We have two continuing garden projects planned for 2024, our sixth year as a society. Join us!
Project 1: Big Rock Park CENTRAL
Photo by Walt Carrel, 2017
Big Rock Park Central in Sammamish opened as of June 2, 2021. We have created the Heritage Garden near the Reard Historical House, restored by our partners, The Sammamish Heritage Society. The garden demonstrates heritage plants which might have been found in early gardens in our area. We have a large herb selection, fruiting trees, vegetables and shrubs. Our beds will be harvested at regular intervals during the summer and fall, with donations to the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank. Each growing season we deliver hundreds of pounds of produce! During the fall, we fill many beds with flower bulbs in anticipation of a beautiful spring show.
July activities. Photo by Carey Beckham.
Interested in helping out in the garden? Please send us an email to heritage@sammamishbotanical.org. We also send invitations for work party events via email from our newsletter and through Galaxy Digital. Small regular work parties occur in the garden on Tuesdays from 10 am to noon beginning in April. Hope to see you there!
Interested in a private tour? We have a number of docents available for private tours. The garden changes in every season. Please email us at heritage@sammamishbotanical.org to request a tour.
Garden History: Our first donation was installed in the garden on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. This special tree (Yellow Bellflower Apple) was donated by the Way family, grafted from a tree planted circa 1900 at the Weber Point settlement and mill along the shore of Lake Sammamish. We’re happy to see the progress on committed propagations, donations and community interest.
Installation of heritage Yellow Bellflower apple tree on February 24, 2021.
Big Rock Park Central may be accessed on trails from Big Rock Park North, or by the small parking lot at 1516 220th Ave. SE.
Project 2: Lower Commons Native Plant Garden
Spring blooming currants in the Lower Commons
The Native Plant Garden is located along the steps near the community gardens in the Sammamish Lower Commons. We have improved and help to maintain this area in partnership with the Washington Native Plant Society Stewards (Sammamish Stewards) and Sammamish Friends. Enjoy a walk along the pathways, looking for plant signage. These demo garden beds may be used as examples of native plants that will grow in your own garden. For detailed information, visit the City of Sammamish website for a project overview. View our Contact Page to see what’s blooming during the year.
Future goal and vision:
During the summer of 2022, the Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department of the City of Sammamish requested residents to participate in a survey for future park usage for the upcoming Beaton Hill and Big Rock Park South sites. In future feedback to the city, please express your wish for the development of a Sammamish Botanical Garden in Big Rock Park South.