Seattle’s Washington Park Arboretum
iPhone 16 Pro
I am originally from Atlanta (the ATL). I moved to Seattle in 2007 after a short stint in Salt Lake City. One of the main reasons for a Western move was access to more varied landscapes. Washington State offers everything from a rainforest to a desert to oceans, lakes, bays, and rivers. Oh yeah, and there are lots of mountains.
The city of Seattle is almost just as varied in its landscapes, from urban architecture to city parks with lakes and city parks that are mini-forests. Where you can park your car and within a minute’s walk you feel you’re miles away from the city.
The Washington Park Arboretum is one of these places. Over the years I’ve been to this spot at least two dozen times. It’s a wonderful place to take my photography group for photowalks, take a break from our daily lives, and explore nature with our cameras.
The grounds are well maintained and curated, offering interesting flora and fauna for viewing year round. In spring you’ll find azaleas and cherry blossoms, in autumn you’ll see layers of colors changing that will blow your mind.
This year I’ve already been twice, for a couple of small group outings where we used only our phones to capture the scenery.
Fujifilm X100V
On an early morning in January 2025, the temp was just below freezing and there was frost on the plant life. When I arrived at Graham Visitor’s Center, I paused immediately to photograph some details of leaves around the visitor’s center.
Fujifilm X100V
The sun was just coming up over the tree line so it was casting amazing light, on the frosted tips of the leaves.
Every time I visit the landscape has changed just a bit through the seasons, as one might expect. In the coming weeks (March into April), we will start to see cherry blossoms bloom. Beyond that azaleas, Japanese Maple Trees, and much more.
Fujifilm X100V
If you’re visiting Seattle or live here, I highly recommend visiting this beautiful place. I’d suggest getting there earlier in the day if you want to find better parking and have a more quiet experience.
~ Kate