BY MEGAN O’CAIN
The city of Shoreline plans to purchase the Kruckeberg Botanical Garden and nursery, begun nearly 50 years ago by University of Washington professor Art Kruckeberg.
Funding will come from the Shoreline Parks Bond Levy that passed in May 2006. While the Kruckeberg property has not yet been sold, money has been allotted for the purchase and the transaction is in the works, with the changes anticipated to be complete by next year.
The four-acre garden will be owned by the city and run by the Kruckeberg Botanical Garden Foundation, with the adjoining nursery converting to function in a nonprofit capacity.
“It brings the plant world alive,” said David Berger, executive director of the Kruckeberg Garden Foundation. Berger was one of more than 70 people who attended the organization’s spring meeting on June 20 at the Richmond Beach Congregational Church. Kruckeberg, a local legend in horticulture and botanical gardening circles, presented a short discussion on botany and presented a slide show to meeting attendees.
Kruckeberg began the botanical garden in Richmond Beach in 1958 and since then it has grown to inspire an entire community of foundation members and volunteers.
“It (the foundation) was really started by people who were just enchanted by the garden,” said acting president Matt Loper. The mission of the foundation was to preserve Kruckeberg Garden from development that was taking place in the area and educate those in the local community and horticultural community about its presence.
The garden and nursery are located in the vicinity of 15th Avenue Northwest in Shoreline near Richmond Beach Road and would easily be passed without notice by those driving by. However, those who do visit find an outdoor space inhabited by plant species from all over the world. The collection of plants includes many local varieties as well as exotic imports. Kruckeberg’s plant selections showcase in the same garden maples native to Washington state and Japan.
After the foundation takes responsibility for the garden, Kruckeberg will continue to live and work on the property.
“Art is extremely active, he works in the garden every day,” Berger said.
Kruckeberg interacts with volunteers and visitors. Passing his knowledge of botany on to others is something he has spent a lifetime doing.
A professor emeritus in Botany, he maintains an affiliation with the UW and currently is teaching a summer course on the natural history of the Puget Sound region. Kruckeberg’s efforts are tied to his own fascination with the plants with which he works.
“You ask me for a favorite, I don’t have one, I just have 15,” Kruckeberg said as he showed slides of Asian plant species.
The organization has grown extensively in the last year and currently boasts 240 members, a significant increase over last year’s 170 members. Loper said the jump is a result of the increased effort of volunteers and foundation members to raise public awareness of the garden. The highlight of this recent exposure was the Seattle Flower and Garden Show, in which the foundation participated.
Volunteers can work in a number of capacities from weeding flowerbeds to working on the foundation’s newsletter.
Involvement with the organization can also lead to a deeper appreciation for the natural aspects of the planet. Berger believes many people are unaware of the life that surrounds them in natural settings and can experience “plant blindness” in this culture. But volunteering can open up a world that is easily passed by, just like the Kruckeberg garden.
Megan O’Cain is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.
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