The PowellsWood Garden is a 3-acre urban oasis with a twist.
Tucked in a corner of the Marine Hills neighborhood off Dash Point Road in Federal Way, visitors can find peace and tranquility from the garden’s technicolor blooms, fragrant perennials and trickling streams.
“It’s more of a painter’s pallet than a plantsman’s list,” said Monte Powell, who shares a passion for gardening with his wife, Diane. “It’s not a botanic garden. There’s more order, rhythm and color.”
After a three-month renovation, PowellsWood will reopen to the public on June 22-23. Much of the garden was replanted and more open spaces were created.
Each well-manicured nook, or “room,” hosts native and non-native Northwest plants, framed by lush greenery and woods. Visitors can find favorites like fuchsias, Asian lilies, hydrangeas and hostas, but also see a few curveballs — like a trio of banana plants that overlook the garden’s tea room and patio.
Powell wanted to symbolize the nuances of climate change and show how the bananas, while native to more warmer latitudes, could still thrive in the Northwest.
The bananas also represent an educational component of PowellsWood. Powell has goals of partnering with University of Washington and Federal Way students — anything to immerse youth in nature. Families are welcome to visit and bring children, who can find a frog or a tadpole, or kick over a rock to discover slug eggs.
PowellsWood Garden is located at 430 S. Dash Point Road. The garden will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, June 25 through Oct. 31. Admission is $5, children 12 and under are free. Visit powellswood.org.
Storytelling Festival
The 2nd annual PowellsWood Storytelling Festival is open to the public on Saturday, July 27.
The festival is co-sponsored by the Seattle Storytellers Guild. Listen to masters perform folk tales based on real people, historical events and personal experiences. These storytellers don’t read from a book. They mesmerize audiences with engaging and emotional tales told in their own words.
Sandwiches, snacks, ice cream, pop, and water are available for purchase. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children, and $20 per family. To learn more about parking, visit powellswood.org.
