Kruckeberg Botanic Garden

In Shoreline (Washington), a small, beautiful, intriguing botanical garden is tucked away in a deep, shady ravine. This woodland garden was created by Dr. Arthur Kruckeberg and his wife Mareen in 1958. Dr. Kruckeberg taught botany at University of Washington for many years (my spouse took a class from him and has fond memories of Dr. Kruckeberg), and Mareen was a self-taught botanist. Mareen started the on-site Kruckeberg Nursery, and both botanists started many of the plants seen in the Garden from seed. I will give you a link to the Garden at the end of this post.

The following pictures are from a winter morning walk through the Garden, which I have visited many times over the years in all seasons. The Garden evolves, changes, and grows in dynamic ways, creating something new to enjoy and learn about each time I visit.

The Garden is home to many old, stately trees.

A remarkable tree.

Creative use of rocks and woody debris is seen throughout.

A beautiful Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) graces this area.

A lovely, small stream planted with wetland plants occupies a portion of the lower garden.

Equisetum is one of my favorite plants, but I can grow it only in pots.
A beautiful Hamamelis x intermedia, Witch Hazel, graces this bed.

This beautiful sculpture, made of redwood and copper, is titled Wood Wave. It was created by the artist Bruce Johnson and gifted to the Garden in 2013.

Creative use of downed limbs makes a charming entrance to a children’s area.

Hardy winter Cyclamen is a beautiful groundcover.
The bark of a Pacific Yew, Taxus brevifolia. The tree has Landmark status.

Looking down into the Garden gives the feeling of entering a magical space. To learn more about Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, go to http://www.kruckeberg.org.

I hope you are able to visit this small, unique, and beautiful garden. You will be rewarded with inspiration and appreciation for the gifts a woodland garden offers.

2 thoughts on “Kruckeberg Botanic Garden

  1. A very soothing, clean look to this garden, ordered and yet natural. The photograph of the rock in the stream is particularly fetching.

    Like

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