Celebrate the Bellevue Botanical Garden's 20 Years

The will turn a very fresh looking 20 years this year, and it will mark its anniversary with a garden party on June 23.

Bellevue Patch would like to know what do you love about the garden? Do you have photos of favorite flowers or trees? Feel free to share them here.

You can also celebrate  by going to , 12001 Main St. Visitors are invited to help celebrate with free activities that include: guided garden tours, a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, poetry readings, flower arranging demonstrations and refreshments, according to a city press release.

Garden docents at the historic Sharp Cabin will host children’s activities. Visitors can also stroll the multiple display gardens and trails, and “walk on the wild side” at the .

Volunteers provide more than 20,000 hours of service each year to the garden, according to the press release. The Garden’s roots stem back 30 years, to 1981, when Cal and Harriet Shorts deeded their home and seven acres to the city to become a public park, according to the city.

The garden grew in 1989, when the City Council set aside an additional 36 acres for the garden. The garden officially opened in 1992, according to the city.

Now 53 acres, the Botanical Garden features 13 display gardens and trails and is the site of Bellevue’s annual . It draws an estimated 300,000 visitors each year.

The Botanical Garden has received numerous awards, including being named “Best of the West” by Sunset Magazine. It is managed through the efforts of a unique partnership between the City of Bellevue and the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society. 

The 20th anniversary celebration will also feature the debut of “Remnants” by David Kelly-Hedrick – a temporary art and poetry project created specifically for and in the Botanical Garden, funded by 4Culture. A free poetry booklet will be provided to garden visitors while supplies last. 

Representatives from the city, Bellevue Botanical Garden Society, Northwest Perennial Alliance and other garden partners will be on hand to answer questions. For a complete schedule of activities, visit www.bellevuewa.gov/cobcalendar/default.aspx.

-- Information from the City of Bellevue

If you go

The Bellevue Botanical 20th Anniversary celebration will be 2 to 5 p.m. June 23 at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, 12001 Main St., Bellevue.