The Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens
Everett WA, much like most of western Washington, is a green and beautiful area. This beauty makes it easy to be outside and enjoy the fresh air. One of the crowning beauties of Everett is the Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens. This 3 ½ acre forest and garden area provides the city of Everett with a place to enjoy the beauty of nature and to learn about nature.
The Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens are located in American Legion Memorial Park and are maintained by community volunteers. The arboretum and gardens have been a part of Everett since 1963, although it has grown and evolved throughout the years.
About the Arboretum
First off, what is an arboretum? An arboretum is a botanical garden devoted specifically to trees. The Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens showcases evergreens and other trees, as well as flowers and other natural things that bring beauty to the area. The Evergreen Arboretum is unique in its structure and setup, as it takes the visitor through eleven different themed gardens.
The Gardens
Each of these gardens has its own curator and vision. Let’s take a look into each of the eleven themed gardens individually to see and appreciate what makes them uniquely beautiful.
Small Urban Tree Walk
This is a small path that connects the north end of Legion Park to the Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens. The Small Urban Tree Walk provides a safe walkway for pedestrians to travel between the two areas. The trees and flowers on this path were selected to be compatible with some of the small urban gardens of this day and age.
Master Gardener Demonstration Garden
This garden is a stunning place to see perennials from MArch to October. The Snohomish County Master Gardeners care for the garden and use it as a classroom for others to learn to tend to plants and identify different species of plants.
Conifer Garden
This was the very first garden planted as part of the Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens. The Conifer Garden showcases trees from the Cypress, Yew, and Pine families. The garden does well at showing the variety of shapes, colors, and textures foliage can be.
Viewing Mound
The Viewing Mound gets its name because it is the perfect place to see the rest of the Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens from an overview. This high point in the arboretum features a large, unique water and metal sculpture that mimics the structures found in nature. This sculpture is named Fibonacci.
Rock Garden
The Rock Garden is full of small plants and rocks, organized in an artistic way. None of the plants in the Rock Garden are under 3 feet tall. The display is meant to depict something that a homeowner could create on their own in their own yard.
Woodland Garden & Fernery
This forest-like area houses both native and ornamental ferns as well as an array of other plants. The Woodland Garden & Fernery includes ferns, azaleas, rhododendrons, and hydrangeas.
Japanese Maple Grove
The experience you can have walking through the Japanese Maple Grove is unique because of the variety and the colors you can see. The different types of trees within the grove provide beauty in all seasons, from stunning spring foliage to spectacular and bright fall colors, the trees are beautiful during all seasons.
Backyard Garden
This garden is built to encompass a typical Northwestern home garden. There are creative plant designs within the garden that could inspire you to change your backyard.
Northwest Native Plant Trail
The plants found in the Northwest Native Plant Trail are local to the coastal region from northern Oregon to Vancouver, BC. See the beauty that is native to this region.
Nativar Garden
A nativar is a hybrid of two or more plants native to a specific region. Sometimes these hybrids occur naturally, and sometimes they are a result of selective breeding. The Nativar Garden displays both types of nativar plants, bringing beautiful color and variety to the garden.
Horizontal Rock Garden
This garden showcases a variety of miniature shrubs, grasses, and bushes in the midst of huckleberry basalt stones. The centerpiece of the garden is “Roundness of the horizon – The Fossil,” a sculpture by Katzutaka Uchida.
All of the gardens are linked together through weaving paths, giving the overall garden experience flow.
The Arboretum Sculpture Collection
Within all of the gardens and throughout the whole experience, there are several sculptures that add to the artistic feeling that is present in the Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens. As you visit the Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens, keep an eye out for all of the sculptures that add to your experience.
