Events

January 30th | 6pm – 8pm

Annual Meeting

City Hall | 17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133

Join us for the annual Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation meeting. Our guest speaker is Richie Steffen, Executive Director of the Miller Botanic Garden. We will also welcome our new board members and officers. Members are encouraged to attend as the voting body to approve our new candidates. Books and plants will be available for purchase at this event.

Siskiyou Plants for Seattle Gardens

Richie Steffen

Executive Director, Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden

The Pacific Northwest is rich with native plants that will thrive in our gardens, but this is particularly true for the flora of southern Oregon and northern California. The Siskiyou Mountains are full of unique treasures that are perfectly suited to cultivation around the Puget Sound, especially so with the recent years of drier, hotter summers. Join Richie Steffen, executive director of the Elisabeth C Miller Botanical Garden for a peak at plants from this region that are full of potential for our gardens.

Few people have a passion for plants or an excitement about gardening more than Richie Steffen. Richie is the executive director for the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden, overseeing the development of the garden, its programs and the rare plant collections. Using over thirty years of experience in the horticultural field, with the last 19 years spent at the Miller Garden, he maintains the classic Northwest aesthetics while celebrating the tradition of Elisabeth Carey Miller by discovering, displaying, evaluating, and disseminating information about plants suitable for landscape use in the Pacific Northwest.

Richie supervises the primary educational program of the Miller Garden: Great Plant Picks. Great Plant Picks is committed to building a comprehensive palette of outstanding and reliable plants for maritime Pacific Northwest gardens and has become the go to website for the best information about plants for our region. He is active in the gardening community and is currently past president of the Northwest Horticultural Society, of which Mrs. Miller founded, and president of the Hardy Fern Foundation as well as a noted lecturer, writer and horticultural personality, Richie recently co-authored the “Plant Lover’s Guide to Ferns”. Richie was also the recipient of the American Public Garden Association 2018 Professional Citation award for his achievements pubic gardening.

Plants available for purchase provided by Botanica Plants

Admission: Free to Kruckeberg Foundation members, $5 general admission No registration required

March 13th – 15th & 20th – 22nd | 10am – 5pm

Leprechaun Hunt

Spring is coming and leprechauns are popping up in the Garden. Will you be lucky enough to spot one? Join us for this self-guided, family-friendly scavenger hunt to find out. Over the years, we’ve learned that there are four things that attract leprechauns: Shamrocks, Mischief, Rainbows, and Gold. Find all four to win a prize, and possibly catch a glimpse of a leprechaun!

Leprechaun Hunt available during the Garden’s open hours (10am – 5pm) March 13th – 15th and 20th – 22nd.

Admission: FREE 

March 27th-29th | 10am – 5pm

Annual Spring Ephemeral Plant Sale

Shake off the winter chills by joining us at our Annual Spring Ephemeral Plant Sale. Start your gardening year off right by adding seasonal interest, spring color, and native plants to your plant palette. There is always room for a few new plants, and spring is a great time to refresh!

Admission: FREE, no registration required

2020 Classes & Workshops

Saturday, February 15th | 10am to 12:30pm & 1:15pm to 3:45pm (NEW afternoon session added!)

Conifer Identification with Walt Bubelis

Want to tell a Western Red Cedar from a Lawson Cypress? A yew from a young redwood? Here’s a short introduction to the major conifers that are in our gardens. Both native and exotics will be covered. We’ll start with sprigs for the up-close details and then go outside for the big picture. Instructor: Walt Bubelis, retired horticulture professor at Edmonds C.C. Note: This class will take place both indoors and outdoors, please dress accordingly.
Our classes fill up fast and pre-registration is required.
Members $25 | Non-members $35.
Register here

Sunday, March 15th | 10:30 am to 11:30am & 12pm to 1pm

Leprechaun Trap Workshop

They’re secretive little tricksters and legend says you’ll get a pot-o-gold if you can catch one. We’ve been trying to catch them in the garden for years and have perfected our Leprechaun traps with time. Join us for a fun family workshop and make your own trap. The trap is a small planter designed with materials from the garden and other whimsical items to lure in leprechauns.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. This activity is geared toward ages 4-8 but all are welcome. Cost is per trap built, and registration is required for this class. Members $25 | Non-members $35.
Register here

Wednesday, March 18th | 9am to 11am

Mindfulness in the Garden with Jessica Hancock

Taught by Jessica Hancock, ND. While we slowly stroll through the garden, we will engage with our senses to open and deepen our connection to the wonder and healing power of nature. This class will utilize elements of mindfulness meditation and shinrin-yoku (Japanese Forest Bathing) to help ground and calm mind, body and spirit. Jessica Hancock, ND, is a naturopathic physician (www.mapleleafnaturopathy.com) and co-teacher at Mindful in the Wild (mindfulinthewild.com). She utilizes mindful healing approaches in her private practice in Shoreline. Mindfulness in the Garden is an on-going workshop series on Wednesday or Saturday each month through September. This class will take place outdoors, please dress accordingly.
Our classes fill up fast and pre-registration is required.
Members $25 | Non-members $35.
Register here

TOURS

Visitors to the Garden and Nursery are welcome Friday through Sunday during open hours.

PRIVATE TOURS

Private, docent-led tours are available by arrangement and provide an overview of the plant collection, the history and origins of the garden, along with discussions about the future. Tours are $10/person, with a $60 minimum. Private tours can be arranged for Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday during the week, as well as Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All tours are booked in advance by contacting the garden at kbgf@kruckeberg.org.

SELF-GUIDED TOURS

Self-Guided Tour brochure – Download our walking tour brochure to help you spot garden highlights, or pick one up at the garden kiosk.

Bird Tour brochure – The Kruckeberg Garden is home to over 40 bird species. Download our self-guided bird tour and checklist, or pick one up at the Garden kiosk.

BEFORE YOUR TOUR

All visitors must remain on the paths to avoid soil compaction and damage to plants. The upper garden is flat, but not paved. The path to the lower garden is relatively steep (beyond ADA standard slope) but in some cases can be manageable by wheelchairs. We recommend that you visit in advance of your tour if you have concerns about accessibility. There are limited restroom facilities at the Garden and no wheelchair accessible restrooms. Please plan accordingly.

PRESCHOOL – 2nd GRADE FIELD TRIPS

For all things kid-related, visit our Kids Only page.