Explore An Unexpected Arboretum In This Small Washington Town
By Andrea Verschuyl|Published October 25, 2023
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Andrea Verschuyl
Author
Having grown up in Washington, Andrea is a self-admitted Pacific Northwest snob. In their opinion, there's simply nowhere else in the country with the Evergreen State's beauty. After attending university, Andrea devoted themselves to writing full-time. They're thrilled to represent Washington for Only In Your State while pursuing other professional and personal projects. They currently reside in Olympia, where they enjoy leaf-blowing their yard, perfecting homemade ramen, cuddling with their three tiny dogs, and feeding their pufferfish, Sea Biscuit.
Despite its proximity to bustling Seattle, Bainbridge Island remains a quiet community of just over 20,000 residents. Densely forested and sparsely populated, you might not expect to find one of the country's most highly regarded arboretums tucked away here.
Its existence is all thanks to the generosity of Canadian lumber magnates Virginia and Prentice Bloedel, who operated MacMillan Bloedel Limited from nearby Vancouver. Dedicated to conservation and Asian philosophy, the couple transformed their Bainbridge estate into a 140-acre reserve, even leaving their opulent Chateau-style home (along with many of its original furnishings) to act as the foundation's visitor center.
Though it's open year-round, the Bloedel Reserve maintains its tranquility through staggered reservations guests make before their visit. Though walk-ups aren't permitted, admission is only $22 per adult, with reduced prices for seniors, students, and children.
Exploring Bloedel is immersive, and the grounds teem with enchanting trails and vantage points that encourage a leisurely, contemplative pace. The Japanese Garden and Guesthouse are superb examples of structural and landscape architecture, but they aren't the only highlights of the reserve.
Guests may also relax in front of the reflection pool, marvel at the foliage in the Jurassic Garden, or spot wildlife dart through the Buxton Bird Marsh and Pollinator Meadow. Each of these areas is lovingly curated and maintained by the foundation's staff of master horticulturalists and designers.
Drizzly weather transforms already whimsical spaces like the Moss Garden into other-worldly landscapes of green and gray, and a crisp fall day accentuates the firey colors of deciduous trees throughout the arboretum.
Though it may surprise you, you’ll find Washington’s most beautiful arboretum in the sleepy island community of Bainbridge. If you find yourself staying on the island or you’re just traveling through, few excursions will enchant you as completely as your visit to Bloedel Reserve. In Washington, it’s easy to forget that you can experience spectacular beauty in a garden, not just on a hike. After my first visit to Bloedel, I was planning my next. In the chaos of everyday life, it’s worth setting aside time to appreciate nature.
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