Bloedel Reserve

Mission Statement

We celebrate beauty by cultivating our environment, building community, and deepening relationships to the natural world.

Vision Statement

Reciprocity with the land contributes to a healthy, sustainable, and inspired future.

Our Name & Founding Vision

Bloedel Reserve is named for Prentice and Virginia Bloedel whose unique vision still guides the Reserve today.

Gardens in the Forest

Bloedel Reserve combines landscape design with the ecology of the Pacific Northwest forest on 140 acres of gardens and tended wildlands on Bainbridge Island in Washington.

Looking Forward

We are continuing our beloved core programs while looking towards the future. This year, we are revising our site Master Plan to set the course for a flourishing future at the Reserve. Building community and making nature accessible and relevant on Bainbridge Island and beyond is at the forefront of our vision. We are grateful to be drawing from such deep roots as we grow.

2024 Year in Review  

These notable highlights and accomplishments from 2024 that were made possible from your support:

• We welcomed over 70,000 visitors along with establishing a free access program for Suquamish Tribal members and experimenting with accessibility walks, ensuring that the peace and beauty of Bloedel Reserve are accessible to our community year-round.
• Partnerships with Bainbridge Island School District’s Adult Living Program, Stephens House, BI Park District’s Adaptive Recreation, and Washington Youth Challenge Academy have brought in new volunteers while providing accessible experiences to more diverse audiences. 
• In summer 2024, Bloedel Reserve welcomed one year-long apprentice and five interns for a nine-week comprehensive and transformative educational experience for students passionate about public horticulture. 
• We are deeply grateful to our incredible community of 224 volunteers: from greeters to docents to garden area volunteers. They have collectively committed over 8,000 hours of time – a new record for the Reserve and a 31% increase from 2023!
• Through the Creative Residency Program, Bloedel Reserve welcomed twelve Creative Residents, four Community Creatives, and four Olympic College students - who each produced public events including workshops, walks, talks, and art exhibitions.  
• New President & CEO, Evan Meyer, was welcomed to the fold. He leapt into his tenure here with pulling invasive ivy in the forests and daily piano playing.