GCNN Spring 2018: The Value of Public Gardens in the Pacific Northwest

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GCNN Spring 2018: The Value of Public Gardens in the Pacific Northwest

Good Shepherd Center

Sat, Apr 21, 2018
9:00 AM- 4:30 PM

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.

The all-day program begins at 9:30 a.m. with two lectures at the Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford.

  • Tanya DeMarsh-Dodson of the Garden Conservancy Northwest Network will discuss the community benefits and social, economic, and cultural impacts of public gardens as well as the importance of maintenance.
  • Susan Dolan, manager of the National Park Service Park Cultural Landscapes Program, will give an overview of historic gardens in the Pacific Northwest, highlighting the cultural values embodied in their preservation, in addition to exploring what historic garden preservation means for ongoing maintenance and management.

In the afternoon, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., 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 include visits to 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.

Registration:
$40 general public / $30 members of Historic Seattle
Click here to register through Historic Seattle.

This event is cosponsored by Historic Seattle and the Garden Conservancy Northwest Network.