Kruckeberg Botanic Garden

This is a pretty nice garden to walk through and relax. Because I have a 3 year old what I really enjoy about this place is during the summer they are doing garden tots Fridays where they have fun themed arts and activities for the tots. The staff is really friendly here.

What a great garden the community has invested in! It was a beautiful day and an empty parking lot, and I was with my sweetheart, so what more is there to say? All of the staff is great, came out to greet us immediately. The drive getting there was great too. I wouldn’t mind starting a little café with organic coffee and pastries with them if I could, also adding a few bee-​hives wouldn’t be such a bad idea!

This place is really cool and best of all, FREE!
Nestled in a neighborhood, this 4 acre garden is really unique. There are so many species of plants and trees that have such interesting character or attributes. Expect to look closely at trees and plants that seem ordinary upon first glance but have extraordinary features.
A good majority of the plants are labeled and a lot of them are for sale as well.
They are currently doing construction to get a small parking lot in place so parking is limited but if you’re looking for a fun, free activity, check it out.
I look forward to coming back during different seasons.
Open Friday-​Sunday from 10am-​5pm.

Came here to get a specific native plant. We are trying to change our yard to mostly native plants and they had the Cinnamon Balm (Ceanothus velutinus) that I had been searching far and wide for. Heidi, one of the staff had been at the Bastyr University Herb Fair the week before and told me they had some there, started from cuttings from her dad’s place on the Kitsap penninsula. They had fewer than she remembered, but we ended up with one to full a hole in our front yard.
While we were there, we walked the grounds. It is a fantastic public garden. Parking is limited, but if you can find a spot it is definitely a great spot to visit. If you are interested in buying native plants, they have many to choose from. We will return.

For a quick escape, take a detour north and hike around the Kruckeberg premises for a bit. My first visit was during a torrential rain storm and the wooded path kept me dry as I wandered around in awe.
This is a perfect little gem of a place, tucked away in the northern parts of Shoreline. Started as the personal garden of Mareen and Arthur Kruckeberg, it has now been turned into a lovely public garden, with a focus on PNW native plants. Great inspiration if you are curious what a naturalistic approach on four acres can do.
As a bonus, if so inclined you can stop by the MsK Nursery found on the premises, to find some great plants to put into your own yard.
Truly a little oasis off the beaten path worth seeking out.