At their Noon Team meeting Feb 22, Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians were told the story of Bloedel Reserve - its past, present, and future. The speaker was Bloedel President and CEO, Ed Moydell.
Moydell told Rotarians the Reserve goes back to 1856, when 67 acres of what is now Bloedel was dedicated by President James Buchanan to help construct University of Washington. In 1862, the acreage was sold and logged, with revenue going to develop UW curriculum, and lumber from logging used to construct the first UW buildings in downtown Seattle.
Bloedel founder Prentice Bloedel was a conservation pioneer, innovator of the timber industry, and an early advocate of the positive effects of nature on human well-being. After retiring from the timber business in 1951, Prentice and his wife Virginia purchased the property that is now Bloedel Reserve.
According to Moydell, Bloedel is a place to slow down, to connect with yourself and with family and friends, to inspire creativity, and to connect with nature. Opened to the public in 1988, Bloedel Reserve is a 150-acre public garden and forest preserve. It is visited annually by more than 80,000 guests. It boasts 4,000 different kinds of plants, with 20 landscapes woven into a botanical garden. Bloedel was named one of USA Today's "Top Ten Public Gardens in America" in 2020.