Bloedel Reserve
| Bloedel Reserve | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Manor House | |
Interactive map of Bloedel Reserve | |
| Location | Bainbridge Island, Washington |
| Area | 140 acres (57 ha) |
The Bloedel Reserve is a 140-acre (57 ha) forest garden on Bainbridge Island, Washington. It was created by Virginia and Prentice Bloedel, the vice-chairman of the lumber company MacMillan Bloedel Limited, under the influence of the conservation movement and Asian philosophy. The couple wished to capture the essence of the Japanese garden—the qualities of naturalness, subtlety, reverence, tranquility—and construct a Western expression of it.
Features
Although the Reserve includes a traditional Japanese garden, the Bloedels' approach for the rest of the property stands in contrast to that of 'Japanese gardens' which achieve their effects through the use of ornament. The Bloedel Reserve has both natural and highly landscaped lakes, immaculate lawns, woods, a stone garden,[1] a moss garden, a rhododendron glen, and a reflection garden. The lead landscape architect on the project was Cornelia Oberlander.[2] She was assisted by landscape architects Richard Haag, Thomas Church and Danielle Stern.
The Bloedels' French Chateau-style home, including many original furnishings, is preserved as a visitor center.[3]
The Reserve opened to the public in 1988 as a family run foundation and registered as a 501(c)3 public charity in 2010. It is open year-round.
Gallery
Panoramic view of a section of the reserve
A willow tree at the reserve
The Japanese Garden at the reserve
Closeup of a trio of rocks in the Stone Garden
A walking path in the reserve.
See also
References
- ↑ Pilling, Nathan (November 23, 2018). "Bloedel Bob: Longtime Japanese Garden caretaker keeps each stone, each leaf in its place". Kitsap. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ↑ "The Bloedel Reserve". cca.qc.ca. The Canadian Centre for Architecture. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Garden features—main entry". Bloedel Reserve. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
External links
47°42′30″N 122°32′52″W / 47.70833°N 122.54778°W
- Bainbridge Island, Washington
- Botanical gardens in Washington (state)
- Gardens in Washington (state)
- Parks in Kitsap County, Washington
- Japanese-American culture in Washington (state)
- Japanese gardens in the United States
- 1988 establishments in Washington (state)
- University of Washington organizations
- Kitsap County, Washington, geography stubs
- United States garden stubs