June Plant Pick
Grounds and Horticulture Associate Sean Petersen has picked the Chilean Lantern Tree as June’s Plant of the Month. A definite contender as a […]
The Reflection Pool
One of the most striking landscapes on the Reserve is hidden away behind tall yew hedges. The Reflection Pool is a stark and […]
Strolls at Home, Week 8
This week’s theme of Freedom could not be more timely. What does freedom mean to you? Where do you find expressions of freedom […]
Creative Resident: Anna Brones
A Creative Resident at Bloedel Reserve in 2018, Anna Brones is a writer, film producer, and visual artist.
The Vashon […]
Alpine Water Fern
This little fern makes a colorful impact in both the Moss and Japanese Gardens at Bloedel Reserve. Learn more here about this […]
Blooms in the Meadow
As part of the renovation and redesign of the Buxton Bird Marsh and Meadow, an extensive planting took place earlier this year. The hope […]
Creative Resident: Jenny Maybee
A Creative Resident at Bloedel Reserve in 2018, Jenny Maybee has created a stunning 30-day photo essay documenting her experience […]
Not a Skunk, Not a Cabbage
This bright yellow bloom is a sure sign that spring has arrived at the Reserve. Learn more about this beautiful, if somewhat […]
Artful Arrangements
Cathy Tyler has been the florist at Bloedel Reserve for more than 11 years. She began her relationship with the Reserve first as a […]
Strolls at Home, Week 7
Joy is the theme for this week’s walk. Joy comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. What elements will you […]
Creative Resident: Gina Rae La Cerva
Gina Rae La Cerva is an environmental anthropologist and writer. She was also a Creative Resident at Bloedel Reserve in 2018. Her first […]
Weeds 101: Pretty Imposter
This lovely yellow flower is not what you think it is. Learn why the Yellow Flag Iris is one of Bloedel Reserve’s most […]
Strolls at Home, Week 6
Forgiveness is the theme for this walk. This practice goes cuts right to the heart. Be gentle with yourself as you explore […]
Building Bridges
When you walk the trail at Bloedel Reserve, sooner or later you will come to the Trestle Bridge. A beautiful structure, almost sculptural in […]
Behind the Scenes: Haley Wiggins
From time to time, we’ll introduce you to the people who keep Bloedel Reserve thriving. Here Grounds & Horticulture Associate Haley Wiggins describes […]
More About Moss
Moss Garden Specialist Darren Strenge is cultivating a moss species that currently doesn’t live in the Bloedel Reserve Moss Garden. Read more about the
What’s in Bloom in May
The blooming plants around Bloedel Reserve are as varied as they are eye-catching. Director of Grounds & Horticulture Andy Navage has captured some of […]
Strolls at Home, Week 5
This week’s theme is Journey. Journeys come in all lengths — minutes, days, weeks — and types — physical, spiritual, emotional. Even […]
Weeds 101: Scotch Broom
Don’t let those bright yellow blossoms fool you! Scotch Broom is a noxious weed that can wreak havoc on a landscape. Learn […]
May Plant Pick
Our plant pick for the month of May is “False Solomon’s Seal.” Click here to find out more about this member of the […]
Strolls at Home, Week 4
This week’s theme is Transition. We know that spring is a huge time of transition in nature. But transitions are happening in […]
The Sand and Stone Garden
The Japanese Garden at Bloedel Reserve is considered one of the best in the world. One of its most prominent and unique features […]
Creative Resident: Catherine Alice Michaelis
Catherine Alice Michaelis is a talented visual artist and printer whose limited-edition books celebrate the natural world. Catherine was to be our […]
The Trailblazers
Conservation & Stewardship
Maintaining the Reserve is a multi-faceted endeavor encompassing everything from plant propagation and organic composting to the creation of new landscapes and […]
Strolls at Home, Week 3
We’re very glad you are enjoying Strolls at Home. The theme for this week addresses something we are all trying to find more […]
Orchids? Really!
One of our readers asked about the orchid we showed last week and wondered how we were managing to grow them. Director of Grounds […]
Fern Frenzy
When the Grounds and Horticulture team was working earlier this spring, they got some questions from guests who were surprised to see them cutting […]
Preparing the Pumpkin Patch
The Super Squash Scavenger Hunt is a month-long October tradition at Bloedel Reserve. We hide hundreds of squash and pumpkins around the grounds for […]
Creative Resident: Judith Bowles
We continue our celebration of National Poetry Month with this offering from Judith Bowles, from her collection The Gathering.
Judith was a Creative Resident at […]
What’s in Bloom in April
The flowering plants and shrubs are making quite a show at the Reserve. Here are just a few colorful examples. Photos courtesy of Andy […]
Strolls at Home, Week 2
We launched Strolls at Home last week and your response has been incredibly gratifying. We’ll be posting new themes and prompts in the […]
Strolls at Home, Week 1
Our Strolls for Well-Being program is a free series of self-guided walks that take place on the Bloedel Reserve grounds. Because we are […]
The Moss Garden
The Moss Garden is one of our most unusual features. Very few public gardens anywhere in the world have space dedicated to the […]
Magnolias & More
The larger specimen trees and shrubs are also budding, adding their own colors and textures to the landscape. Hover over or click the images […]
Trilliums Everywhere
Because some of you specifically asked to see the Bloedel Reserve trilliums, we’re giving you a trillium sampler. There are many varieties around […]
Making the Beds
Every season has its chores. This spring, we’ve built and planted new beds around our Floral Workshop. Did you know the seasonal arrangements you […]
Creative Resident: David Keplinger
April is National Poetry Month and we have often marked the occasion with poetry installed around the grounds.
Given this year’s unusual circumstances, we’re […]
Waste Not, Want Not
Did you know that the wattle fencing you see all around our landscapes is handmade by our Grounds & Horticulture Manager Joe DeMaio, using […]
Creative Resident: CMarie Fuhrman
Due to the current COVID-19 epidemic, our Creative Residency artists are having to change their travel plans. Our April Resident — […]
Creative Resident: Nathan DiPietro
Our Creative Residency Program brings artists and innovative thinkers to Bloedel Reserve to spend time communing with nature and developing […]
What’s in Bloom in March
These are just some of the flowering plants that are moving from our greenhouses into the Rhododendron Glen. All but the rhododendron, of course, […]
Bloedel Reserve’s Transitioning Forest
THE EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. It will be rescheduled at a later date.