Sponsored by Heronswood Garden
About the sponsor: Heronswood Garden seeks to preserve biodiversity, celebrate culture, and share knowledge about sustainable gardening. The Port Gamble S’Klallam Foundation manages the garden with support from the Tribe, grants, memberships, and donations, ensuring Heronswood continues to grow and inspire for generations to come.
Located in Kingston on the scenic Kitsap Peninsula, Heronswood Garden is owned by the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and features both native and rare plants from around the world. Enjoy cultural events, educational programs, and year-round opportunities to explore the connection between people and plants. Planning a wedding? Heronswood Garden also serves as a wedding venue, providing a stunning natural backdrop for ceremonies and celebrations.
Heronswood: A World of Plants in One Place
Tucked away in a forested corner, Heronswood is more than a botanical stop; it’s a living story that continues to unfold. Whether you’re a passionate gardener, a curious traveler, or simply searching for a peaceful afternoon among blooms, Heronswood draws you in and invites you to stay a little longer.
Heronswood Garden: The Early Years
Founded in 1987 by horticulturists Dan Hinkley and Robert Jones, Heronswood began as a small nursery and plant collection. Dan traveled the world—from the Himalayas to Vietnam—returning with rare specimens to grow in the Pacific Northwest’s rich soil. Over the years, the garden blossomed into an internationally acclaimed destination, renowned for its diversity and design.
In 2000, the beloved garden was purchased by W. Atlee Burpee & Company, the iconic American seed and plant firm. But by 2006, Burpee, citing a lack of demand for rare plants and facing financial troubles, shuttered the nursery and relocated operations. For six years, the once-bustling garden lay quiet, maintained only minimally as nature began to reclaim its paths. Then, a new season began.
A New Chapter in Native Hands
In 2012, the nearby Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe purchased the neglected property. Their goal was simple but powerful: restore Heronswood to its former glory while deepening its connection to the land and local culture. The Tribe established the Port Gamble S’Klallam Foundation to manage Heronswood and invited Dan Hinkley back to help guide the restoration. Together, they began reviving the gardens, preserving rare plants, and weaving in Indigenous knowledge and stewardship.
The land officially went into tribal trust status in 2015, solidifying the Tribe’s ownership and long-term commitment to its preservation.
Today, Heronswood is a living collaboration between people, plants, and culture. Spanning 15 acres, the property showcases plants from Asia, North America, and beyond while interpretive displays share S’Klallam stories and traditional plant uses. Visitors can visit six distinct spaces: Renaissance, Rock, Woodland, Formal, S’Klallam Connections, and the Traveler’s Gardens, each telling a story.
In the Renaissance Garden, mossy logs shelter a scene that reflects the connection between nature and the Tribe. The garden recreates an abandoned logging camp and features more than 250 kinds of ferns and other shade-loving plants growing beneath a canopy of western red cedar, a tree of great cultural importance to the Tribe.
The S’Klallam Connections Garden preserves the link between plants and people. Still taking shape, it highlights the importance of native plants to the Tribe. The coniferous woodland is filled with edible berries and cedar bark, a seasonal pond with cattails and sweetgrass for weaving, and a camas prairie for harvesting edible bulbs.
Also See: Native American Museums and Cultural Centers
Events That Bring the Garden to Life
Heronswood isn’t just a place to visit, it’s also a community gathering ground. Throughout the year, the garden hosts seasonal events such as plant sales, workshops, festivals, guided tours, and classes.
The garden also doubles as an unforgettable wedding venue where couples exchange vows surrounded by natural beauty that needs no embellishment. The event lawn, shaded by towering trees and bordered by brilliant flower beds, offers an elegant and earthy setting for life’s most memorable moments.
Also See: Discover Washington’s Sculpture Gardens
Plan Your Visit to Heronswood Garden
Heronswood is a delight to visit in every season. Spring brings bursts of color, summer hums with pollinators and lush greenery, autumn glows in fiery foliage, and winter reveals the quiet architecture of its design.
Located just a short drive from the Kingston ferry terminal, it’s an easy day trip from Seattle or Edmonds and a perfect stop on any Kitsap or Olympic Peninsula road trip. Whether you come for a leisurely walk, a guided tour, or a family outing, Heronswood offers a refreshing connection to nature. Before you leave, stop by the Heronswood Gift Shop, featuring locally made crafts, and unique treasures.
Whether you’re drawn by the flowers, the photography, or simply the peace of the place, you’ll leave with a reminder that when people care for the earth, the earth flourishes in return.
Heronswood Garden isn’t just a destination; it’s a story still in bloom.