Discover Pacific Northwest Garden Tips at One of Puget Sound’s Hidden Gardens: Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden

Whether you own or rent, live in a house, townhome or apartment, you’ll discover a wealth of garden inspiration ideas at the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden.  From rhododendrons and ferns, to irises and even a traditional Japanese garden, you’ll find something for everyone at this secluded garden sanctuary. 

Tucked away in a corner of the city of SeaTac, this hidden gem is a tranquil oasis that is just minutes from the Seattle Tacoma Airport, yet seems worlds away.  It is actually a collection of nine distinct gardens. The flagship garden and perhaps most well known is the Elda Behm Paradise Garden - relocated stone by stone, plant by plant to make room for a third airport runway.

Originally a private garden designed by Elda over the course of 40 years, the Paradise Garden combines shade, sunlight and water with plants to make visitors feel they are far from the city.  Blooming rhododendrons, trees and trilliums are a strong feature this time of year, along with ferns and hostas.

The Paradise Garden makes liberal use of natural materials for its hardscaping, including logs for flower beds and stone edging for pathways.  A pergola made from tree branches sits alongside a pond, where a massive cedar root serves as a focal point.

For Asian-inspired garden ideas, there is the Seike Japanese Garden, another private garden that was also relocated here due to airport expansion.  This lovely pond and mountain style garden features a gravel path that zig zags down a hill past water features and over bridges, and is the largest Japanese garden ever relocated in the United States.

Irises are in bloom now too, planted and maintained by the King County Iris Society.  You’ll find blooms with names like “Hit the Jackpot,” with yellow and purple petals, to “Play with Fire” featuring ruffled lavender petals.

The Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden is open dawn to dusk daily, excluding federal holidays.  Admission is complimentary and parking is free.  To find out more about the Garden, including what is blooming now, you can visit their website at https://highlinegarden.org/.