Bonhoeffer Botanical Gardens

Bonhoeffer Gardens, ~10 acres, is located at the Exit 215 of the I-5 Freeway, forty-five minutes north of Seattle. Containing all of western Washington’s indigenous trees, shrubs, vines, and ferns along with a 1,060+ goal of grass, moss, mushroom, pond, flower and groundcover species, three types of wetlands, and a portion of a restored western fork of Freeborn Church Creek, the Gardens are intended to serve as an outdoor educational and recreational resource for the coming generations. In affiliation with Freeborn Lutheran Church (FLC), Living History Museum and Farm, Lutherwood Camp, Trinity Lutheran College, and the NW Washington ELCA Synod, they are simultaneously an instrument for teaching NW history, botany, and the principles of ecology, while serving as a model of watershed restoration and stewardship. (At present while flora is being established, Bonhoeffer Gardens operates as a private nonprofit farm focusing on the propagation of 42 of the Northwest’s rarest indigenous plant species.)

The Gardens will soon be open to SCLC supporters and their guests as well as wheelchair-bound individuals and closely chaperoned biology classes, as allowed by Snohomish County. The Gardens will feature nearly two miles of developed "barrier free" nature trails for maximum public access and use and over one mile of wheelchair trails (with less than a 1% grade). The latter will host 14 interpretive kiosk stump settings that provide information about native flora as well as local and natural history, and mirrors a coded pamphlet that highlights the botanical description of nearby indigenous plant species. Weddings, funerals, and other religious activities that are hosted by FLC may also use parts of the Gardens.

The Gardens is a joint inspiration of many, painfully aware of the northerly growth of I-5 Freeway exits smothered by department stores, malls, and casinos as the state of Washington’s population grows to 20 million during the next two decades. Permanent easements will exist to preserve the Gardens and Exit 215 site in perpetuity. While replanted flora species take root, building projects will include: accessible trails, bridges, and paths that meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), interpretive documents and installation of interpretive signs and kiosks, the implementation of living history and watershed education learning centers, as well as water quality monitoring and watershed restoration for native fish (in cooperation with the Stillaguamish Hatchery; 2009 saw the first return of salmon, chum and pink, to the West Fork of Church Creek east of the I-5 in 60 years).

The Gardens contain woodlands, meadows and wetlands including 11 “butterfly wing” display flower gardens designed to attract the areas’ major butterfly species (each favoring certain flower species), native herbal gardens, bird houses for 11 targeted bird species (Wood Duck, Goldfinch, Bluebird, Barn Owl, three types of Swallows, Meadowlarks, and various migratory waterfowl). A circulating water system maintaining spawning beds and pools for two salmon species is envisioned, along with habitat for natively found steelhead and cutthroat trout. Two species of frog may be seen, and even perhaps, including the endangered Oregon Spotted Frog and the rare Western Pond Turtle (with the proposed assistance from the Woodland Park Zoo - less than 100 of these turtles are now known to exist in Washington, over a million existed but 50 years ago). Visitors and supporters are asked to:


Enhance, preserve, and protect the natural watershed ecosystem;
Not pick leaves, turn rocks, or destroy or alter the natural habitat in any way (many fern, moss, vine, flower, and even native weed types are under propagation);
Develop and make available shared instructional materials (with visiting teachers);
Heighten general awareness about the "holistic" nature of this watershed; and
Allow all visitors to peacefully enjoy the trials, gardens, waterway, and watershed area and if you can, please refrain from smoking; alcoholic beverages and unsupervised children/students are not allowed (our ponds are deep, children’s life jackets are available at the Pre-School).


We invite professionals and enthusiasts to come in person to enjoy our trails, garden, beginning museum(s), and learning center while in development. Watch the seasonal changes as Spring brings our Daffodil Hill alive, along with salamanders, frogs, and other early flowers; summer is witness to turtles sunning themselves on logs; autumn welcomes back the salmon, while winter hosts migrating birds and river otter. View the existing plant species, work to date, and contribute your thoughts and resources. Bonhoeffer Gardens is already unique in that is the only site (that we know of) that specializes and focuses on maintaining a complete collection of Northwest indigenous plant species in a natural setting. Life is short, we invite you to take a few moments to enjoy its God-given natural beauty.