From Our Backyard to Yours

A Landscape Jewel: The Story Behind Bloedel's Reflection Pool --Written by Jane Carlin, Volunteer Reflection pools have been in the national news recently, prompting me to look more closely at one of the most beloved [...]

August 2026 LATIN NAME: Hydrangea aspera ‘Kawakamii’ COMMON NAME: Rough-leaved hydrangea Kawakami Group FAMILY: Hydrangeaceae TYPE: Deciduous shrub ORIGIN: Taiwan GARDEN USES: Woodland Garden LOCATION AT THE RESERVE: Birch Garden FUN FACT: These elegant lacecap flowerheads attract [...]

Name That Plant --Written by Jane Carlin, Volunteer One of the great joys of walking through Bloedel Reserve is that each visit reveals something new. A blossom emerging along a woodland path, the texture of [...]

Seeing Nature Through an Artist's Eyes: Meet Virginia Hein When artist Virginia Hein moved from Los Angeles to Port Townsend last year, she found herself immersed in an entirely new landscape. The Pacific Northwest's moss-covered [...]

Stephen de Filippo, Composer & Multi-media Artist In residence, July 6-20 This July, Stephen de Filippo joins Bloedel Reserve as our Creative Resident. Stephen de Filippo is an Australian composer and multi-media artist from Wadandi [...]

July 2026 LATIN NAME: Rhododendron prunifolium COMMON NAME: Plumleaf Azalea FAMILY: Ericaceae TYPE: Deciduous shrub ORIGIN: Southeastern United States GARDEN USES: Woodland Shade Garden LOCATION AT THE RESERVE: Birch Garden FUN FACT: One of the last [...]