I think the highlight of our Seattle Garden Conservancy trip was our morning at Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island. WOW. We spent two hours on the reserve and I could have enjoyed even more time in this beautiful place.
Viginia and Prentice Bloedel purchased 150 acres in 1951 and approximately half of this acreage is available to the public. The current executive director, Ed Moydell, explained that Mr. Bloedel, as a reluctant heir to his father’s timber company, was a naturalist at heart. He was deeply interested in the relationship between people and nature, as well as the power of landscape to evoke emotions. So he spent his later years sculpting this beautiful piece of property into a green masterpiece that is a must-experience if in the Seattle area.
“The Reserve is a place that offers the visitor a variety of experiences in nature; it is a place where one is reminded of the fundamental bond between man and nature; it is a place to enjoy.”
Prentice Bloedel
Of particular note, there is no signage anywhere on the property. No signs identifying plant material and no signs instructing you where to go. Bloedel’s idea was that nature would communicate with you instead of signs. In our over-stimulated lives, it was a relief to my senses to see only nature and green. You can’t get lost, but you may pleasantly wander around in the woods for a little while before returning to the entrance.
I had a particularly wonderful and unexpected experience, as I joined a group to learn about the property and plants. I realized as the tour began and the guide began sharing his knowledge of flora and fauna that I didn’t want to learn about anything. I actually needed silence and solitude in order to experience the reserve. Sue Andresen, the Director of Philanthropy was kind enough to take Ulrike and me on our own quiet journey. We were lucky enough to experience the reserve as I believe it was originally intended – in quiet contemplation and solitude. It was an incredibly powerful experience for me.
The trustees of the reserve are currently exploring the power of nature and healing. They are studying the impact of nature at Bloedel Reserve on visitors who have experienced loss or are ill, and many people visit Bloedel Reserve specifically for that reason. Early results are demonstrating that nature heals in a myriad of ways. The Bloedels themselves lost their 10-month old son and their garden supposedly helped them heal from their darkest moments. Intuitively, you know nature heals, when you are in this environment.
No reservations are required and you won’t find crowds in this reserve. Plan on spending a half day in this green paradise or you’ll find yourself wanting for more.
