Saturday, January 9, 2010

Kubota Garden

Kubota Garden: bridge over Mapes Creek January 2010

Kubota Garden: coniferous evergreens January 2010

Kubota Garden January 2010
 
 Kubota Garden April 2010

Kubota Garden: Mapes Creek April 2010

 Kubota Garden: Birches April 2010

On 34 acres of hillside & ravine in Rainier Beach (near Skyway) lies Kubota Garden. Mapes Creek flows through on its way to Lake Washington. The creek provides water for a series of pools & waterfalls in the lower part of the garden. The upper terrace is recently landscaped. The lower parts are much older. The upper ravine grows wild with native plants. Kubota Garden is an excellent place to visit in winter because most of the plants are evergreen: at their best in cool, moist weather.  The garden is also beautiful in spring when many shrubs & perennials are in bloom, & the new leaves come out on the Japanese Maples. Fujitaro Kubota started the garden in 1923. It became a Seattle park in 1987. Along with Seattle Parks & Recreation, an ardent group of volunteers maintain & improve the park. Read more about the garden at the Kubota Garden Foundation. You can find the entrance on 55th Av S very near Renton Av S.

1 comment:

Karen said...

Kubota is so amazing, I can't believe I've only been once! Those bridges are a little scary to cross for people with bad balance like me... love your photos of this magical place.