Thanks to the foresight of early planners, Seattle boasts one of the most complete greenbelt systems designed by the Olmsted Brothers. At this event, participants will examine the importance of public land—specifically gardens—and stroll through several of these hidden treasures. As population and density increase, existing public green belts, parks, and gardens become even more cherished and necessary to urban life.
This program begins at 9:30 AM with two lectures at the Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford. First, Tanya DeMarsh-Dodson will discuss the ties between public gardens and the social, economic, and cultural evolution of the areas in which they are located. She will address the many ways in which public gardens benefit both the communities in which they are located and those who visit them. Finally, she will address the dynamic nature of gardens and the importance of maintenance to the persistence of public gardens through time. DeMarsh-Dodson has an M.A. in history from New York University. She took horticultural training at Edmonds Community College and worked in retail horticulture for 20 years before shifting her interest to public horticulture. Since 2002, she has been the coordinator for the Garden Conservancy Northwest Network and involved with several public gardens here in the Pacific Northwest. She is past-president of the Dunn Gardens Board and Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation.
In our second presentation, Historic Gardens: Their Cultural Value and Preservation, Susan Dolan offers an overview of some diverse historic gardens in the Pacific Northwest, highlighting the cultural values embodied in their preservation. We’ll also explore historic garden preservation and what this means for ongoing maintenance and adaptive management. Susan Dolan is a horticulturist and historical landscape architect and manages the Park Cultural Landscapes Program for the National Park Service.
From 12:30 – 4:30 PM, participants are invited to tour a selection of Seattle-area gardens, each with a passionate and knowledgeable guide from the Garden Conservancy Northwest Network on site. Tentative plans call for the Bellevue Botanical Gardens, the Kruckeberg Garden (Shoreline), the Streissguth Garden (Capitol Hill), and the Kay Bullitt Garden (Harvard-Belmont Historic District). Currently on private property, the Bullitt garden will be donated to Seattle Parks and Recreation in the future.
Garden locations and maps will be distributed at the lecture. Lunch and travel between the Good Shepherd Center and the gardens are on one’s own.
Cost:
$40 general public / $30 members
Online registration is closed for this event.
Photo: Streissguth hillside garden. Ben Streissguth.