No. 307 Colorful Public Gardens around the Sound

University 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 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
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 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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Everett 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
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.

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Skagit 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 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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No. 296 Pacific Rim Bonsai Museum

Pacific Rim Bonsai Museum
2515 S. 336th St.
Federal Way, WA 98003
website: http://pacificbonsaimuseum.org/
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Hours

Tuesdays – Sundays (closed Mondays)
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM year-round

Admission is free.

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. The Collection was established to symbolize Weyerhaeuser’s long-term commitments to its customers, its community, and its forest resources. At the end of 2013 the corporation gifted the entire collection to a new non-profit, The George Weyerhaeuser Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, now known as the Pacific Bonsai Museum.

There are currently about 100 trees in the Collection, about 60 of which are on display in the viewing area, while the others are held in reserve in a “growing area” that is not open to the public. Trees are periodically rotated between the growing area and display area in order to add variety and seasonal interest to the exhibit. Many of the trees are well-known to those familiar with the art, having been featured in books or magazines. Several of the trees have won awards for quality and many are the work of nationally or internationally famous artists. All have been nurtured with care and patience by skilled hands.

Museum Mission

The Pacific Bonsai Museum collection serves as cultural and educational resource for the Puget Sound region and beyond. Visitors of all ages and cultures will be inspired and delighted as they discover the depth and beauty of this interpretive art form.

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No. 178 Bellevue Botanical Gardens

Bellevue Botanical Garden

12001 Main St, Bellevue, WA

(425) 452-2750 ‎ · bellevuebotanical.org

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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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No. 143 Garden D'Lights

Bellevue Botanical Garden
12001 Main Street
Bellevue, WA 
 Website:http://www.gardendlights.org/index.htm

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The Bellevue Botanical Gardens in not just in bloom during spring and summer months. Every winter thousands of colorful stringed Christmas lights get turned into glowing flowers inspired by local pacific varieties, interesting shapes, over 30 animals and flowing rivers of lights. Thousands of volunteer hours are spent through out the year upgrading and adding new elements to the light show.
Garden D'Lights runs from November 24th through December 31st from 5:00pm to 10:00pm Every Evening Including Holidays (last entry at 9:30pm). 
There is free parking east of the garden. Tickets cost $5 per person and can be reserved online here http://www.bellevuebotanical.org/prodInfo.asp?pid=129&cid=2

Remember to dress appropriately for the night viewing. It takes about 90min to see everything and depending on crowed level a bit longer. Rain, cold weather, snow and icy conditions are common. 


 

Tropical Plants in 28 degree weather

Swan Lake in Lights

Swan Lake in Lights

Charlotte's Web

Purple Grapes

 

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No. 141 Volunteer Park Conservatory

Volunteer Park Conservatory
1400 East Galer Street
 Seattle, WA
 website: http://www.volunteerparkconservatory.org/

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Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 4pm

Built in 1912 the Volunteer Park Conservatory now compromises of 5 buildings that feature bromeliads, ferns, palms, seasonal, and cacti and succulents. Made up of 3,426 glass panes fit into a wood and iron framework, this Victorian-style greenhouse structure is modeled on London's Crystal Palace.

Red  Anthurium cultivar

Blooming Tiger Eye Maple Leaf

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No. 137 Kubota Garden

 9817 55th Avenue S.
 Seattle, WA 
Website: http://www.kubota.org/index.htm

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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.
60 years later In 1987, the City of Seattle bought the garden from the Kubota family, and it is now maintained by the Department of Parks and Recreation as well as volunteers from the Kubota Garden Foundation.
The Kubota Gardens has many trails that are lined with many varieties of trees and plants that bloom each year, bubbling brooks, waterfalls and stone and wood foot bridges.

 The garden is open to the public every day during daylight hours all year round.

Kubota Garden Main Gate

Moon Bridge and small pond

Orange Maple Sunrise

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No. 136 Seattle Japanese Garden

1075 Lake Washington Blvd E
Seattle WA 98112

Reminder : The Japanese Garden will close to the Public Sunday November 11, 2012  for the rest of the year until February 2013

website: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/japanesegarden.htm
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HOURS - 2012 Season
Feb 17 - April 1 Tues-Sun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
April 3 - May 6 Tues-Sun 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May 7 - Sept 16 Mon-Sun 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sept 17 - Oct 29 Mon-Sun 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oct 30 - Nov 11 Tues-Sun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Japanese Garden will close to the Public Sunday November 11, 2012  for the season until winter 2013


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.
For more information on the garden you can visit http://www.theseattlejapanesegarden.com/index.html

ADMISSION
Adults 18-64: $6
Youths 6–17, Senior Adults 65+, College students with ID, & Disabled: $4
Children 0-5: FREE

Aerial Shot looking down at Seattle Japanese garden from Longbach Nyguen

Entrance of Japanese Garden in Fall

Stone Bridge crossing stream in front of large Koi pond

Reflecting on images on wooden bridge

Fall colors appear around the garden

Afternoon light hits the maple cove

Blue Heron keeps watch on bank

Plenty of Wildlife to see around the arboretum

Maples turning color

Japanese stone lantern on the pond edge

Fiery Fall Colors

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