Washington Gardens

 Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden: 608 NW 119th Street, Vancouver, WA 98685 (360)573-4472.

This commercial nursery, specializing in iris, features display gardens open seasonally with hundreds of iris varieties.

 Bainbridge Gardens: 9415 Miller Rd NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 (206) 842-5888.

This commercial nursery features a variety of theme gardens including herb, alpine, aquatic, rose and a Memorial Garden with ancient Japanese bonsai pines.

 Bamboo Gardens of Washington: Location: 196th Avenue NE and Highway 202, Mailing: 5016-192nd Place NE, Redmond, WA 98053-4602 (425)868-5166.

This commercial nursery specializes in bamboo which it displays in bamboo groves.

 Bellevue Botanical Garden : 12001 Main Street, PO Box 40536, Bellevue, WA 98015-4536 (425)451-3755.

This exciting 36 acre garden features gardens, woodlands, meadows and wetlands. Highlights include the Perennial Border (maintained by the Northwest Perennial Alliance), the Yao Japanese Garden, the Alpine Rock Garden the Shorts Ground Cover Garden, the Rhododendron Glen, the Eastern Garden, the Fuchsia Garden, the Paisley Bed, the Knot Garden (an herb garden), the Waterwise Garden (Water Conservation Demonstration Garden), the Wildflower Garden, summer displays of dahlias and fuchsias, a Loop Trail, and a Botanical Reserve.

 Belttown P-Patch: 2520 Elliott Avenue, Seattle, WA.

This garden consists of 35 community garden plots with a fountain and a gothic entry gate.

 Berthusen Park: 8837 Berthusen Road, Lynden, WA (360)354-2424.

This large, multi-facility public park includes a dahlia garden.

 Big Rock Garden Park: Sylvan Street and Illinois Lane, Bellingham, WA 98226 (360)676-6985.

This 14 acre city park features collections of rhododendrons, azaleas and Japanese maples and sand sculptures. A lovely photograph of a goldfish pond and bench in the park.

 Bloedel Reserve: 7571 NE Dolphin Drive, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-1097 (206)842-7631.

This 150 acre reserve has 84 acres of second growth forest and 66 acres landscaped with meadows, gardens and ponds. Features include a bird sanctuary and woodland (300 kinds of trees), naturalized landscape area with vistas from the chateau-like house, a rhododendron glen (with thousands of perennials, bulbs, wildflowers and more than 15,000 cyclamen plants blooming amidst the rhododendrons), a Japanese Garden (including a rock and sand Zen garden), a Moss Garden, and the formal Reflection Garden (with pool). Reservations are required.

 Capitol Conservatory and Gardens: Off 11th and Water Street, Olympia, WA 98504 (360)586-TOUR.

This WPA constructed greenhouse displays collections of tropical, sub-tropical and desert plants, as well as producing bedding plants for the Capitol grounds. Other gardens on the 54 acre Capitol campus designed by the Olmsted Brothers include the state rose garden, a sunken garden, and an English cottage garden, plus 120 varieties of native and non-native trees.

 Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Garden: Another web site. Army Corps of Engineers, 3015 NW 54th Street (Hiram M. Chittenden Locks), Seattle, WA 98107 (206)783-7059.

The lifetime work of an Army Corps of Engineers gardener, these gardens showcase 500 species and 1500 varieties of native and exotic plants. Special collections include rhododendrons, pines, oaks and magnolias.

 Carnation Research Farm (Nestle Training Center): 28901 NE Carnation Farm Road (State Road 203), Carnation, WA 98014 (425)788-1511.

Visitors have been allowed to take self-guided tours of the formal gardens during the summer, but the visitor program is evaluated every spring so please call to confirm before visiting.

 Centennial Rose Garden: 330 Schmidt Place, Tumwater, WA (360)357-5153.

This lovely garden, maintained by the Olympia Rose Society, displays over 300 modern and antique roses, including many historical varieties grown by early settlers.

 Chase Garden: Orting, WA.

Open by appointment only, this 4 1/2 acre Garden Conservancy Garden, a naturalistic woodland designed by Rex Zumwalt, features Douglas firs with an under-story of native flowering shrubs, reflecting pools, a rock garden, and a meadow with drifts of flowers and shrubs.

 Chetzemoka Park: 900 Jackson Street (Jackson and Blaine), Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360)385-7212.

This city park overlooking Admiralty Inlet and Puget Sound features lovely gardens, including a tropical water garden and a rose garden with arbors.

 City of Chehalis Municipal Rose Garden: 80 Northeast Cascade Avenue, Chehalis, WA 98532 (360)748-6664.

This public park features an All America Rose Selections rose garden.

 Clark College Arboretum: 1800 E Mclaughlin Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98660 (360)992-2000.

  Cornwall Park Rose Garden: 2800 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 (360) 676-6985.

This 65 acre public park displays a lovely rose garden with over 100 varieties.

 The Country Store and Gardens: 20211 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon Island, WA 98070 (206) 463-3655.

This retail store and nursery offers 10 acres of grounds and gardens for viewing with self-tour maps.

 DeGoede Bulb Farms and Gardens: 409 Mossyrock Rd W, Mossyrock, WA 98584 Customer Service: (360)983-3773.

This commercial grower displays acres of tulips and other flowering bulbs.

 Eastpointe Native Plant Demonstration Garden: 3600 136th Place SE, Bellevue, WA (425)296-6602.

A Project of NATIVE (Native Appreciation through Indigenous Vegetation at Eastpointe), this garden uses volunteers to educate the public about native plants and their environmental benefits.

 Elandan Gardens: 3050 West Highway 16, Bremerton, WA 98312 (360)373-8260.

This 6 acre garden on Puget Sound displays more than 150 extraordinary bonsai specimens created by bonsai artist Dan Robinson. The sculpted garden simulates an alpine zone with ancient gnarled trees, silvery dead wood, and monuments of moss and lichen-encrusted stone.

 Esther Short Park: Columbia and 8th Street, Vancouver, WA.

This 5 acre public park features Victorian Rose Gardens and a Pioneer Mother Statue.

 Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens: Legion Memorial Park, 145 Alverson Boulevard, Everett , WA 98206 (425)257-8597.

This city park features theme gardens, including the Master Gardener's Perennial Beds, the Dwarf Conifer Garden, Dahlia Garden, Japanese Maple Grove and the Water Conservation Garden.

 Fairhaven Park Rose Garden: 107 Chuckanut Drive, Bellingham, WA 98225 (360)676-6985.

This 16 acre neighborhood park displays a test rose garden for the American Rose Society.

 Fairie Perennial and Herb Gardens: 6236 Elm Street Southeast, Tumwater, WA (360)754-9249.

This commercial nursery features a half acre of theme gardens displaying 400 varieties of herbs, alpines, and other hardy perennials. Special areas include the Pond Garden, the Celtic Rock Garden, the Fragrance garden, the English cottage garden, the paradise garden, and a kitchen herb garden.

 (John A.) Finch Arboretum: 3404 W Woodland Boulevard, Spokane, WA (509) 624-4832.

This 57 acre city park is a botanical garden and arboretum displaying more than 2,000 labeled ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers, including a native pine forest and a rhododendron glen. Spokane City Parks Directory.

 Fort Borst Park: Off I-5, Exit 82, PO Box 609, Centralia, WA 98531 (360) 736-7687.

This city park features the historic Borst House, an 1857 Greek Revival Mansion, together with an old blockhouse, an arboretum and rhododendron garden.

 Fort Worden State Park Conference Center: 200 Battery Way, Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360)385-4730.

Just inside the gate on the left past the Chapel visitors will enjoy the Rhododendron Garden maintained by the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society.

 Fragrance Garden at Tennant Lake Interpretative Center: 5236 Nielsen Road (beside Nielsen House), Ferndale, WA 98248 (360)384-3444.

3,000 square feet of raised beds display over 200 varieties of flowers and herbs labeled with Braille signs. Please touch!

 Fragrance Garden for the Blind: Ball Street (One block south of West Division), Mount Vernon, WA (360)336-9555.

This garden offers a variety of scented and textured plants for the visually-impaired.

 Freeway Park Gardens: 700 Seneca Street, Seattle, WA 206)625-4043 or (206)447-4200.

This 5 acre park, built over Interstate 5, offers waterfalls, terraces, fountains, trees and planters of flowers and shrubs.

 The Herbfarm: 32804 Issaquah-Fall City Rd., Fall City, WA 98024 (206) 784-2222 or (800)866-4372.

Food, plants and gifts are featured at the gardens associated with this nursery.

 Hovander Homestead Park: Another web site. 5299 Nielsen Road, Ferndale, WA 98248 (360)384-3444.

This riverfront county park features an historic farmhouse, barn, outbuildings, flower and vegetable gardens and fruit orchards.

 Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens: 115 South Pekin Road, PO Box 828, Woodland, WA 98674 (360) 225-8996.

Patterned after a Victorian garden, this 7 acre displays a vast collection of lilacs, including many hybridized by Hulda Klager, who developed over 250 varieties. An interesting article about making lilac essence from the lilacs at the Garden.

 Japanese Garden: Washington Park Arboretum, 1502 Lake Washington Boulevard, Seattle, WA 98112 (206)684-4725.

This lovely 3 1/2 acre formal Japanese garden features a pond, lanterns, a teahouse, twin "mountains", and 2 streams, all situated within a forest of conifers, maples and ornamental trees.

 Jennings Memorial Park: 6915 Armar Road, Marysville, WA 98270.

This 51 acre multi-facility public park includes a Washington State University master garden and a 17 acre wetland observatory.

 Kubota Garden: 9600 Renton Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98118 (206)725-5060.

This 20 acre garden, a gift to the city from landscape designer Fujito Kubota, blends Japanese garden design with native plants and features streams, waterfalls, ponds, bridges, and rock outcroppings among varied plantings.

 La Conner Flats Display Gardens: 1598 Best Road, PO Box 78, Mount Vernon , WA 98270 (360)466-3190.

This 11 acre English cottage garden displays perennials, roses, vegetables and alpine plants in garden "rooms" and features a sunken garden, a pond, a view of Mount Baker, and High Tea.

 Lakewold Gardens: 12317 Gravelly Lake Drive SW (1 mile from Exit 124 off Interstate 5), P.O. Box 39780, Lakewood, WA 98439 (253)584-4106 or (888) 858-4106.

This 10 acre garden, designed in part by landscape architect Thomas Church, is situated on Gravelly Lake and showcases a series of gardens. Gardens include the Rose Garden, the Knot Garden (culinary herbs), the Scree (an alpine microclimate), the Waterfall (with small bulbs, orchids, rhododendrons, azaleas, bog plants and primulas), the Fern Garden, the Rhododendron Collection (one of the Northwest's largest colections), the Boxwood Parterres (and Topiary), and the Woodland Garden.

 Lawson Gardens : Derby Street, Pullman, WA (509)334-4555 x.228.

Lovely formal gardens grace this memorial park, featuring the Perennials Garden, the circular Rose Garden (600 bushes), annual plantings, a reflecting pool and a gazebo. Future plans includes a conservatory and theme gardens such as woodland, Japanese, lilac and native plant.

 Manito Park: Grand Boulevard between 17th and 25th Avenues, Spokane , WA 99203 (509)456-4331 or (509)625-6622.

This 90 acre city park showcases several gardens including the Duncan Garden (a 3 acre Renaissance style garden with a fountain), the Joel E. Ferris Perennial Garden, the Gaiser Conservatory (tropical plants and flower displays), the Nishinomiya Japanese Garden (celebrating Spokane's sister city), Rosehill (formal beds with 1500 rose bushes of 150 varieties and informal beds and borders of older rose plants), a Lilac Garden (60 varieties), and a Duck Pond. A web site displays an excellent history and photographs of the park. The Friends of Manito support renovation and new development activities. Spokane City Parks Directory.

 Maxwelton Valley Gardens: 3443 E. French Road, Clinton, WA 98236 (360)579-1770.

This retail nursery specializing in plants for difficult conditions showcases an English-style display garden of drought-tolerant plants and offers nature trails throughout the 9 acre property.

 Medicinal Herb Garden: University of Washington, Stevens Way (or 15th Avenue NE and NE 40th Street), Box 355325, Seattle, WA 98195-5325 (206)543-1126.

This spectacular 2 1/2 acre herb garden featuring medicinal herbs and established in 1911 is arranged in 6 large garden rooms showcasing 600 species of medical herbs and useful plants. An article about the two monkeys who guard the entrance to the garden.

 Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens: Meerkerk Lane (off Resort Road), PO Box 154, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA 98253 (360) 678-1912.

This delightful garden highlights mature rhododendron hybrids, rare and unusual rhododendron species, azaleas, spring bulbs and naturalized companion plantings in a peaceful woodland setting. Featured areas are the Heritage Gardens (including Ann's Secret Garden and the Hall Garden showcasing Exbury hybrids), the Hybrid Test Garden, The Asian Garden, the 43 acre Meerkerk Woodland Preserve, and the Meerkerk Nursery.

 Molbak's, Inc.: 13625 NE 17th Street, Woodinville, WA 98072 (425)483-5000 or (206)754-6515.

This 16 acre retail nursery and garden center with greenhouses, a conservatory with birds, and outdoor display gardens specializes in Northwest-hardy plants. An article about the Woodinville garden center.

 Nishiyama Japanese Garden:  903 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, WA  98201 (425)388-9195.

This peaceful Japanese garden is located at the Nippon Business INstitute Japanese Cultural and Resource Center.  Constructed using traditional Japanese methods, the design includes a waterfall, a well, stone walkway, pond, rock garden, three bridges, an earthen wall with tiled roof and an authentic Japanese garden gate.

 Northwest Native Plant Garden:  Point Defiance Park, 5400 North Pearl Street, Tacoma, WA 

This garden, featuring northwest native plants, centers around a ravine transformed into a naturalistic waterfall and pond.  Native plants are showcased in seven zones - coastal forest, meadow, San Juan, scree, sub-alpine, East Cascade and a bog.  The garden was created and is maintained by the Tacoma Garden Club.

 Ohme Gardens: 3327 Ohme Road (Near Junction of Highways 2 and 97A), Wenatchee, WA 98801 (509)662-5785 .

This 9 acre hilltop naturalistic garden features more than a thousand trees, rock outcroppings, alpine plants and mountain pools, with stone pathways, lawns, ponds, rustic shelters, a wishing well, and mountain vistas.

 Olympic Peninsula Master Gardener Clallam County Demonstration Garden: 2711 Woodcock Road, Sequim, WA.

This exciting 2 1/2 acre demonstration garden, keyed to the home gardener, includes a Rose Garden, a Grass Garden, a Formal Garden, a Shade Garden, an Orchard, a Vegetable Garden, a Small Fruit Garden, an Herb Garden, a Shrub Garden, a Cottage Garden, and a Mixed Border Garden. Master Gardeners are on hand to offer advice and explanation.

 Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection: 33663 Weyerhaeuser Way South (Off South 320th Street (I-5 Exit 143) or Highway 18 (I-5 Exit 142A)), Federal Way, WA 98003 (253)924-5206.

Fifty remarkable bonsai from the Pacific Rim nations are displayed in a woodland setting featuring a conservatory and 50 outdoor tables integrated into the landscape. The collection is adjacent to the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden (below).

 Parsons Garden: 7th Avenue West and West Highland Drive, Seattle, WA (206)625-4671.

This small city garden-park, formerly the garden of Reginald H. Parsons, is a cottage-style garden with beds of annuals and perennials and trees, shrubs and creeping vines.

 Peace Arch State Heritage Area: PO Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 753-2027.

The Arch, commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Gheut providing for a unguarded border, features a greenhouse and displays 25,000 annual flowers. The Provincial Park web site.

Pioneer City Park: Division and Alder Streets, Walla Walla, WA 99362 (509)527-4527.

Five ponds and two spring-fed streams (Walla Walla means "small rapid stream") are found in this 58 acre public park. It also features a waterfowl aviary, a fountain, a bandstand, seasonal flower displays and a rose garden.

 Point Defiance Park: 5400 North Pearl Street, Tacoma, WA 98407 (253)305-1000.

This 698 acre city park showcases a host of lovely garden, including the one acre Rose Garden (1,500 rose bushes, established in 1895), the Herb Garden (150 plants), the Japanese Garden (azaleas, rhododendrons, Japanese cherry trees, crabapples and pines with an oriental footbridge, waterfall, Japanese lanterns and a small tea house), the 1 1/2 acre Northwest Native Plant Garden (see listing above), the Dahlia Trial Garden (an American Dahlia Society Trial Garden), the Iris Garden (over 200 varieties), and the Rhododendron Garden (160 plants displayed in a 5 acre old growth forest).

 Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium: 5400 North Pearl Street, Tacoma, WA 98407-3218, (253)591-5337.

This 29 acre zoo is home to over 5,000 animals of 350 species native to the Pacific Rim countries. The naturalistic exhibits include the Arctic Tundra, the Rocky Shores, Elephants, World of Adaptations, Penguin Point, and the Farm.

 Puget Gardens: North Alder Street (south of Ruston Way), Tacoma, WA 98407 (253)759-0118.

This 3 acre city park features azaleas, rhododendrons and species primroses in a naturalistic setting with a footpath along a stream.

 Rhody Ridge Arboretum Park: 17427 Clover Road, Bothell, Wa 98011 (425) 743-3945.

This 11 acre county park showcases lovely floral displays. Tours by appointment only.

 (Burton C.) Ross Memorial Rose Gardens: Polson Museum, P. O. Box 432, 1611 Riverside Ave., Hoquiam, WA 98550 (360)533-5862.

Located at the 26 room mansion of lumber baron Arnold Polson, this site features a rose garden and a 1910 Shay Three-Spot locomotive.

 Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden: South Weyerhaeser Way (Off South 320th Street (I-5 Exit 143) or Highway 18 (I-5 Exit 142A)), P.O. Box 3798, Federal Way, WA 98063 (253)927-6960, (253)838-4646 or (253)661-9377.

This 22 acre garden at the Weyerhaeuser corporate headquarters displays an astonishing 10,000 rhododendrons in a woodland setting, including 2,100 forms of approximately 450 species. Tropical species are maintained in a greenhouse. Companion plantings and an Alpine Garden, Pond Garden, Woodland Garden, and Hardy Fern Collection are also featured.

 Roche Harbor Resort: PO Box 4001, Roche Harbor (North end of San Juan Island), WA 98250 (360)378-2155 or (800)451-8910.

The colorful Formal Gardens, next to the Beechtree Espresso Bar, display winding borders of flowers, shrubs and arbors of climbing roses and clematis.

 Rocky Reach Dam: Highway 97 North, Wenatchee, WA.

Besides the fascinating salmon run and the powerhouse, visitors are treated to 15 acres of lawn and gardens. Click here for the "Dam Cam".

 Roozengaarde: 15867 Beaver Marsh Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360)424-8531 or (800) 732-3266.

Tulips.com, of course. This commercial nursery features a 2 1/2 acre show garden of 200,000 vibrant tulips, daffodils and iris and a windmill. A drive around the area provides views of acres of Roozengaarde flowers.

Rosedale Gardens: 7311 Rosedale Street NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335 (253)851-7333

This retail nursery showcases a 20 acre display garden including water features, a nature trail and outdoor art pieces.

 Sehome Arboretum: 25th Street, Sehome Hill, Bellingham, WA 98225 (360)676-3627.

This 165 acre arboretum, adjoining the Western Washington University campus, contains several miles of trails and a vista from an observation tower.

 Sequim Lavender Farms:Sequim, WA.

Several local lavender farms offer fields of lavender.

Sinclair Arboretum: 18816 NW 42nd Avenue Ridgefield, WA 98671 (360)887-8113.

Description of garden.

 Skagit Display Gardens: 16650 State Route 536, Washington State University's Mount Vernon Research and Extension Unit, Mount Vernon , WA 98273 (360)426-4270.

This 20 acre site displays gardens designed and maintained by volunteer organizations, including the Washington State University Discovery Garden, the Skagit Valley Rose Society, the Western Washington Tree Fruit Research Foundation and the Salal Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society.

South Seattle Community College Garden Center Arboretum: 6000 16th Avenue SW (north end of campus), Seattle , WA 98106-1499 (206) 764-5336.

This community college arboretum includes a Northwest Natives Garden and Water Conservation Garden.  A map of the campus.

 University of Washington Botanic Gardens: 3501 NE 41st Street (at Mary Gates Memorial Drive, Seattle, WA 98105 (206)543-8616.

The 10 acre Union Bay Gardens feature the Marilou Goodfellow Grove collection of Amelanchier (serviceberry), the Seattle Garden Club Entry Shade Garden, the McVay Courtyard, and the Orin and Althea Soest Herbaceous Display Garden (with annuals, perennials, and bulbs displayed in 8 different urban conditions). The Center also manages the 200 acre Washington Park Arboretum (see separate listing below).

 VanLierop Bulb Farm Inc.: 13407 80th Street East, Puyallup , WA 98372 (253)848-7272.

The bulb farm features naturalized plantings and display gardens with 150 varieties of daffodils, tulips, irises, crocuses, and hyacinths.

 Volunteer Park Conservatory: 1400 East Galer Street, Seattle, WA 98112 (206)684-4743.

This restored 1812 Victorian conservatory features 5 houses: the Bromeliad House (pineapple relatives), the Palm House (palms and 1,500 varieties of orchids), the Fern House (ferns and exotics, including carnivorous plants, a bog and a pond), the Seasonal Display House (changing floral displays and house plants) and the Cactus House (including a 100 year old jade plant).

 W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory: 316 South G Street, Wright Park, Tacoma, WA 98405 (253)591-5330.

This restored, glass-domed, Victorian-style conservatory features seasonal floral displays (changed monthly) and 200 species of exotic tropical plants with exotic tropical plants. (See also Wright Park Arboretum, below.)

 Wapato Park: South 68th and Sheridan Avenue, Tacoma, WA (253)305-1000.

This 80 acre lakefront city park features formal gardens as well as numerous recreation facilities.

 Washington Park Arboretum: Location: 2300 Arboretum Drive (off Lake Washington Boulevard East) Mail: University of Washington, P.O. Box 358010, Seattle, WA 98195-8010 (206)543-8800.

(See listing for Japanese Garden above) This 200 acre arboretum displays collections of oaks, conifers, camellias, Japanese maples and hollies, a pinetum, plus ecogeographic collections of Mediterranean, Sino-Himalayan, Chilean, and New Zealand plants. Special areas include the Winter Garden, the Woodland Garden and the Rhododendron Glen.

  Washington State Capitol Museum (Lord Mansion): 211 West 21st Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501 (360)753-2580.

This former home of a prominent banker includes grounds featuring rhododendrons and other native plants, plus a pioneer herb garden.

West Shore Acres: 956 Downey Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360)466-3158.

This Victorian farmhouse features a 1 1/2 acre display garden of tulips and daffodils and other flowering bulbs. Cut tulips and daffodils may be purchased. A lovely photograph -- and another.

Whitney Gardens & Nursery: Highway 101, P.O. Box F, Brinnon, WA 98320 (360)796-4411.

This commercial nursery features 7 acres of rhododendrons (3,000+), azaleas, camellias, Japanese maples, magnolias and mountain laurels, many planted in the late 1950s.

 Woodland Park Rose Garden: Seattle Dept. Of Parks & Recreation, 800 North 50th Street, Seattle, WA 98103 (206)782-1265.

This 2 1/2 acre formal rose garden, on the grounds of a former private estate with English-park style grounds, showcases 5,000 rose bushes of 260 varieties and features an All-America Rose Selections Test Garden.

 Woodland Park Zoological Gardens: 5500 Phinney Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103-5897 (206)(206)684-4800.

The Woodland Park Zoological Gardens provide naturalistic habitats for some 400 species of animals. Special exhibits include the African Savanna, Australasia, Bug World, Butterflies and Blooms, Day and Night Exhibits, East Conservation Yards, Humboldt Penguins, Northern Trail, Peacocks, Prairie Dogs, Raptor Center, Rose Garden, Trail of Adaptations, Tropical Asia (Elephant Forest and Forest of Vines), and Tropical Rain Forest.

 Wright Park Arboretum: 501 South "I" Street (at 6th Avenue), Tacoma, WA 98405 (253)305-1000.

This 27 acre city park displays over 700 mature trees from 100 native and exotic species.

Xeriscape Park: East Rose Street, Walla Walla, WA (509(527-4527.

This city park is devoted to plants that require very little water.

  Yakima Area Arboretum and Botanical Garden: 1401 Arboretum Drive (Intersection of Interstate 82 and Nob Hill Boulevard (SR 24)), Yakima, WA 98901 (509)248-7337 ((509)AH-TREES).

This diverse 46 acre arboretum, adjoining the riparian habitat of the Yakima River, displays 2,000 specimens of woody plants. Special collections include the Joyful Garden, the Peony Garden, the Rock Garden, the Butterfly Garden, the Iris Bed, the Japanese Garden, the Buffalo Grass Plot, the Trees of Washington Exhibit, the Nut Collection, the Beech Grove, the Fruit Tree Grove, Magnolias, Roses, the Giant Sequoia Grove, Hawthorns, the Evergreen Collection, Rhododendrons, Incense Cedars, Lindens, the Maple Grove, Birch, the Centennial Oak Grove, and Chestnuts.

  Yashiro Japanese Garden: 9th and Plum, PO Box 1967, Olympia, WA 98507 (360)753-8447.

This lovely traditional Asian garden, honoring Olympia's sister city Yashiro, is designed in the ancient hill and pond style with classic gates, water features, stone, cut-stone lanterns and a 13-tier pagoda.

Zabel's Rhododendron & Azalea Park: 2432 N Bethel, Olympia, WA 98506 (360)357-6977.

Nature trails through 3 acres of woodlands provide stunning views of hundreds of varieties of rhododendrons and azaleas. This private park is open briefly in May.