Bloedel Reserve

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Bloedel Reserve

Parent Category: Gardens

in Bainbridge Island

Created: 04 November 2014

Address:	7571 N.E. Dolphin Drive, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Admission and Hours:	Year-round, call for summer and winter hours; General $12.00, Senior & Military $8.00 Children 5-12 $6.00, Under 5 free
Acreage:	150

Pictures below will take you on a virtual tour to the colorful garden! Enjoy this autumn scenery!

Description:

Our journey to the Bloedel Reserve starts from the scenic ferry ride to Bainbridge Island. Open your eyes and enjoy stunning views of the skyline of Seattle, the Cascades and the Olympic Mountains.

The Bloedel Reserve is a harmonious combination of designed gardens and natural forest that offers a unique experience. No doubt, this 150-acres garden estate is one of the best in the United States.

Fall is extremely beautiful here and the pictures below prove it. The walk around the reserve starts from the parking lot. I should say that even parking is creative here: green grass and pavestones became one. The colors here in autumn are unbelievable, there are so many different kinds of trees and plants, and every plant has its’ unique autumn clothes…so beautiful!

Landscaped gardens and lush forestry is a wonderful opportunity to escape from the urban life and just see, listen and enjoy the beauty of nature that is given to us. Here, near the Reflection Pool enclosed by a green yew hedge, and at the Japanese Garden that has a meditative stone garden people have perfect opportunity to meditate about the meaning of life, about its transience and about all the opportunities life sets before us. This beautiful surrounding at the Bloedel Reserve brought to my mind a poem:

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night…

Life is great, but lets’ continue our walk around the garden. Visitors will surely enjoy the French-style manor house – it’s a Visitor Center that has a wonderful library: books o botany, wildlife, horticulture and gardening.

This reserve is home for geese and ducks, there is a special refuge island in the pond where migratory ducks overwinter.
As for the natural woods, visitors enjoy the Northwest forest, including western red cedar, Douglas fir, hemlock…all covered with moss.

The history of the reserve began thanks to Prentice Bloedel and his wife Virginia, who bought this estate in 1951. During their residency here, the family was able to transform the old estate into harmoniously connected landscapes.

Directions:

From Seattle

Take ferry from Colman Dock in downtown Seattle to Bainbridge Island. Drive off ferry and head west on WA-305 N. Continue to follow WA-305 N for 6.2 miles. Turn right onto Agatewood Rd NE for 0.3 miles. Take the 1st right onto NE Dolphin Dr for 0.5 miles. Destination will be directly in front of you.