Forty years ago, the Wilburton Hill neighborhood in Bellevue, Washington was forests and pastures. That all changed in 1981 when Cal and Harriet Shorts deeded their mid-century home and 7.5 acres of land to the City of Bellevue, with the provision that it would remain a public park. Not long after, Wilburton Hill residents, led by Iris and Bob Jewett, stepped in and approached the City of Bellevue Parks Department about creating a botanical garden on the Shorts property. The City and the Shorts family agreed that this was a great idea. The Jewetts and numerous volunteers launched the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society to promote the creation of Bellevue Botanical Garden. To assist in this effort, the City of Bellevue set aside 29 acres, increasing the total acreage of the newly formed Bellevue Botanical Garden to thirty-six acres by the time it opened to the public in 1992.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden has now grown to fifty-three acres and welcomes more than 350,000 visitors each year. Throughout the history of the Garden, the City of Bellevue and the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society, along with nine other horticultural organizations, have worked in close partnership to create a world-class botanical garden. In addition to cultivated gardens, restored woodlands, and natural wetlands, the Bellevue Botanical Garden offers several popular annual community events, and a first-rate horticultural education program for children and adults.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden relies on the support of the community, both as volunteers and donors, to help the Garden continue to thrive. We invite you to be a part of this community jewel set amid one of the largest cities in Washington State.