Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, located in Shoreline, Washington, is a public garden rich in native plants of the Pacific Northwest and unusual species from other lands.

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Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Education Programs

Learn hands-on gardening skills with the staff of the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden.

Gardening Workshops
Fee: $35. Advance registration required. Contact the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden at 206-546-1281 for more information. All workshops are held at the Garden. Supply fees payable on day of workshop. KBGF members will receive a $10 discount on supply fees, or a gift certificate for the MsK Nursery if fees are less than $10.

Hypertufa Containers: April 22: 6:30–8:30 pm
Create a container designed to look like natural stone. These lightweight containers are fast draining and perfect for many plants. You’ll leave with a small container (approximately 12”x12”) and instructions for making more at home. $20 supply fee.

Creating Container Gardens: May 20: 6:30–8:30 pm
Create a container garden that has year-round interest for your patio or porch. Learn the basics of combining evergreens, groundcovers, and deciduous plants attractively. Bring a planter you want to use from home. Class includes a selection of plants for your container. $30 supply fee.

Cutting Propagation: June 10: 6:30–8:30 pm
Learn the basics of propagating plants by cuttings. Take home a propagation tray full of your cuttings and guidelines for making more throughout the year. $10 supply fee.

Sand-cast a Leaf Birdbath: July 17: 1–3 pm
Make a concrete birdbath shaped like a giant leaf. Complete the first steps of the project during the workshop, and take home instructions to complete the birdbath once it cures. $20 supply fee.

Plant Photography: August 22: 1–3 pm
Learn tricks and techniques for artfully photographing plants and flowers. Bring your own camera. We’ll show you how to use it best to achieve the results you want. Instructors are professional photographers.

Seed Collecting and Cleaning: Sept. 18: 1–3 pm
Learn the basics of harvesting seeds from your own garden or the wild. Includes hands-on seed collecting, examples of seed cleaning and storage techniques, and information about sowing the seeds you collect. $5 supply fee.

Explore the Garden with Your Children

FAMILY PROGRAM - GARDEN TOTS
Drop in with your young children this summer for a fun exploration of plants in this unique, naturalistic garden. For ages 2–7. Each week we’ll offer a simple plant activity, a themed garden exploration, and a craft project. $5 per family, free for KBGF members.

June 4: Learn About Leaves
Learn about different leaf shapes and structures, and then see how many different types of leaves you can find in our garden! We'll make beautiful solar prints and fun leaf monsters with the treasures we find.

June 11: The World of Worms (and other creepy crawlies)
Learn what worms like by investigating a worm bin, make slug trails, and create your own stretchy worm. Then see what kinds of creepy crawlies you can find in the garden.

June 18: Bark in the Park
Tree bark that is — come learn about the many uses of bark (for trees and people), see how many different kinds of bark you can find in the garden, create a bark weaving, and use bark as paper.

June 25: Cones! Cones! Cones!
Come learn about what kind of plants make cones, and see how many you can find in the garden. Then make a cone sculpture to bring home.

July 2: The Role of Rain
Rain is an essential part of a garden – and one of the reasons we have so many wonderful plants. Come learn why we all need rain, explore the impact of rain and water on plants and soil, and make your own rain gauge, and patriotic flower bouquet to take home.

July 9: Beautiful Butterflies
Learn about butterfly life cycles and how to create your own butterfly habitat. See how many butterflies you can find in the garden, and make your own butterfly to take home.

July 16: Disappearing Acts – Nature's Magicians
Learn about how animals use camouflage to blend in with their surroundings, search for camouflaged critters in the garden, and camouflage yourself with face paint! Then camouflage your own pet rock.

July 23: Tremendous Trees
What makes a tree different from other plants? Learn about some of the special and unique trees in the garden. Explore some of our giant trees, and make miniature people to help you explore some of our tiny ones.

July 30: Thorns & Prickles & Spines (Oh My!)
How and why are some plants covered in sharp things? Learn about the how plants defend themselves with thorns, prickles and spines, then create your own thorny plant. The brave can make thorn impressions and paintings!

August 6: Oh What a Tangled Web – the World of Spiders
Gardeners like spiders, and we hope you do too! Join us to learn why, and see how many different kind of spiders and webs you can find. Then make your own spider and try your hand at building a web.

August 13: Needed Needles
Why do some plants have needles for leaves? Come find out, and see how many different kinds of needles you can find in the garden to make your own needle mask.

August 20: Garden Senses
We use our eyes a lot in the garden, but this week, we'll focus on our other senses. Join us for a sensory exploration of the garden and use our smell, hearing, touch and even taste. Then make a scented sachet and a musical instrument out of items from the garden

August 27: Birds in the Garden
Gardens aren't just for plants! Learn about the Kruckeberg Garden's birds and which ones migrate away from our area in the fall. Help us make a 'migration map' of the garden's birds, and build a bird feeder to bring home to help the birds in your yard get ready to migrate, and to support the ones who stay here.

September 3: Fabulous Fruit
We'll look at fruit (inside and out), look for fruit, make art with fruit, and best of all – EAT FRUIT!

September 10: Fantastic Ferns
What makes ferns so fascinating? They don't make flowers, or seeds, and they catapult their spores into the air. Learn about amazing ferns and how they grow, and make fern prints.

September 17: Fall Leaves
Why do the leaves change color? Come look for signs of fall in the garden and make your own colorful fall leaves.

September 24: Spreading Seeds
Seeds don't have legs – so how do they get around? Come learn about different kinds of seeds and seed dispersal and make your own magic seed spreading wand!

Private Garden Tots classes for groups are available by arrangement. Contact the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden 206-546-1281 for information.

Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Specialty Tours

New for 2010, the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden’s docents offer specialty tours focused on a different topic each month.

As parking is limited, preregistration is required for all tours. To register, contact the Shoreline (206-418-3383 or Edmonds Parks Departments (425-771-0230).

Birds of the Kruckeberg Garden: April 24: 8–10am
The naturalistic design of the Garden provides excellent habitat for birds. Learn how you can encourage birds in your own garden. Bring binoculars. Some loaners will be provided. Fee: $10

Kruckeberg Rhododendrons: May 22: 11am–1pm
The Garden features almost 30 different rhododendron species. Learn about the diversity of these showy evergreen shrubs and learn how to care for the Washington state flower. Fee: $10

Native Plants of the Kruckeberg Garden: June 26: 11am-1pm
As a founder of the Washington Native Plant Society and an early advocate of native plant gardening, Dr. Kruckeberg has planted a wonderful array of northwest native plants. Come learn about them and how to use them in your own garden. Fee: $10

Ethnobotany: July 24: 11am-1pm
Ethnobotany is the study of how people of a particular culture and region make use of indigenous plants. Learn about the interesting uses of some of the plants in the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden — both natives and exotics from other lands. Fee: $10

Kruckeberg Oaks: August 28: 11am-1pm
With more than 40 different species of oaks onsite, the Garden is a fantastic place to learn about this diverse plant family. Learn which oaks might do well in different areas of your garden and how to identify and care for them. Fee: $10

Maple Splendor: Sept. 25, 11am-1pm
Enjoy the beauty of our showiest fall trees. The Kruckeberg Botanic Garden features 13 different species of maples. Learn how to identify and care for these lovely trees. Fee: $10

To Register: Shoreline and Lake Forest Park residents should register for tours and workshops through the Shoreline Parks Department (by phone at 206-801-2600 or online. Registration for Shoreline and LFP Residents begins March 24th. Registration open to non-residents March 29th. Non-residents may register through Shoreline but will be charged a non-resident surcharge.

All others may register through the Edmonds Parks Department (by phone at 425-771-0230 or online). Registration through Edmonds begins April 2nd.