A mature herb garden holds culinary and medicinal herbs as well as flowers for drying. Annual events include herbal-crafts classes and workshops, and a variety of seasonal festivals. Picnickers are always welcome. An intimate, nationally renowned restaurant provided cooking demonstrations and meals based on the Northwest's bounty and the gardens' harvest here for years until a fire in 1997 destroyed the main building. Currently, plans to rebuild in Woodinville are underway.
Admission is free but there is a charge for tours.
This Japanese garden tucked away in the Rainier Beach neighborhood is a surprising oasis, home to such exotics as dragon trees. Begun in 1927 by Fujitaro Kubota, a self-taught gardener, the grounds first served as his private residence and as a nursery and display garden for the Kubota Gardening Company. The garden is now owned by the city of Seattle and cared for by a nonprofit organization. The large area encompasses many styles, from traditional Japanese garden to expansive lawns perfect for picnicking. The grounds are laced with winding paths that open onto ethereal views framing the many artfully trained pines and pruned plantings.