– The beautiful blossoms at the Arboretum during spring time.
Washington Park Arboretum | Seattle
The Washington Park Arboretum is a public park in Seattle that is jointly run by University of Washington, the City of Seattle and the Arboretum Foundation. The arboretum is basically a big garden consist of trees and plants from all over the world. They have about 40,000 species of trees and plants in the garden. That is a lot of plants. If you are very much into trees, flowers, shrubs and all of the different fauna out there, this place will be like a treasure island for you. You can spend hours and hours admiring, identifying, learning about all the plants they have here. Sounded boring to those who are not into plants? Not really. The Arboretum is a huge park, so there are a lot of other things you can do here, such as picnic (no fire), hiking, walking, running, jogging, bicycling, birdwatching and all the other outdoor activities you normally do. If you are not into plants like me, the good news is, you do not need to be a plant expert to enjoy the beautiful blooms here during spring time and the gorgeous fall foliage during fall time, even if you can’t name a single plant here, again, like me.
The Arboretum is located in Seattle around the Madison Valley area. It is at the area where the 520 bridge exit into Lake Washington BLVD. Once you are driving on Lake Washington BLVD, the green area you see on both side of the road is the Arboretum. The best way to get to the Arboretum is to go from SR 520 and take the Lake Washington BLVD East exit. You are right there as soon as you exit. If you are coming from Seattle, the easiest way will be to take E Madison St towards Lake Washington, keep driving until you see Lake Washington BLVD E and take a left onto it.
As I mentioned earlier, the arboretum is a big park, and it has multiple entry points. The best way to visit the park though, especially if you are not familiar with the area and the park, is to start at their visiting center at 2300 Arboretum Drive East, Seattle, WA 98112. There are parking right around the visitor center. However, these parking get filled fast during summer days or any days Seattle is having nice weather. There are overflow parking just down the hill from the visitor center.
The visiting center is usually staff with a very nice and helpful gentleman/lady. I read somewhere that they are supposedly botanist themselves. I do not know this for sure, I never ask. Since I don’t know anything about plants, I would not know what to ask anyway. But they are very helpful nonetheless, you can ask them any questions you have about the park and you can also get a map of the park from them. I think the visitor center is the only place where you can find restroom. I could be wrong, but an important information nevertheless.
There is also a bookstore/souvenir store inside the visitor center. The bookstore is gear towards books on local indigenous plants. The also sell local indigenous plants for your own garden on the other side of the visitor center.
* Map of the arboretum.
If do not know where to start with the Arboretum, start here at the Azalea Way. The Azalea Way is probably the equivalent of a main street in a city. If you have limited time and can’t hangout for long, walk this path.
Azalea Way is one of the main walking path at the park. It almost always guaranteed a beautiful walk. Whatever the season (except winter), you will find something spectacular here. The beautiful red, white, Pink flower blooms in spring, the bright and plentiful Rhododendron in summer, and the golden and red foliage in fall. Even in Winter, if you are lucky enough to find snow covering the park, which is rare in Seattle, you are due for a magical experience.
Endless trees and endless plants here offer a chance for us City people to some good quality oxygen. I swear after every walk at the park, my thoughts are clearer and my focus is sharper, and I feel better about everything in life.
The Arboretum is very popular for joggers, runner, and walking. The park has a very well maintain trail system, and it’s trail is connected with neighboring trail system, it can goes from Madison Valley all the way to University of Washington, so you can really put in some good walk and good run at the park. It’s not much of a place to hike, since the topography here is pretty flat, just a bump here and there.
There are all sort of flowers along the walking path, unfortunately, I don’t know much about flower, so I can’t name them. I do enjoy looking at them though. If you are into flower and you like to identify flowers and other plants, you will have a blast.
Rhododendron, once of the main species feature here, blooms through out the seasons except winter. The park has collection of Rhododendron from all around the world. Rhododendron from different area flower at different time, that’s why you can always count on one of the Rhododendron to be in bloom whenever you visit the park.
The Washington Park Arboretum is really a nice park. Even if you just go there to do nothing, just go there to sit on one of the benches under one of the gorgeous tree, relax, fill your lung with fresh air, you are guaranteed to feel refresh in no time and can start your life anew.
Why visit the Washington Park Arboretum:
* Walking, running, jogging
* Picnic, lunch break, relaxing
* Meditating, yogaing, dozing
* Plant Watching, identifying, admiring
* Walk your baby, walk your dog, walk your cat (I haven’t seen this one yet)
* Romantic walk, family fun, friends chitchating
Special time to visit:
* Mid-March to April for the spring flowers
* Late September to early November for the fall colors
* Any time in winter when Seattle is lucky enough to have snow
/Lumaca Moderno
Great post, really qualitative pictures and very inviting place!
Thanks Thalia, please come visit Seattle when you have a chance :)
Great pics! And what a lovely place, I wanna go there!
Thanks, Neja, appreciate the kind word :)
so nice … beautiful pictures..good description. all the best
Thank you :)