During our recent Garden Conservancy trip to Seattle, we visited Dunn Gardens, located in the Broadway neighborhood of Seattle. In 1914, Arthur Dunn purchased this 10 acre parcel to create a family country home far removed from the city of Seattle. Today Dunn Gardens is a garden oasis in the middle of urban Seattle and the owners are committed to maintaining it so residents in the community can have a respite from hectic city life.
Arthur Dunn built his family home on the property in 1915, designed by Seattle architectural firm Bebb and Gould. While the original home was destroyed in the 40’s, the new home mimics the original one-story, simple design so it doesn’t compete with the grounds.
Shortly after acquiring the land, he engaged the Olmsted Brothers to design the garden. The plan they developed took advantage of the property’s stunning panoramic views of the Pugent Sound and the Olympic Mountains.
One hundred years later, the original design of this Olmstead garden is very much in tact, with its curvilinear driveway lined with rhododendrons, Douglas firs, expansive lawns with borders of shrubs and woodlands. Over the years, three family homes have been added to the property, but the garden remains the focal point of the property.
What I marveled at was the maturity of the garden and the timelessness of the garden’s design. While it has subtly changed over the years (we were told that a rose garden which once divided two lawn areas was removed by one of the daughters who had been charged with pruning the rose garden in her youth. Tired of the work, she replaced the roses when she was older with shrubs that didn’t require pruning), one can instantly see the age of this garden with its majestic trees and enormous rhododendrons. The gently sloping lawn which directs your eye to the view of Puget Sound makes you feel like you’re in a park.
While we saw dogwood trees in every garden we visited in Seattle, there were different varieties of dogwoods at Dunn Gardens. My favorites here were ‘Venus’, ‘Starlight’ and ‘Heart Throb’ (the pink flowers above).
There were a couple of jewels which I particularly loved like this sweet plant pictured above (what is it?!?) and blue poppies (are they Himalayan Blue Poppies?), which I will have to try locating and planting in my garden next year.
Plan on arranging a visit to this garden if you’re in the Seattle area!
