Nature Walks
Feel miles away from the city as you stroll through our garden.
Visit
Visit
Explore the garden
Click on the icons in the map to learn more about various garden features.
Wood Wave
This 4-ton piece of interactive artwork was crafted from a salvaged old-growth redwood stump by California artist Bruce Johnson, and donated to the City of Shoreline for placement at the garden by Dr. Bruce and JoAnn Amundson in 2013. Children of all ages are invited to climb, admire, and explore this truly impressive piece of wood!
Legacy Garden
When the Kruckebergs first bought the property this area got a lot more sun! A lot of these garden beds started as rockery plantings, and have evolved as the area grew more shady. Check out the Sargent’s Weeping Hemlock, planted in the early 1960’s!
MsK Nursery
The MsK Nursery was founded by Mareen Schultz Kruckeberg, an avid plant propagator, after receiving enough requests to grow rare specimens sparked the idea that she could make a business out of it! In our nursery you'll find a diverse selection of native plants, specimens propagated from the garden’s collection, and more!
The House
The Kruckeberg’s original 1904 farmhouse, purchased by them in 1958 in unincorporated king county when the surrounding land was sunny, grassy, and full of potential for planting a lifetime garden! The house now serves as offices for garden staff as well as indoor workshop space.
Propagation Area
Greenhouses, hoophouses, and tables upon tables of little plants! These areas are staff only and filled with our propagation efforts. The plants back here are not yet ready to sell, but you’re always welcome to ask staff about anything you’re not finding in the public nursery area.
Children's Play Garden
A place to let your imagination run wild! While you won’t find any traditional playground equipment here at the garden, this area is full of opportunities for imaginative play with sticks, logs, and other natural materials for crafting gnome homes at our Gnome Depot! Can you find the fairy doors?
Woodland Classroom
Immediately adjacent to the Children’s Play Garden this clearing - once a horse corral - is another great spot for a picnic, guided activities, or more!
Hillside Hollow
A perfect place for a picnic, workshop, or just to have a moment’s rest. This area sits sheltered at the base of the hill as you first enter the lower garden from our boardwalk.
Living Stump
Before it was cut down, this stump had formed a root graft with the living Douglas Fir nearby, which now considers this stump part of itself and has lent it the energy and nutrients to keep growing despite a lack of foliage and seal over completely, forming this living stump!
Native Plant Garden
While the entire garden is interspersed with Pacific Northwest native plants, this corner of the garden is designed with them exclusively in mind. From our west side woodland to up into the mountains and more, enjoy a showcase of the wonderful plants that fill our bioregion!
Ponds
Water is one of the most important building blocks of life! If you’re lucky you might spot some birds drinking from the pond or taking a bath in the stream. Please stay out of the water and don’t disturb the rocks. This is a man-made recirculating water feature and disturbance can cause it to need repairs.
Puget Prairie
An often overlooked sub-section of our native plants, this bed showcases some of our smaller plants that thrive in well-drained, sunny bluffs of the Puget trough. Spring is the best time to fully appreciate this part of the garden, as many of the plants that grow here are bulbs or go dormant later in the year.
Climate Resilience Garden
The Climate Resilience Garden was created as an educational and practical resource to demonstrate sustainable gardening practices in the face of climate change. This garden highlights the value of planting species that can thrive in the increasingly dry and warm conditions of our region
Spruce Collection
A small shady grove with interesting spruce trees from around the world! Check out the different textures of their bark and needles!
Serpentine Garden
An area of particular interest in Art Kruckeberg’s studies, serpentine soils such as those found in the Siskiyou Mountains are low in essential nutrients that help plants grow, and high in heavy metals such as nickel and chromium. Certain plants have adapted to grow in these harsh conditions, such as the species in this demonstration garden!
Wollemi Pine Knoll
While not a true pine, the Wollemi Pine is a true dinosaur plant! Thought extinct and only known through fossil records until its discovery in 1994, this plant grows naturally in one ravine in Australia although propagations have been sent to botanic gardens all over the world. Surrounding plantings are generally themed with other plants from Australia and New Zealand.
Oak Collection
One of Art Kruckeberg’s special interests, oak trees grow all over the world and have much more variation to their growth habit, leaf shape, and adaptations than most people know! This area of the garden is filled with a wide selection of oaks, many of which look nothing like the red or white oak leaves that you might be familiar with!
Bug Hotels
These structures filled with various natural materials provide warm, dry crevices for beneficial insects to find shelter, make nests, and hide from predators! More than just making a home for insects, bug hotels are interesting from an artistic perspective too, and could be right at home in a home garden.
Gathering Grove
Under the tall canopy of second growth Douglas Fir, this is our biggest open gathering space! Perfect for a picnic, summer camps, and more, we also host occasional concerts that take place in this area.
Activities
Shopping
Check out MsK’s Nursery for many native and rare plants.
Learn more
Bird Watching
Over 45 bird species have been spotted at the garden.
Picnicking
There are many picnic tables and benches setup throughout the garden.
Leashed Dog Walking
Leashed dogs are welcome in the garden.
Children's Play Area
The children’s play area is a feature of the garden specially designed for fun and learning.
Plant ID
Many plants are identified with tags throughout the garden.
Events
We regularly host special events throughout the year.
Learn more
Weddings & Ceremonies
The garden can be rented for small events.
Contact us
Accessibility
Parking
The parking lot includes one (1) accessible parking spot and bike racks. Overflow parking is available on nearby side streets.
Restrooms
One (1) accessible porta-potty and in summer months two (2) porta-potties and a washing station.
Information Booth
Our information booth provides visitor and nursery services. It's open during open hours and is wheelchair accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but we do have a suggested donation of $5.00 per person. As a non-profit, we truly appreciate any financial support. There is a donation box near the entrance, there is also a QR code where an automated payment can be made. Or click Donate today for a secure online payment form.
The garden has a small parking lot, so if you’re planning a meet up with a group, try to carpool as you’re able. Alternatively, there are a number of side streets in the area that you can park on. No parking on walkways, or private driveways, please respect posted no parking signs.
Yes, but they must be leashed, and not known for aggressive behavior. Also, picking up after your pooch is a must.
Yes, but only sturdy black pots with no labels on them. Nothing flimsy, or with garish colors, stickers or too many holes. Please email nursery@kruckeberg.org if you have some you’d like to donate.
We don’t keep an updated list of our availability in the nursery, as it is constantly changing throughout the year. Please feel free to email, or call with any specific plant requests, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Harvesting or collecting natural materials in the garden is not allowed, sorry. We’d like everyone to be able to enjoy those really cool cones.
The nursery is open and operating all year, anytime the garden is open. In the winter, we do slow down considerably, and many plants are dormant and put away. The nursery has a few specialty sales throughout the year. Check the website or social media posts for dates on these popular events.
Yes. Kruckeberg Botanic Garden is available for small private events, including intimate weddings, celebrations, memorials, and community gatherings. Availability depends on the size, timing, and needs of the event.
For current pricing and rental guidelines, please contact info@kruckeberg.org with your preferred date, estimated guest count, and a brief event description.