From Our Backyard to Yours

Bob Braid: Decades of Stewardship at Bloedel Reserve On a cold, rain-soaked January morning, Kyle Mahoney and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Bob Braid, Senior Horticulturist and longtime Caretaker of the Bloedel [...]

Emily Nemens, Writer, Editor, Illustrator, & Educator In residence, March 6-26 Bloedel Reserve is thrilled to welcome Emily Nemens as a Creative Resident. Writers often speak of finding their voice. For Emily Nemens, voice has [...]

March 2026 LATIN NAME: Edgeworthia chrysantha COMMON NAME: Paperbush FAMILY: Thymelaeaceae TYPE: Deciduous shrub LOCATION AT BLOEDEL RESERVE: Rhododendron Glen ORIGIN: China GARDEN USES: Woodland Garden FUN FACT: Covered in umbelliferous clusters of small, tubular yellow [...]

This February, we celebrate the life of Mary Elizabeth Banning (1822–1903), a self-taught mycologist and botanical illustrator whose devotion to the often-overlooked kingdom of fungi echoes the Reserve’s own ethos: to honor all forms of [...]

Successfully establishing a meadow is a multi-year process, and the foundation of that success lies in thorough site preparation. One mantra often used in meadow-making is “take no prisoners,” because the more completely you address [...]

Paul Hayden Kirk: Architect of the Japanese Guest House One of the most cherished spaces at the Bloedel Reserve is the Japanese Guest House. Set within a serene landscape, it offers a place for contemplation [...]