Perennial Paradise at PowellsWood: A Northwest Garden- Explore Washington State
“My first stop is a plant paradise called PowellsWood: A Northwest Garden. While most folks merely pass through Federal Way on I-5, PowellsWood is worth a detour. The garden sits west of the highway, on the southernmost end of a multi-acre ravine and forest preserve. Visiting PowellsWood is a two-fer experience, as you can visit the cultivated beauty of the garden, then explore the wild, forested land to its north. There’s a well-trodden trail in the preserve that makes for a beautiful stroll. It's a 40-acre sanctuary amidst the suburban sprawl…”
In My Garden: A Visual Diary - The Garden Conservancy
Follow PowellsWood Garden Director, Justin Henderson, as he provides personal observations from the garden.
“The summer border is where I drink my cup of coffee each morning," says Justin. "The caffeine combined with all of this visual stimulation seems to get me energized for the day! I absolutely adore lilies. A common issue with common plants is that we treat them as common and fail to admire their pristine beauty, which makes them common…”
The Director’s Point of View- Puget Sound Gardens
When you enter a new public garden, aren't you curious how a Director looks at the beauty under their direction? Take a moment to see how Justin Henderson reflects on the grounds that are his responsibility.
“Gertrude Jekyll once wrote, “The giving of pleasure is the highest purpose of a garden.” There is surely pleasure in every aspect belonging to a garden. Most obvious are the sensual pleasures of sight, smell, and touch. But there is also a deeper pleasure in giving it away. Sharing it. When others find your garden to be a place of healing and rest. When children fill your garden with laughter and discovery. When others are inspired. When the community utilizes your space as a safe place to connect with dear friends. When, just for a moment, a visitor is transported beyond their current realities…”
PowellsWood Garden- Best of the Northwest
“Tucked away in a corner of Federal Way, Washington near the shores of Puget Sound is a gem of a garden and a must-see for any garden lover and a welcome escape from the sometimes overwhelming sensory overloads that come with a big city. Owners Monte and Diane Powell and their family have created a true urban oasis.
The family-run, three-acre garden sits alongside a borrowed view of an additional 35 acre greenbelt property. The garden offers visitors a chance to really wander… many different rooms offer many different styles of gardening to inspire any gardener. The overall theme is a Northwest garden – featuring the wide variety of plant life that grows so well in the mild climate of the Pacific Northwest…”
Garden Therapy- South Sound Magazine
“Powellswood is a sweet, tidy, and lush 3-acre garden tucked away in a 40-acre forest in Federal Way. It has a magnificent Leyland Cypress hedge that serves as backdrop to well-designed perennial beds filled with uncommon treasures. The upper part of the three-leveled garden leads you through a wide arch into a circle garden. There is a stream and duck pond. Bring lunch, and enjoy the calm.”
PowellsWood: A Northwest Pleasure Garden- Danger Garden
“My second stop on the recent NPA Hardy Plant Study Weekend was PowellsWood; "A Northwest pleasure garden tucked away in a Federal Way neighborhood, the three acres of PowellsWood are nestled against another thirty-five acres of native successional forest. A series of exquisite hedges help define several distinct garden rooms graced with more than a thousand varieties of trees, shrubs and perennials."
PowellsWood Garden- Go Wandering
“Discover this lush garden and native woodland just 30 minutes south of Seattle.
PowellsWood Garden is a Northwest pleasure garden located in a neighborhood in Federal Way, Washington. It is right next to a 40-acre nature preserve, but the garden encompasses three acres boasting over a thousand varieties of trees, shrubs, and perennials. This garden was dreamed up by Monte and Diane Powell and has been around since the late 1990s. Guests can relax in the outdoor garden rooms, see the pond and stream, and spend time at the conservatory during their visit.
If you're in need of a peaceful place to stop on the way to or from Seattle, look no further than PowellsWood Garden…”
8 Gardens to Visit Around Seattle & Tacoma: Thrifty NW Mom
“There are about 5 specific garden areas, but there are more areas to walk thru with flowers all around the grounds & they should be blooming at different times throughout the spring as it seemed like they had a great variety of plants & flowers in different stages of bloom. There is a stream & pond inside the gardens as well, which is always popular with kids. I just loved how lush this garden feels & with the woods surrounding it, it feels very serene & such an oasis to escape to for quiet & beauty. You are also welcome to bring a picnic lunch if you’d like to sit & enjoy the gardens longer (just pack out your trash)…”