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THE PACIFIC CONNECTIONS GARDEN

Project Overview

The Pacific Connections Garden is one of the key components of the Washington Park Arboretum’s 20-year Master Plan for renewal and marks the first major new exhibit in the Arboretum in almost 50 years. The 14-acre garden will be located at the south end of thepc2 Arboretum and feature five eco-geographic immersion forests surrounding a central welcoming meadow and a series of stunning entry gardens. The forests will be comprised of temperate-climate plant communities from Australia, New Zealand, China, Chile, and Cascadia. An intricate network of walking trails will allow visitors to enjoy the forest habitats and marvel at the diversity of plants that can thrive in the Pacific Northwest. Trail signage and an interpretative shelter will profile the Pacific Rim regions represented in the new garden, highlight their horticultural connections, and illustrate the vital importance of plants in different societies and ecosystems. Construction of the garden began in fall 2007; Phase I was completed in the summer of 2008.

Map Courtesy Seattle P-I

                                                                                          

THE CAMPAIGN

Phase 1 (2005—2007)

Commitment: $2.2 million.

Includes welcoming meadow, interpretive shelter, and entry gardens.

 

 

Groundbreaking for the first phase of Pacific Connections occurred in October 2007, following a $2.2 million gift from the Arboretum Foundation to Seattle Parks and Recreation, which is overseeing project construction. The first phase includes the creation of the central welcoming meadow; an open-walled interpretive shelter with green roof; five entry gardens leading to the main forest gardens; and the grading, pathways, and retaining walls for the Cascadia forest. It is now completed. Opening celebrations were held in September 2008.

Pacific Connections Opening

Touring the Pacific Rim: Visitors enjoy the new Pacific Connections preview gardens at the opening celebration in September, 2008.

Download UWBG's wonderful new audio tour of the Pacific Connections preview gardens.

Phase II (2008—2010)

Estimated cost: $3.5 million.

Includes planting of the Cascadia and New Zealand forests.

 New Zealand

Fundraising for the next phase of Pacific Connections has begun. This phase consists of the planting of the Cascadia and New Zealand immersion forests, the creation of new walking trails, the restoration of the Homdahl rockery at the junction of Arboretum Drive and Lake Washington Boulevard, and the endowment of funds for the care and maintenance of these exhibits. The new Pacific Connections forests will be created as funding is secured, beginning with Cascadia during the 2009—2010 season, and following ideally with the planting of one forest garden per year thereafter.

Artist's rendition of the New Zealand immersion forest,  courtesy Berger Partnership.

Future Phases (2010—2015)

Include the planting of the remaining immersion forests and the endowment of funds for sustained maintenance of the Pacific Connections Garden for generations to come.

 

How You Can Help

Contributions to the Pacific Connections Campaign can be made by calling the Arboretum Foundation at 206-325-4510, or by making a secure online donation. For more information about the campaign, contact:

Julia Maywald, Director of Major Gifts Initiatives

Arboretum Foundation, 2300 Arboretum Drive East, Seattle, WA 98112

Phone: 206-325-4510; Fax: 206-325-8893; or email.

  

More Information

Learn much more about the plants and design of the Pacific Connections Garden in the following articles reprinted from the Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin. 

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The Arboretum Foundation is a non-profit membership organization supporting the Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle.