I recently visited the lovely Heronswood Garden with a friend who is a member. The Garden is located midway between Port Gamble and Kingston (an approximate 30 minute drive from Port Townsend) at 7530 NE 288th Street, Kingston, and is owned and operated by the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe since it was purchased at auction in 2012. The Garden is open to the public from early March to late October, Friday-Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For a one time entrance fee of only $10, you can spend hours taking in all of the lush, botanical beauty wherever you look; however, by the time you leave you will most likely want to become an annual member for a fee of $50, which includes a plant of your choice from the items on display near the welcome table, and a year subscription to either Better Homes and Gardens or Martha Stewart Living. I could immediately see the value in that offer, and didn\’t hesitate to sign up!
The self-guided tour took us a little over an hour, but one could easily linger on for several more perusing and enjoying the lovely variety of unusual, plants, shrubs, vines and perennials. One of the original co-founders, David Hinkley, made several trips abroad to Eastern Europe, Asia, Central and South America, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia over a period of years procuring some of the rare specimens that you will encounter in the Garden. The Heronswood website is full of great information about the history of the Garden, classes offered, and special events. Check it out!
Heronswood Garden is a beautiful, special, peaceful sanctuary where one can wander around, relax, reflect, and commune with nature. I can\’t wait to visit again! Pamela T.
(click on photos to enlarge)
