Visit Local Botanical Gardens this Spring

The Seattle area is home to many beautiful botanical gardens, which are gardens dedicated to the collection, cultivation, preservation and display of a wide range of plants. Botanical gardens are known as such because each plant is labeled with its botanical name. A visit to one of our many local botanical gardens is a great springtime activity for families that is both fun and educational.

Bellevue Botanical Garden 

Located at 12001 Main Street in Bellevue, the Bellevue Botanical Garden is open daily, dawn to dusk, and there is no admission fee. The City of Bellevue owns and manages the garden, which was opened in 1992 and designed to be a space to be enjoyed by the community. The garden encompasses 53 acres of cultivated gardens, restored woodlands, and natural wetlands and showcases plants that thrive in the Pacific Northwest. Bellevue Botanical Garden is also offering virtual gardening classes during the pandemic. Visit their website for more information.

Soos Creek Botanical Garden and Heritage Center

The Soos Creek Botanical Garden and Heritage Center is open to the public seasonally, March through November. The 22-acre garden is located on what was originally 200 acres owned by Norwegian immigrant ancestors of Maurice Skagen. The heritage center is devoted to highlighting the farming life of the early settlers on the Soos Creek plateau during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Opening day for the garden in 2021 is March 3, although the heritage center indoor display is closed until further notice during Covid-19 restrictions.

Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic Gardens 

The Washington Park Arboretum is open to the public daily and admission is free. Take a self-guided tour through 230 acres of gardens, natural areas, and wetlands that includes species of plants that cannot be found anywhere else in the local area. The UW Botanic Gardens also includes a beautiful Japanese Garden which is managed by the City of Seattle and has a small entry fee. This 3.5-acre urban sanctuary features all the elements of a traditional Japanese garden with stones, water, lanterns, bridges, buildings, and plants.

Highline SeaTac Botanical Gardens 

Situated on approximately 11 acres adjacent to the North SeaTac Community Center, the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden is a one-of-a-kind heritage location created to preserve some of the area’s most treasured gardens. Two of the gardens were physically moved to their current location to prevent their demolition during SeaTac Airport’s third runway project. Admission to the garden is free and it is open daily from dawn to dusk. Leashed dogs are allowed at the garden which features displays of roses and a Japanese garden. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043