The following photos of the Bellevue Botanical Gardens were taken by Lindsay Larin on Sept. 2, 2010, using the Motorola Droid phone by Verizon.

A recent trip to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens on a sunny afternoon resulted in some beautiful outdoor photos of lush greens, flowers in full bloom and gravel walkways. The 53 acre garden space includes woodlands, meadows and wetlands and is free and open to the public daily. It is one of few botanical gardens in the world that has no visitor fee, and is open every day of the year. 

Highlights of the Bellevue Botanical Gardens include the Northwest Perennial Alliance Border, Waterwise Garden, Yao Garden, Alpine Rock Garden and summer displays of dahlias and fuchsias.

The Garden is a part of the Bellevue Park Department, but public funds are not adequate for total maintenance and enhancement, so your membership dollars help provide the support needed. The Society also sponsors educational opportunities for both children and adults which provide information and experiences in a living laboratory.

In 2009, the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society embarked on a campaign to complete an $11 million master plan improvement to the Garden. Olson Kundig Architects have been selected to design the new buildings and the design work has already begun. More than $6 million has been committed through the 2008 Parks Levy passage, CIP Process and a challenge grant from the City of Bellevue. The Society is 55 percent of the way to reaching their goal and is committed to raising the remaining $5 million.

The funding raised through the campaign will create new visitor spaces including Education and Administration, Ravine Garden, and Sun Terrace Garden.

Ways to help support the Bellevue Botanical Gardens:

What: 2010 Gala Auction “ENCHANTED GARDEN!”
When: Friday, September 24, 2010
Location: The Harbor Club, 777 108th Ave NE #2500
Cost: Reservation – $110
Patron Reservation – $150
Contact: www.bellevuebotanical.org