Streissguth Gardens is a 1.25-acre mixed public/private garden in Seattle’s North Capitol Hill neighborhood, with stellar views of Lake Union, Queen Anne, downtown Seattle and the Olympic mountains. Join Garden Directors Ben Streissguth and Jade Takashima for an intimate tour of their public garden, private gardens and architectural marvel of a home on a Capitol Hill hillside. They will share the history of the Streissguth family’s role in developing the garden, as well as ongoing conservation efforts to keep this public garden endowed and running smoothly.

Two generations of love stories have transpired on this quiet street over 65 years. Dan Streissguth and Ann fell in love gardening their steep hillside gardens after she moved next door. In 1972 the couple purchased two vacant lots to the south (across the Blaine St. stairs) and developed a garden there. In 1996 they donated the gardens to Seattle Parks in conjunction with the Parks department purchasing the three adjoining lots south of the garden, saving them from development.

In early 2018, during a chance visit to the garden Jade met Ben. During a tour, they bonded over a mutual love of gardening, plants and technology. In 2021 they were married in the garden and are now its caretakers. That year they opened the Streissguth Gardens Conservancy, a 501 (c)(3), to help the garden grow into the future.

Speakers’ bios:

For over two decades, Jade has been a professional gardener and small business owner. Additionally, she has taught ELS for years. She holds an MLA and a Certificate of Preservation Planning from the UW. Since meeting Ben, she shares her time between the preservation and care of Streissguth Gardens and ELS.

Ben’s first memories are in the garden. He has been a small business owner for over three decades, holds three horticulture degrees from Edmonds College and a BLA from the UW. Since 2014 he has focused his energies on Streissguth Gardens and management of his family’s rental properties.