Lakewold Gardens facts for kids

Lakewold Gardens is a beautiful 10-acre garden estate in Lakewood, Washington. It's a special place where you can explore different kinds of gardens and enjoy nature. Lakewold Gardens is open to visitors all year round.

History of Lakewold Gardens

The story of Lakewold Gardens began in 1908. It started as a 5-acre home for Emma Alexander. Her son, Hubbard Alexander, and his wife, Ruth, later owned it. The gardens were already quite famous in the area. In 1918, the Alexanders bought more land next door.

In 1925, Major Everett Griggs and his wife, Grace, bought the property. They gave it the name "Lakewold," which means "lake-woods" in an old English word.

The property was sold again in 1938 to G. Corydon and Eulalie Wagner. They loved plants and started collecting many different kinds. They also worked with a famous landscape architect named Thomas Church to design the gardens.

In 1987, Mrs. Wagner gave the estate to a non-profit group called the Friends of Lakewold. She hoped the gardens would help people remember their connection to nature. She said, "As we become more and more city creatures, living in manmade surroundings, perhaps gardens will become even more precious to us."

Exploring the Gardens

Lakewold Gardens was designed by Eulalie Wagner and Thomas Church. They wanted it to be a place for everyone to enjoy. It has secret spots, cool details, and amazing views.

The gardens mix different styles. You can see formal European designs with neatly trimmed boxwood plants. There are also peaceful Asian-inspired shade gardens. Near the main house, the plants are arranged in a very formal way. As you walk down towards Gravelly Lake, the plantings become more natural and wild. You'll find rocks, small streams, and lots of old trees. There are also pathways, open grassy areas, and colorful flower beds leading down to the lake.

Special Garden Areas

Lakewold has many unique garden areas to discover:

• Boxwood Parterres - These are gardens where boxwood plants are shaped into cool geometric patterns close to the ground.
• The Tom Gillies Hardy Fern Foundation Display Garden - This garden shows off many different kinds of ferns and shade-loving plants from all over the world.
• Knot Garden - Here, herbs are planted and trained to look like a loosely tied ribbon.
• Rhododendron Collection - You can see hundreds of different types of rhododendrons here.
• Rock Garden - This area has small, tough plants like gentians, saxifrages, and dwarf rhododendrons that grow among rocks.
• Rose/Cutting Garden - A lovely spot with many roses and other flowers that can be cut for bouquets.
• Screes - These are special rocky areas. One is for lewisia plants, another for fuzzy-leafed alpine plants, and a third for heath and primulas.
• Waterfall - Enjoy a small alpine stream with three waterfalls. You'll also see bulbs, orchids, and bog plants here.
• Woodland Garden - This garden is under tall Douglas fir trees. It's home to hellebores, trillium, and other woodland flowers.

Washington State Champion Trees

Lakewold Gardens is home to some very special trees. These are called "Champion Trees" because they are the largest of their kind in Washington State!

• Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
• Red Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’)
• Mountain Silverbell (Halesia caroliniana var. monticola)
• Camellia-leaved Highclere (Ilex x altaclerensis camelliafolia)
• Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)
• Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)
• Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica)
• Portugal Cherry (Prunus lusitanica)
• Pandora Cherry (Prunus ‘Pandora’)
• Tai Haku Cherry (Prunus ‘Tai Haku’)

How Lakewold Gardens is Run

Lakewold Gardens is a non-profit organization. This means it's run by a group of people who make sure the gardens are well-cared for. They also decide how the gardens are used and what activities happen there.

A small team of staff works at the gardens every day. Many wonderful volunteers also help out all year long. They do everything from maintaining the gardens to leading tours and helping with special events.

Fun Programs and Events

Lakewold Gardens wants to welcome all kinds of people. They offer many different programs and tours. The gardens are especially busy in May, around Mother's Day, when many flowers are blooming. People also visit to see the early spring flowers, beautiful fall colors, and special events.

Events at Lakewold

Lakewold Gardens hosts fun events throughout the year, including:

• Music from Home concerts
• MayFest
• FairyFest
• Discovery Walks with the Garden Manager
• Guest speakers
• Second City Chamber Concert Series

Classes and Tours

You can also take classes at Lakewold Gardens to learn new things. Some topics include:

• Garden Photography
• Organic Gardening
• Herb Gardens
• Stone Sculpture
• Basic Pruning
• Cutting Gardens

You can also book group tours to explore the gardens with friends or family.

Images for kids

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  Lakewold Gardens in Lakewood, Washington.