Elda Behm's Paradise Garden
"Elda Behm's Paradise Garden" is an approximately 1 acre symbolic re-creation of Elda's original Paradise Garden, and is the centerpiece of the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden.
Elda's original garden was was condemned in 1997 to make way for the Port of Seattle's 3rd runway expansion at SeaTac airport. Spearheaded by local City Council member and avid gardener Stephen Lamphear, a Foundation was formed to save the garden. In the winter of 2000/2001 over 200 volunteers, the Port of Seattle, and the City of SeaTac teamed up to relocate the thousands of plants Elda had grown from seeds and cuttings to the new Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden.
For more about Elda, please visit her Bio page. For photos and a history of the previous Paradise Garden, click here
The focal point of the new Paradise Garden is a recirculating water feature designed by
Russell Water Gardens. The pond and stream features four waterfalls which empty into a one hundred foot stream, which in turn empties into an approximately 5500 gallon pond. The pumps send 33,000 gallons of water per hour through the mini ecosystem of plants, insects, and fish that serves as a beautiful centerpiece in the the Paradise Garden. The water feature is centered around a huge cedar stump that was salvaged from Elda's previous pond garden and a massive glacial erratic unearthed during pond excavation.
In 2002, with the assistance of a group of Highline High School seniors, a 10,000 square foot Shade Garden was added. Beneath the dappled light of the existing alders and madronas blossom an exuberant variety of evergreen and herbaceous plantings in mixed borders, bisected by a winding path.
In 2005 a rustic pergola was added, made possible by donations from many members of HBGF. The massive timber structure was designed by Eric Anderson of
Makers Architecture and built and installed by Jim Newsom of
Urban Hardwoods and the City of SeaTac Parks Dept. The pergola makes a wonderful spot for an intimate wedding or simply as a place to pause and reflect.
And of course, the Paradise Garden contains an amazing rhododendron collection and an wide assortment of woodland companion plantings. Among the trees relocated were large specimens of Parrotia persica and Pinus strobus 'Pendula'. Rhododendrons plantings include both species and hybrids, and deciduous trees include several gorgeous Japanese Maples, Styrax japonica, Stewartia psuedocamellia, Halesia monticola, and Pawlonia tomentosa, and many more.
Among future planned additions is an interpretive area. The peak of bloom is mid-spring around Mother's Day, but the wide variety of plants make the Paradise Garden a pleasant place to visit on any day of the year.
