See the Arboretum Through the Designer’s Eyes

Every landscape tells a story—and at the Washington Park Arboretum, design is part of that story.

We experience the Arboretum as a place to wander, explore, and connect with nature. But behind those experiences are countless hours of planning and design—decisions about pathways, plantings, topography, gathering spaces, views, and movement that have helped shape how generations of visitors experience this remarkable Seattle landscape.

On Saturday, October 24, Seattle Architecture Foundation and UW Botanic Gardens invite you to look at the Arboretum from a different perspective during a special one-time Landscape Architecture Walk led by Jason Henry, Principal at Berger Partnership.

The Designers Behind the Landscape

Seattle-based Berger Partnership has played a significant role in shaping the Arboretum visitors know today.

The firm’s work spans some of the Arboretum’s most notable landscapes, including the Pacific Connections Garden, New Zealand Forest, Arboretum Trail and North Entry, along with the Gateway to Chile, Pinetum Trail, and Camellia Collection Garden.

These projects aren’t simply about what gets planted where. Landscape architecture shapes how we enter a place, how we move through it, what draws our attention, where we pause, and ultimately how we experience and remember it.

On this walk, Jason will take us beyond what we see on the surface to explore the design decisions, challenges, and ideas that helped bring these landscapes to life.

Where Design and Nature Meet

Together with UW Botanic Gardens, we’ll also discover how design works alongside a living collection that continues to grow and change.

The Arboretum brings together horticulture, conservation, education, recreation, and design across 230 acres in the heart of Seattle. It’s a place shaped over generations—and one that continues to evolve.

That’s what makes this walk different. We’re not simply visiting a beautiful landscape. We’re uncovering the stories behind its design and discovering how those decisions shape our experience of a place.

A Rare Opportunity to Look Closer

This is not part of SAF’s regular tour lineup. It’s a special, one-time opportunity to explore the Washington Park Arboretum alongside one of the landscape architects who has helped shape it.

Come for the fall color. Leave seeing the landscape differently.

Landscape Architecture Walk: Washington Park Arboretum
Saturday, October 24 | 10 AM–12 PM
Led by Jason Henry, Principal, Berger Partnership
$30 | SAF member pricing available

RESERVE YOUR SPOT – Space is Limited!

Meet Your Guide

Jason Henry

Principal, FASLA, LEED AP

Jason’s passion is combining the wilds and the urban environments of the west coast, seemingly two opposite ends of the spectrum. Integrating natural systems and meticulous detail influences much of his design and planning work for the public and private realm throughout the state. He sees his work as an opportunity to educate people about the environments and community we live in while enriching their daily lives through place making and meaningful design. Some of his favorite projects include Rainier Beach Urban Farm, Alaska Airlines Headquarters and the Washington Park Arboretum. LinkedIn