The Lakewood area, just south of Tacoma, is a treasure trove of historically significant homes and gardens around Gravelly Lake. Join NHS Board Member Camille Paulsen for a tour of six of these jewels, five of which are private and rarely experienced by visitors.

The day starts at Lakewold Gardens, where its Executive Director and Head Gardener (and past NHS Board President) Justin Henderson and Camille will provide an overview of the area’s notable gardens. We will then carpool a short distance to the Weyerhaeuser garden, which was developed by George and Wendy Weyerhaueser. Wendy was the daughter of the Wagners, who owned Lakewold. It is very much a Northwest garden, filled with old growth fir trees, oaks, dogwood and–of course–rhododendrons, wisteria and roses. Clara Ladd’s nearby garden showcases glorious Garry oaks and a Chilean firetree, one of very few in the region. We will return to Lakewold for lunch (bring your own) and an exploration of the 10-acre grounds designed by the pioneering landscape architect Thomas Church, with its parterres, reflecting pool, tea house, woodlands and magnificent champion trees. Board Member Sue Goetz will be on hand to share her experience researching and recreating the original Church-designed knot garden. Finally we will travel to Villa Madera, which was built in 1920, and the adjacent Madera Japanese and Rose Gardens.