Bloedel Reserve was featured in the above online edition of the New York Times along with seven other gardens across the United States entitled ‘Greet Spring with a Visit to a Public Garden’. As this is the first I learned of Bloedel Reserve, I thought others would also enjoy the magnificence of the Reserve just a little ways north of us on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Begin your virtual tour by clicking on ‘Bloedel Reserve’ below.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WASH.

From New York Times, March 20, 2021

Bloedel Reserve

Tucked away on the northern end of Bainbridge Island, a 35-minute ferry ride from Seattle, is this 150-acre experiential garden and forest reserve. The reserve has a one-way, two-mile loop trail that runs through 23 different plant areas, including the early spring blooms of witch hazel, gooseberry and western trillium. In March, rhododendrons glow in the Glen, an area planted with the favorite flowers of Virginia Bloedel, the wife of the timber heir Prentice Bloedel; the couple bought the land in 1951 and transformed it into a reserve. Another highlight is the Buxton Bird Marsh and Meadow, where more than 50 native wildflower varieties and close to 50,000 bulbs aim to attract pollinators. A recent composer in residence conducted a “scent tour,” and provides instructions on the reserve’s website for visitors interested in taking a fragrance-focused walk, particularly potent in this second pandemic spring. Tickets (starting at $17 for adults) must be booked in advance. Through a free “Strolls for Well-Being” program, participants receive a six-month membership to the reserve and a guidebook of 12 self-guided walks, with themes such as forgiveness or gratitude.

For the other seven gardens featured in this article, click here