On June 3, we went to Bellevue Botanical Gardens in, you guessed it, Bellevue. It was a beautifully sunny day here in western Washington. Perfect for snaps of flowers. That is one of our favorite things to do!

The Bellevue Botanical Gardens are an oasis of natural beauty and tranquility. With over 53 acres, this botanical wonderland offers a range of gardens and landscapes that we have loved to visit over the years.

The gardens have a blend of indigenous Northwest plants and carefully curated collections from around the world. One of the highlights is the Native Discovery Garden, which celebrates flora of the Pacific Northwest with its lush greenery and meandering trails.

An enchanting section is the Japanese Garden, designed to evoke a sense of serenity and contemplation. Adorned with traditional Japanese elements such as stone lanterns, wooden bridges, and a koi pond, this garden provides a peaceful escape from the bustling city.

There are trails into the deeper woods that we have explored in the past and will definitely put onto our list again soon! They have a massive suspension bridge, if I remember correctly. Another opportunity for more snaps! 🙂

I really enjoyed the many irises (irisi?)

I took this trip as an opportunity to understand my camera better and leaned into not using “auto” but using aperture priority-a bit of entering into semi-automatic land. I thought my experiment was a success!

My other favorite photos (It was so hard to narrow down!). I was actually trying to narrow it down to 10. I guess I’m too attached.

The fuschias weren’t in bloom yet and I can’t wait to go back when they are fully blooming in the high summer. I hear the hummingbirds love them!

Thanks for your time! My wish for everyone is that they can find a place to connect to beauty.

To see all of my photos on flickr:

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