Established
2008
Location
Southeast of the main entrance along the Tateuchi Loop Trail
Background
- Features a large collection of rhododendrons and ferns
- A winter storm in 2018 transformed what had once been a shade garden into a significantly sunnier space
- Portions of Rhododendron Glen remain quite bright, which can be challenging for the cultivation of many fern species
- Renovated in 2025
Rhododendron Glen
This second-growth forest edge reflects the legacy of the original Shorts garden. Over 50 different rhododendrons and their companions are included to demonstrate their use in the landscape. While the rhododendrons are in full bloom through spring and early summer, summer-blooming hydrangeas, brilliant fall color of deciduous trees, and the winter-blooming Edgeworthia chrysantha provide year-round interest.
In the 1990’s, Harriet and Cal Shorts, enthusiastic members of the Hardy Fern Foundation, donated $25,000 to create a fern collection at Bellevue Botanical Garden. This garden also introduces visitors to a variety of ferns suitable for Pacific Northwest gardens. The Hardy Fern Foundation maintains this premier collection of fern taxa.
