattle for gazing at the bloom is at University of Washington's Liberal Arts Quadrangle. The original grove of Yoshino Cherry trees were planted in the Seattle Washington Arboretum around 1939. Later during construction of the 520 floating bridge 31 Yochina Cherry Trees were transplanted to the University of Washington campus. That makes this grove of white and pink fragrant cherry trees 75 years old. The average lifespan of a Yochina Cherry Tree is between 60 to 100 years.

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Seattle Japanese GardenSeattle Japanese Garden
1075 Lake Washington Blvd E
Seattle WA 98112


Opened to the Seattle public in 1960 the Seattle Japanese Garden celebrates 52 years of educating and inspiring visitors from around the world about the art of Japanese miniature idealized landscapes and garden design.
The garden located in the southwest corner of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens at Washington Park Arboretum, along Lake Washington Boulevard E., features over 100 types of plants, trees and koi ponds in a 3.5 acre gated area.

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Kubota Garden Foot Bridge
Kubota Garden
9817 55th Avenue S.
 Seattle, WA 


The Kubota Garden is a 20 acre asian style garden on a hill side in a south Seattle neighborhood that was started over 60 years ago by Mr. Fujitaro Kubota. After immigrating from Japan, Mr. Kubota a self-taught landscape and gardener built his landscaping business and soon began to plan and construct his vision of the Japanese-style garden on his private property in 1927. Continue Reading about Kubota Garden 





Nishiyama Japanese Nishiyama Japanese Garden
Everett Community College
90 Westmore Ave
Everett, WA

The Nishiyama Japanese Garden at Everett Community College represents a compressed world of mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, meadows and village. Access to the garden for self-guided tours is provided at no charge on days when EvCC classes are in session and on special occasions.
The garden has eleven primary elements, each with a quiet message of its own. These include entry gate, entry area, waterfall, stream, tea garden, rock garden, Tsubo garden, side gate, stone bridge, earthen bridge, Iwakuni wooden bridge, and stucco masonry wall with tiled roof enclosing the entire garden site.  
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Evergreen Arboretum & GardensEverett Arboretum
145 Alverson Blvd
Everett, WA 98201

Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens is both a place of beauty and education and is free to the public. Located on 3 ½ acres in Everett Washington, its ten themed gardens include the Urban Tree Walk, Entrance Garden, Rock Garden, Northwest Native Plant Trail, Rain Garden, Japanese Maple Grove, Northwest Demonstration Garden, Viewing Mound, Woodland and Conifer Gardens as well as the 200' Snohomish County Master Gardener's Demonstration Border and sculptures throughout. 
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Pacific Rim Bonsai Museum
Pacific Rim Bonsai Museum
2515 S. 336th St.

Federal Way, WA 


The Pacific Bonsai Museum features outstanding bonsai from the Pacific Rim nations of Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the United States.
Weyerhaeuser Company opened the Collection in 1989, in conjunction with the Washington State Centennial celebration.

Morning Rows YellowsSkagit Valley Daffodils
Mount Vernon, WA

For last 2 weeks the fields around Mount Vernon and La Connor, Washington have been seeing sign of spring. The daffodil fields are close to being in full bloom with many acres covered in rows upon rows of yellow speckles. It is definitely worth the trip to spend the afternoon driving through the floral route.
Daffodils are one of the early spring bloomers and you will want to go sooner than later. By end of March, early April and weather or wind blow off the tops of the Daffodils.

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Bellevue Botanical Garden Bellevue Botanical Gardens
12001 Main St, Bellevue, WA 

Bellevue Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located at 12001 Main Street, Bellevue, Washington. It is open daily; admission is free. The garden area includes display gardens, woodlands, meadows and wetlands

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Monday, March 9, 2015

No. 306 San Juan County Park Campground

San Juan County Park

San Juan Park Road
Friday Harbor, WA 98250


San Juan County Park is located on the western side of San Juan Island along the shore of Smallpox Bay. Its is both a day use and overnight campground taht features a gravel beach inside Smallpox Bay, a boat ramp, 20 campsites spread over 12 acres, Picnic Tables, Fire pits and seasonal water and toilets. Its a popular canoe and kayak launch area for paddlers. 
A variety of wildlife can be scene from shore such as eagles, otters, herons, and the occaional orca whale passing by on their way to Lime Kiln State Park 
San Juan County Park is equal distance from Roche Harbor or Friday Harbor about a 25 minute drive. 
The peak park visitor season is from May through September. To make a reservation check out the parks website http://www.co.san-juan.wa.us/parks/sanjuan.aspx





San Juan County Park
Smallpox Bay, San Juan Island
San Juan County Park
Fallen Tree 
San Juan County Park

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

No. 305 Lime Kiln Lighthouse State Park

Lime Kiln Point State Park
1567 Westside Road
Friday Harbor, Wa 98250
Hours: 8am to Dusk

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Lime Kiln Lighthouse State Park


Lime Kiln Point State Park is located on the western side of San Juan Island. The 36 acres state park features over a mile of trails that wander down to the waters edge and through a grove of pacific madrone tree to the Lime Kiln Lighthouse. Beginning in the 1860s the west side of San Juan Island was quarried for lime stone and a good portion on the island was deforested to feed the fires that transformed limestone into lime, which was then used in construction mortar.
A shoreline viewpoint is about a 10 minute walk from the parking lot. The rocky shoreline plunges to over 900 feet in depth quickly. Through the daily tidal currents from Haro Straight into the Gulf of Georgia nutrients rich waters are pushed up against the island attracting a variety of marine life to congregate just off shore including fish, otters, sea lions, seals, minke whales and orca whales that come to play in the kelp beds and hunt for salmon.
Depending on the time of year Lime Kiln Point is a popular land based whale spotting location.

Lime Kiln Lighthouse is a 38 foot octagonal building built on a rock cliff 20 feet above the waterline and the fourth-order Fresnel lens was first light in 1919. The lighthouse tower was built atop of a fog signal building. In 1951 the Bonnevile Power Administration laid a submarine power cable from Anacortes, WA to San Juan Island and the Fresnel lens was replaced by a non-rotating electric bulb, and two electric foghorns were installed. The light station became fully automated in 1962.
In 1984 the lighthouse station and grounds were turned over by the United States Coast Guard to  Washington State Parks. The USCG still maintains the lighthouse tower as an active aid to marine navigation, but the building is used by the Friends of Lime Kiln Society as an Interpretive Center for Special Events and Tours.

Discover Pass: An Annual Discover Pass or a Day Use fee is required for vehicle access to the park for day use. No over night parking











Lime Kiln State Park

Lime Kiln Lighthouse State Park Lime Kiln Lighthouse State Park Lime Kiln Lighthouse State Park Lime Kiln Lighthouse State Park Lime Kiln State Park