First-time visitors to the Good Shepherd Center (GSC) are surprised to discover this oasis in the city.  The Sisters of the Good Shepherd created this space in the Wallingford neighborhood as a refuge for girls from difficult backgrounds, to protect them from the outside world and allow them to grow into healthy women.  For 40 years Historic Seattle gardeners have maintained and enhanced that sense of refuge, allowing visitors to relax and inviting them to explore.

Join Lead Gardener Tara Macdonald for a leisurely walk through the GSC grounds to learn what was created by the Sisters and the visionary gardeners since.  Hear how the nuns used this space to provide refuge, sustenance, and recreation—the staples of a good life; how the community fought to preserve this place; how Historic Seattle continues the nuns’ work by creating educational and artful urban farming and garden spaces, revived the orchard and adapted the plantings to create a sense of sanctuary despite increasingly vibrant community use; and about our current efforts to preserve the past while embracing ecological awareness.

The April 8 tour is SOLD OUT.
This tour is also offered Saturday, September 16, 1:00 – 3:00 pm>>