Lakewold Gardens

Lakewold Gardens is an expansive garden in Lakewood featuring over 900 rhododendron plants, around 250 different species, and about 30 varieties of Japanese maple trees distributed across multiple themed sections. The grounds are divided into distinct garden rooms that offer visitors different experiences and views as they walk through.

Major Everett Griggs acquired the property in 1925 and named it Lakewold after the wooded lake landscape surrounding it in Washington. The estate developed over the following decades into an established garden showcase with ongoing design and care.

The garden displays design elements created by Thomas Church starting in 1958, including a Medieval Knot Garden and a rose-covered teahouse. Visitors can experience these layouts today and see how they shape the way people move through and enjoy the grounds.

The garden is open Wednesday through Sunday from April to September, and on Fridays and Saturdays from October through March. Visitors should plan to explore the grounds on foot and expect different blooming periods depending on the season.

The grounds feature several State Champion Trees, including a Dawn Redwood that ranks among Washington's largest specimens. These rare trees demonstrate the age and natural diversity found throughout the property.