Connect with Nature at These Breathtaking Seattle-Area Gardens
Simply take a stroll or get your hands dirty, the choice is yours!
Our favorite part about living in Seattle is that you’re never too far away from nature. You could be downtown, standing in the midst of skyscrapers, and only be 10 minutes away from a botanical garden or lake, less than1 hour away from a u-pick farm, or less than 2 hours away from the rivers and mountains.
The Seattle area has countless gardens, farms, parks, etc. to check out. Today, we’re focusing on our favorite garden-type locations. The kind of places where it’s ALL about the plants. Where someone has gone through much thought and care to cultivate flowers, vegetables, shrubs, etc.
We love visiting these kinds of places as research for our own home gardens. More than that, these places allow us to take a break from our screens, connect with the earth, and find healing.
Larsen Lake Blueberry Farm
LOCATION: 700 148th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98007
OVERVIEW: It’s a u-pick blueberry farm! They provide the buckets and you do all the work. There is also a small farm stand that sells local produce and flowers.
COST: parking and entry to the farm is free.
DOG FRIENDLY: yes!
BEST TIME TO VISIT: blueberry picking season starts in mid-july through the end of summer.
OTHER TIPS: yes there are restrooms on the farm. The heat during the summer can feel oppressive, so plan your outfit accordingly! Wear comfy shoes, breathable clothing, and maybe even a sun hat. There are also a few picnic spots if you work up a thirst/hunger after picking all those blueberries!
Woodland Park Rose Garden
LOCATION: 750 N 50th St, Seattle, WA 98103
OVERVIEW: it is nearly impossible to capture the beauty of this garden in a photo! Located at the Woodland Park Zoo, it features a large variety of roses and other pretty blooms that are meticulously cared for!
COST: parking is $6 at the hippo lot, entry is free.
DOG FRIENDLY: yes!
BEST TIME TO VISIT: we went at the end of July and everything was in full bloom. Roses in general bloom from mid spring to fall, so I’m sure the garden looks great then as well.
OTHER TIPS: There are restrooms at the Zoo and Education Center, but we had to be escorted by staff the entire time due to the kid’s camp going on. We suggest coming dressed in something cute and flowy and just romanticizing your life!
Lavender Hill Farm
LOCATION: 10425 SW 238th St, Vashon, WA 98070
OVERVIEW: okay, this one is a bit of a treck since you have to take a ferry to Vashon Island. But, it’s soooo worth it. The farm is everything our gardening dreams are made of! The lot is small at just 1/2 and acre, but packed with lots of varieties of lavender. You can clip your own lavender bunch, have a wreath made for you, and purchase lavender scented skincare products.
COST: parking and entry to the farm are free.
DOG FRIENDLY: yes!
BEST TIME TO VISIT: the u-cut season is generally mid June - July, but we recommend checking the website for up to date info.
OTHER TIPS: There are no restrooms on the farm, plan accordingly. Bees love lavender, so expect to be surrounded by them, they have important work to do! We def recommend making a day trip out of this. Vashon has a cute town center with good eats and local shops that we stopped at on our way to the farm. We also made a short stop to see the light house on our way back to the ferry terminal.
Washington Park Arboretum
LOCATION: 2300 Arboretum Dr E, Seattle, WA 98112
OVERVIEW: we might be the teensiest biased because the Arboretum is in our hood! The area is large and sprawling, so there’s lots to explore. If you can’t tell though, our favorite area is the pond. It’s where we take so many pictures! Our second favorite area is Azelea way, which blooms in the spring and fills the path with color!
COST: parking and entry is free.
DOG FRIENDLY: yes!
BEST TIME TO VISIT: there is something new blooming every season!
OTHER TIPS: There are restrooms at the visitor’s center. This is a great spot for a long summer picnic! With the area being so large, you can usually find a shady spot all to yourself. They’ve also been known to do plant sales, which sounds so fun!
