From Our Backyard to Yours

October 2020 — Your “virtual visit” to Bloedel Reserve

Want to learn more about what is happening behind the scenes and around the grounds at Bloedel Reserve?  Use the links below to explore Bloedel Reserve from wherever you happen to be.

Posted: 10/30/2020

Creativity & Inspiration: Videos from Sarah Wallace Scott

We were pleased to host Sarah Wallace Scott as our Creative Resident during the month of October.

A sculptor who employs a wide variety of natural materials in her constructions, Sarah said she wanted to explore stop-motion video work during her time at Bloedel Reserve. Click the links to the right to see two videos — “Tree Hugging” and “Leaves of Fall” — inspired by her stay with us.

Posted: 10/30/2020

Horticulture & Design: Black Mondo Grass

It’s not grass and it’s not actually black. But Black Mondo Grass, the dark purple plant that lines the walkway to the Japanese Guest House and the entrance to the Japanese Garden, is an eye-catcher all the same.

Plant expert and member of our Grounds & Horticulture team, Darren Strenge, takes a closer look at this striking specimen.

Black Mondo Grass Along the Path

Posted: 10/16/2020

Horticulture & Design: The Colors of Fall

Every year, Bloedel Reserve plays host to guests who come specifically to see its fall colors on display. In fact, Gardener’s World host Monty Don and his film crew were on the grounds last October to capture the Reserve’s autumnal beauty for their BBC series American Gardens.

The wide variety of trees and shrubs at Bloedel Reserve produce fall leaves in spectacular shades of yellow, red, and purple. The Japanese Maples in the Japanese Garden are particularly impressive this time of year. But do you know why the leaves turn such eye-catching colors? Grounds and Horticulture staff member Darren Strenge breaks it all down for you here.

Posted: 10/8/2020

Horticulture & Design: The Japanese Garden

The Japanese Garden is one of the most popular gardens at Bloedel Reserve and it also is one of the first gardens the Bloedels developed after they purchased the property that is now Bloedel Reserve.

Renowned Japanese garden designer Fujitaro Kubota was hired to envision and install the garden. Want to know how he organically created the shape of the garden and personally selected and placed its original stones and plantings? Click here to read more.

Pruned White Pine in the Japanese Garden

Posted: 10/7/2020

Horticulture & Design: Plants of the Month

We didn’t mean to let September slip by us without publishing a “Plant of the Month.” So we’re fixing that omission by giving you both September and October plant profiles from our resident Plant of the Month expert Sean Peterson.

For September, Sean selected the Rough-Leaved Hydrangea and for October he picked the wildly colorful Persian Ironwood. To see all of the Plant of the Month picks for 2020 so far, click here.

Rough-Leaved Hydrangea
Persian Ironwood, October 2020 Plant of the Month

Posted: 10/7/2020

Creativity & Inspiration: Welcome Sarah Wallace Scott

We are pleased to welcome October Creative Resident Sarah Wallace Scott, to Bloedel Reserve. A sculptor and visual artist from Denver, Sarah will be in residence from October 5th through the 25th. While at the Reserve, Sarah plans to work intensively on a stop-motion animation film using characters made of handmade, recycled paper. Read more about Sarah and see samples of her work here.

Posted: 10/1/2020

Save the Dates: Gratitude Days
Saturday & Sunday, October 10-11

Gratitude Day is when we offer free admission to Bloedel Reserve. This is one way we can express our enormous gratitude to our friends, fans, and the entire community for their love of Bloedel Reserve. We want to especially encourage people who are new to Bloedel Reserve to sign up for a free visit during Gratitude weekend.

This year, we have to adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols. So, we have added a second free day in order to be able to welcome more people to the grounds than one day would allow. Timed Tickets are required for admission.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Time slots are limited and will fill quickly.
  • Tickets for Saturday, Oct 10, will be available beginning Friday, Oct 9.
  • Tickets for Sunday, Oct 11, will be available beginning Saturday, Oct 10.
  • All guests must have advance tickets and masks for admission to the grounds.
  • We cannot admit walk-ups at this time.
Family in the fall at Bloedel Reserve

Posted: 10/1/2020

Horticulture & Design: The Super Squash Scavenger Hunt Is Back!

This all-ages, autumn tradition got its start in 2011 and has been going strong ever since. This year, we’ve added a fun new contest featuring our two Dill’s Atlantic Giant pumpkins. You can read more about the history of the squash hunt and meet Bloedel’s “Gourd Guru.” To get all the details about the 2020 Super Squash Scavenger Hunt and Giant Pumpkin Contest, click here.

The biggest and the smallest varieties this year (2020)

Posted: 10/1/2020

Conservation & Stewardship: The Age of Nature
Wednesdays, October 14, 21 & 28

Bloedel Reserve is pleased to sponsor a new PBS series during the month of October.  The Age of Nature is a three-part series narrated by Uma Thurman that explores humanity’s relationship with nature and wildlife. It airs on KCTS9, Wednesdays, at 7 PM. Scientists, conservationists, and indigenous people from seven continents examine the changing world we live in and some surprising ways that we can restore our planet. Tune in for an eye-opening look at this place we call home. To see a preview, click here.

Missed a Story? Want to Read More?

You’ll find links to all of our Backyard “back issues” here.

Ask Us

Is there something about Bloedel Reserve you’d like us to highlight here? Some burning question you’ve always wanted to ask our horticultural team? Let us know. Send us an email at in**@bl************.org.

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