City of Bellevue: Botanical Garden

The Bellevue Botanical Garden (BBG) develops, maintains and displays plant collections in a park setting for the purposes of research, horticultural demonstration and passive recreation. The Garden consists of numerous outdoor gardens, such as the Perennial Border, Yao Garden, Waterwise Garden, Rock Garden, Urban Meadow, and the Native Discovery Garden.

The Garden provides a forum for public education in botany, horticulture, and related fields. The Bellevue Botanical Garden opened in 1992, and community support has been a part of the BBG since its inception. The land was originally owned by Cal and Harriet Shorts and was donated to the City by the Shorts. The City has since added neighboring lands to create the current 53-acre botanical garden.

Community involvement at many levels of Garden operations is a fundamental goal and is essential to the Garden's continuing development and maintenance. We have a large, active volunteer program with over 400 volunteers. The purpose of the Bellevue Botanical Garden's volunteer program is to provide support for programs and activities in public education, horticulture, research, visitor services, special events, and other aspects of garden operations. We have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities including docents, gift shop staff, horticultural assistants, special event staff, plant documentation research, and Living Lab educational program assistants.