The Wildlife Botanical Gardens comprise over three acres of themed garden spaces designed to attract butterflies, birds, and other wildlife. 

There are ten gardens in total, each with a distinct look and feel. While lovely to visit year-round, this space really shines in spring and summer. Beautiful flowers bloom all around, and you’ll find a smattering of picnic tables throughout to stop and take it all in. 

My personal favorite garden is the Collector’s Garden. There is a rich array of flowering plants providing all sorts of lovely sights and smells. Here, you’ll find lavender, hibiscus, lilac, phlox, and rhododendron. You’ll hear bees buzzing, and kids love watching them crawl up inside the flowers, come out covered in pollen, and fly on to the next. 

Another favorite is the NW Bird Haven. There are plenty of feeders and birdhouses scattered around. If you sit still on one of the benches, you’ll definitely spot some flying friends. You can practice your identification skills with a handy chart posted in the garden. My daughter loves spotting birds and then running over to the chart to figure out which one it was. 

There are many areas to enjoy here, including little hideaways – picnic tables hidden behind trees and foliage and little paths with an archway of vines growing across the top to create a fun tunnel. It’s a great space to play hide and seek! 

Parking at the Wildlife Botanical Gardens is free, and there is no admission. Gardens are open daily, year-round. There are pamphlets about the gardens located near the parking area in the gazebo. Volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable. If you have any gardening questions and happen upon someone tending the space, don’t be afraid to chat them up! The garden paths are gravel; any all-terrain stroller or a wagon would do fine here.