Magnuson Children's Garden - "a hidden gem"

We just learned about Magnuson Children's Garden from one of the team of gardeners who contacted us. This garden was designed by professionals "using the ideas that were dreamed up by children from the community.

It is filled with plants and other features that delight all the senses" the Children's garden blog says.

Emily Bishton, with the Magnuson Children's Garden Committee, tells us that the Magnuson Children’s Garden is a "7 year old hidden gem that is well-worth discovering!"

It is across the street from the Junior League Playground and near the main entry to the Magnuson Community Garden.

Emily says, "This garden is filled with delights for children and adults of all ages: a rolling hill, a spiral path up to a lookout, tide pool gardens, a starfish-shaped maze, a grey whale garden, and hundreds of plants with fragrant flowers and leaves, funny shapes, or interesting seed pods.

The design of the garden, and its imaginative interactive features, evolved directly from the creative input of local children and families at design charettes that were held in 2001 and 2003. A volunteer committee of horticulturists and landscape designers then combined those ideas into a garden plan that was built by volunteers from the community, beginning in 2002.

Since then, children and adults from the community have also participated in the garden maintenance, as well as adding new features- Villa Academy Girl Scouts, Laurelhurst Elementary 4-H, and Children's Hospital Child Care Center, just to name a few.

A major highlight in 2007 was when students from Thornton Creek Elem created a beautiful and educational 'Salmon Survival Path' tile mosaic in the garden, that connects our whale garden's 'ocean' with the 'lookout lake.'"

The Magnuson Children's Garden is open during all park hours for self-guided tours, and is also host to the Jr. Nature Explorers Program during the spring and summer months.

There is a work party coming up on August 12th from 1pm-3pm. Emily says, "all adults who participate in these events are invited to bring children with them for free nature activities, such as exploring the worm bin, going on sensory walks, creating nature art, planting and harvesting!"

Tools and gloves are provided, as well as refreshments. Also, King County Master Gardeners and other horticultural experts are on hand at each event to answer questions about your own garden free of charge.

We'll have to check out this garden. Sounds like a lot of fun for kids and also for grown-ups.