The Bellevue Botanical Garden: The Border

The Bellevue Botanical Garden is a 53 acre urban retreat in the City of Bellevue, east of Seattle, on the east side of Lake Washington. It is made up of display gardens, restored woodlands and natural wetlands. 

The entrance is through the new Visitor's Center. 

Early Sunday morning rain left raindrops on petals. 

From the original home of the Short Family, we walk into the Water-wise Garden. 

 Various forms of Weigelia are in full bloom.

 Screen cages protect newly set out vegetable starts from deer and rabbits. 

 Alliums are in their prime. 

 Color and texture blend beautifully here. 

From here it is just a short walk to the Perennial Border, designed and maintained by the Northwest Perennial Alliance. From early spring to early winter the show here is always rewarding. 

 It's hard to believe this border was torn up, redesigned and replanted just a few years ago. Wide pathways now make it much more accessible and one can more appreciate the layers of texture and the long extension of bloom times. 

 The overcast white sky made for ideal photography. I was traveling light, with just my little Canon point and shoot. 

 Peonies are popping. 

 Fox glove spires compliment allium spheres. 

 Such a cool variegated iris. 

 It's hard to decide which is more alluring, the close up blooms or the wide angle blending. 

 Over in the shady end, the green lushness glows. 

 Raindrops on Lady's Mantle. Alchemella mollis. 

Color and texture blending in cornus and iris. 

 Yellow trillium.

 More wonderful layering.

 Droops of red flowers hide under lush umbrella leaves of May Apple. 

 Cardiocrinum giganteum, Himalayan Lily, will bloom this year. It takes seven years to do so. 

Domesticated dogwood has wonderfully huge flowers. 

I was happy to see this Styrax japonica had been newly under planted, rescuing it from concealing shrubbery and revealing its wonderful form, as we transitioned to the water feature and the Rhododendron Glen.  

More to come.