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National Geographic
13-08-2025
- National Geographic
Embracing Mother Nature's City: Seattle
Discover how urban green spaces, miles of waterfront, and wild wonders are part of everyday life in the Emerald City. Kubota Garden, located in the Rainer Beach neighborhood of Seattle, is just one of the city's many natural gems, offering visitors a peaceful escape within a bustling urban landscape. Most cities make you leave town to find nature, but in Seattle, the green space is built right in. With more than 6,000 acres of parks and 200 miles of shoreline, including the Puget Sound, this is a place where urban energy and stunning Pacific Northwest scenery can coexist in perfect harmony. Nearly 30 percent of the city is covered by trees, offering a year-round reminder why Seattle is nicknamed the Emerald City. Whether you're seeking beach days, kayaking adventures, mountain vistas, forest strolls, or garden jaunts, Seattle will help you get back to nature. In the city he calls home, National Geographic photographer Aaron Huey set out on assignment to reveal something extraordinary: Mother Nature isn't just present here—but alive—in the very heart of the city. In Seattle, where the urban skyline rises alongside the shimmering waters of the Pugent Sound, nature is always within reach. Seattle's robust urban forest ecosystem has over 4 million trees. Kubota Garden in the Rainier Beach neighborhood is a century-old, 20-acre Japanese garden that blends Pacific Northwest plants with traditional Japanese design. This poetic landscape has 140 varieties of maple trees, 11 ponds, and 30 varieties of hydrangeas. At Kubota Garden, you can wander the hidden Necklace of Ponds, where spring brings a kaleidoscope of flowers and offers moments of peaceful observation. The 560-acre Discovery Park is known for its landscape diversity and birdwatching. Hike miles of trails through forests, meadows, sea cliffs, and tidal beaches, and don't forget to look up—nearly 300 bird species can be spotted here, including bald eagles, woodpeckers, and spotted towhees. The 2.8-mile Loop Trail winds through towering tree canopies and wildflower meadows; at trail marker 12, the South Beach Trail, which includes five rustic staircases, branches off and descends 280 feet down to South Beach and the historic 1881 West Point Lighthouse. At Discovery Park, a historic lighthouse, sandy beaches, and beautiful driftwood frame stunning views where, on a clear day, you can see the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains. Seward Park's 300 acres are home to nesting eagles, a native plant garden, a 2.4-mile paved loop path, and several hiking trails. The park's Magnificent Forest—home to the city's largest stand of old-growth trees—is an urban rarity. The Olmsted Brothers (whose late father's Olmsted firm designed New York's Central Park) designed both Seward Park and 48-acre Volunteer Park, nestled in the heart of Capitol Hill. Here you'll find the city's largest Norway maple and a rich variety of other plant life. From the forested trails of Seward Park (LEFT) to the diverse plant life seen in Volunteer Park (RIGHT), these iconic green spaces offer two distinct ways to experience Seattle's natural beauty. Did you know that there are more than 485 parks within Seattle's city limits? Each one offers a little escape and a chance to reconnect with the city's nature and wild beauty. Golden Gardens Park on Puget Sound features wetlands, beaches, picnic areas, and stunning views of the Olympic Mountains. Compact Myrtle Edwards Park is within walking distance of downtown hotels, and offers mountain and bay views along its 1.25-mile waterfront path. And 11-acre Centennial Park has 4,100 feet of shoreline, a rose garden, and views of Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier. Golden hour at Golden Gardens Park is a perfect way to end the day, with soft light, salty air, and unbeatable views of the Puget Sound. With a prime waterfront setting and expansive open areas, Myrtle Edwards Park serves as a vibrant stage for local musicians and artists to show off their craft. The Ballard Locks blend engineering and nature while working as a marine elevator between Lake Washington and Puget Sound in one of the city's most unique natural attractions. Each year, thousands of salmon migrate right through the city at the Ballard Locks fish ladder, a phenomenon that can be viewed easily through underwater windows. Commodore Park, a 3.9-acre public park on the Magnolia side of the locks, is ideal for watching nesting herons and osprey—or simply relaxing on the lawn by the canal, surrounded by nature. LEFT: The Ballard Locks allow three species of Pacific salmon to safely migrate 40 to 50 miles upriver to spawn, making it a sight to see from mid-June through early October. RIGHT: Commodore Park, tucked along the Magnolia side of the Ballard Locks, invites visitors to reconnect with nature at every turn. Commodore Park's rolling hills overlook the canal, providing a serene space to watch Ballard Locks in action while surrounded by native flora and wildlife. In Seattle, you're never that far from the water, be it saltwater, lakefront, or tidal beaches. Hop the Water Taxi from downtown, and head to the 4.5-mile (one way) paved Alki Beach Trail. The trail passes the Alki beaches and ends near Duwamish Waterway and Harbor Island, offering views of the downtown skyline, Puget Sound, and the Olympic Mountains along the way. Alki Beach (one of Seattle's most popular beaches) is perfect for paddleboarding, beachcombing, or kayaking. While you're in the area, don't miss the Alki Flower Houses. These two plant-adorned homes date back to 1914 and are officially registered wildlife habitats. In West Seattle, just off Alki Beach, you can kayak straight into a postcard of the skyline while watching the city reveal itself with every stroke of your paddle. Bursting with color and vibrancy, the Alki Flower Houses are a unique sight, and every detail—big and small—makes for a truly unforgettable experience. In Elliott Bay, you can kayak from Seacrest Boathouse to the active Alki Point Lighthouse. South of Alki Point, Constellation Park is perfect for strolls and tide pool explorations by day (watch for anemone colonies and ochre sea stars), then stargazing at night. Seattle's interior also has several lakes, like freshwater Lake Union (located entirely within the city limits), Lake Washington (the second largest natural lake in the state), and glacial Green Lake. At Alki Point Lighthouse, with its small-town feel, be sure to walk the beaches, where driftwood lines the shore and a lighthouse still keeps watch at the point. The tide pools at Constellation Park in West Seattle offer a fantastic opportunity to explore and observe a diverse array of marine life in its natural habitat. Soak in Seattle's sunset views around a beach bonfire, a beloved nighttime tradition at Alki Beach and Golden Gardens Park. Designated fire pits are available at select sites at these two parks on a first-come, first-served basis. In Seattle, water meets wilderness, and urban skyscrapers are surrounded by green space. Seascapes are framed by mountains, and trees―some older than the U.S.―watch over the city. Mother Nature is everywhere here, serving as a stunning reminder that urban areas and the great outdoors can coexist and flourish―even within city limits. Whether you seek flora or fauna, relaxation or recreation, you'll find it all in the Emerald City.
Business Insider
21-06-2025
- Business Insider
See inside Coe Hall, a 65-room mansion built by a Gilded Age businessman who was booked on the Titanic's return voyage
The mansion, Coe Hall, was built by William Robertson Coe, an executive who succeeded in the insurance and railroad businesses, and his wife, Mai Rogers, an heiress to a fortune built on Standard Oil money. In fact, Coe was the president of the company that brokered the insurance for the hull of what was known as an unsinkable ship: the Titanic. He was even booked on the return voyage of the Titanic from New York City to England, per the Long Island Press. Coe Hall — the second mansion to be built on the property after the original from 1906 burned down in 1918 — looks like it was transplanted from the English countryside and dropped on the Gold Coast, a stretch of Long Island's North Shore that earned its nickname for the opulent estates built by wealthy families around the turn of the 20th century. That's on purpose, as they wanted to make it seem like the home had been there for decades, making them " old money." During my tour of the property this spring, a docent told me some architectural touches didn't match at the time of construction, as if to give the appearance that the home had been remodeled over the years. In addition to the main house, which was designed by the architectural firm Walker & Gillette, the arboretum is home to beautiful landscaping and gardens designed by the famous Olmsted Brothers, who also designed Central Park and Oheka Castle. Here's what it's like to visit one of the largest Gold Coast mansions left on Long Island. Down the other hallway were the kids' bedrooms. They were all closed, though, because Netflix filmed season three of "The Diplomat" at Coe Hall, and these rooms were used as storage. Coming back down the stairs, I got another look at just how intricate and intentional every detail in the house was. Now it was time to check out the much-revered grounds. Right off the bat, this fountain caught my eye. I also enjoyed this courtyard. The landscaping was by the Olmsted Brothers, who also designed Central Park and Oheka Castle. Near the house, there's a small pond and a bench off a hidden path. It's the perfect spot for quiet contemplation. But the main draws of the backyard are the Blue Pool Garden and the Tea House. Before the pool was here, this area was a tennis court. It took 16 workers to dig out 16,000 square yards of soil to build the sunken pool. At the end of the garden is the Tea House, which was built in 1906. The exterior makes the Tea House look like something out of a fairytale. Can't you just hear someone saying, "Once upon a time"? Rogers entertained her friends in the Tea House on nice days. It looks like the inside of a Tiffany's box. The other structure in this area of the park is the Playhouse, which was built so Natalie, the Coes' daughter, could have a place to play house. As we continued walking around the park, we came to this archway made of pine trees. Walking through it felt like walking through a storybook. On the other side of the archway is the Main Greenhouse, built in 1914. This was originally called the Hibiscus House, but now it's a mixture of tropical plants. One corner of the building was anchored by this giant palm tree. There were plenty of paths to walk down to get the full experience. We then walked the Azalea Walk, one of 13 trails at the Planting Fields. That led us to the other greenhouse on-site, the Camellia Greenhouse, built in 1917. It has the largest collection of camellias under glass in the northeast. However, camellia season is in January, so we missed it. But there were still plenty of flowers and plants to check out in this greenhouse. There are many more gardens to see at Coe Hall, including a rose garden, a hydrangea collection, and a dahlia garden. Walking around Planting Fields and Coe Hall felt like stepping back in time and revealed the remarkable wealth of Gilded Age families. Any history buff should pay it a visit, if they can.
Hamilton Spectator
20-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Tradition and change intertwine to create beauty at a century-old arboretum
OYSTER BAY, N.Y. (AP) — Some places seem to communicate with you when you visit. Not audibly, of course, but they somehow impart the echo of a life lived long ago. That's the feeling I get at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park. The 409-acre remnant of Long Island's grand Gold Coast is one of the region's last surviving estates with its original acreage intact, which is remarkable when you consider how many of its cohorts have been divided up into housing developments or golf courses. But it isn't frozen in time. Recently, the site has been undergoing a multi-million dollar revitalization with a focus on biodiversity and native plantings rather than adherence to the plant palette selected for the property more than a century ago. It's a shift in emphasis that's gaining traction in many historic gardens. The new focus on sustainability was also evident when the arboretum recently replaced its storied half-mile-long double allée of European beech trees with native oaks . And meadows throughout the property , which have historically been mowed regularly, are now cut back just once or twice a year to allow a natural habitat to thrive. A new book looks at a layered history A new book, 'Planting Fields: A Place on Long Island,' offers fresh perspective into the now-public arboretum. Full of color photography, both vintage and current (by David Almeida); sketches and plans by the famed Olmsted Brothers, who designed the landscape; and essays by architect Witold Rybczynski, landscape historian John Dixon Hunt and others, it's an homage to the home and property. At Planting Fields, the rolling lawns, gardens and woodland paths still command attention, anchored by Coe Hall, a sprawling Tudor Revival mansion. The estate started taking shape in 1913, when English immigrant William Robertson Coe, chairman of the marine insurance company Johnson and Higgins, and his wife, Mai Rogers Coe, an heiress to the Standard Oil fortune, bought the land, which had once been a working farm. The couple used it as a country retreat. Coe Hall was something of a 20th-century fantasy, deliberately built to look centuries old. 'The Coes were new money, but they didn't want it to look like new money,' said Gina J. Wouters, president and CEO of Planting Fields Foundation and co-editor of the book, with Jerome E. Singerman. 'They wanted it to look like they had generations of wealth.' So, they brought in the best craftspeople of their time. There's ironwork by Samuel Yellin, murals by Everett Shinn and Robert Winthrop Chanler and interiors by Elsie de Wolfe, who imparted a whimsical flair to the home. The landscape, originally drafted by Boston landscape architect Andrew Sargent and his partner Guy Lowell, became a full-fledged Olmsted Brothers vision after Sargent died in 1918. There's a formal Italian Garden, circular pool garden and greenhouses, including one that holds the largest camellia collection in the Northeast. 'Without a doubt, our claim to fame is that Planting Fields is the largest, still-existing Olmsted Brothers residential commission,' Wouters said. 'Other properties have been sold off, turned into wedding venues, etc., but Planting Fields is the original 409 acres. Even on a national scale, that's extraordinary.' A continued emphasis on craftsmanship The Coes themselves were hands-on, taking interest in breeding animals, collecting and hybridizing plants, patronizing contemporary artists and interior decorating. In keeping with the couple's penchant for hiring first-rate contemporary experts, Planting Fields has recently invited renowned Dutch garden and landscape designer Piet Oudolf to create a 1-acre garden for the property. The plan, Wouters said, is to use Oudolf's four-season approach and include perennial gardens and year-round beauty in keeping with the historic design of the property. Wouters hopes the book imparts 'an understanding of the incredibly layered history of Planting Fields and the stewardship model that is guiding us today and ushering us into the future.' She hopes readers will also feel compelled to visit. 'W.R. Coe gifted the property to the people of the state of New York – not the state of New York – the people,' she said. 'That's important.' ___ Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice. ___ For more AP gardening stories, go to .
Winnipeg Free Press
20-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tradition and change intertwine to create beauty at a century-old arboretum
OYSTER BAY, N.Y. (AP) — Some places seem to communicate with you when you visit. Not audibly, of course, but they somehow impart the echo of a life lived long ago. That's the feeling I get at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park. The 409-acre remnant of Long Island's grand Gold Coast is one of the region's last surviving estates with its original acreage intact, which is remarkable when you consider how many of its cohorts have been divided up into housing developments or golf courses. But it isn't frozen in time. Recently, the site has been undergoing a multi-million dollar revitalization with a focus on biodiversity and native plantings rather than adherence to the plant palette selected for the property more than a century ago. It's a shift in emphasis that's gaining traction in many historic gardens. The new focus on sustainability was also evident when the arboretum recently replaced its storied half-mile-long double allée of European beech trees with native oaks. And meadows throughout the property, which have historically been mowed regularly, are now cut back just once or twice a year to allow a natural habitat to thrive. A new book looks at a layered history A new book, 'Planting Fields: A Place on Long Island,' offers fresh perspective into the now-public arboretum. Full of color photography, both vintage and current (by David Almeida); sketches and plans by the famed Olmsted Brothers, who designed the landscape; and essays by architect Witold Rybczynski, landscape historian John Dixon Hunt and others, it's an homage to the home and property. At Planting Fields, the rolling lawns, gardens and woodland paths still command attention, anchored by Coe Hall, a sprawling Tudor Revival mansion. The estate started taking shape in 1913, when English immigrant William Robertson Coe, chairman of the marine insurance company Johnson and Higgins, and his wife, Mai Rogers Coe, an heiress to the Standard Oil fortune, bought the land, which had once been a working farm. The couple used it as a country retreat. Coe Hall was something of a 20th-century fantasy, deliberately built to look centuries old. 'The Coes were new money, but they didn't want it to look like new money,' said Gina J. Wouters, president and CEO of Planting Fields Foundation and co-editor of the book, with Jerome E. Singerman. 'They wanted it to look like they had generations of wealth.' So, they brought in the best craftspeople of their time. There's ironwork by Samuel Yellin, murals by Everett Shinn and Robert Winthrop Chanler and interiors by Elsie de Wolfe, who imparted a whimsical flair to the home. The landscape, originally drafted by Boston landscape architect Andrew Sargent and his partner Guy Lowell, became a full-fledged Olmsted Brothers vision after Sargent died in 1918. There's a formal Italian Garden, circular pool garden and greenhouses, including one that holds the largest camellia collection in the Northeast. 'Without a doubt, our claim to fame is that Planting Fields is the largest, still-existing Olmsted Brothers residential commission,' Wouters said. 'Other properties have been sold off, turned into wedding venues, etc., but Planting Fields is the original 409 acres. Even on a national scale, that's extraordinary.' A continued emphasis on craftsmanship The Coes themselves were hands-on, taking interest in breeding animals, collecting and hybridizing plants, patronizing contemporary artists and interior decorating. In keeping with the couple's penchant for hiring first-rate contemporary experts, Planting Fields has recently invited renowned Dutch garden and landscape designer Piet Oudolf to create a 1-acre garden for the property. The plan, Wouters said, is to use Oudolf's four-season approach and include perennial gardens and year-round beauty in keeping with the historic design of the property. Wouters hopes the book imparts 'an understanding of the incredibly layered history of Planting Fields and the stewardship model that is guiding us today and ushering us into the future.' She hopes readers will also feel compelled to visit. 'W.R. Coe gifted the property to the people of the state of New York – not the state of New York – the people,' she said. 'That's important.' ___ Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice. ___ For more AP gardening stories, go to
San Francisco Chronicle
20-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Tradition and change intertwine to create beauty at a century-old arboretum
OYSTER BAY, N.Y. (AP) — Some places seem to communicate with you when you visit. Not audibly, of course, but they somehow impart the echo of a life lived long ago. That's the feeling I get at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park. The 409-acre remnant of Long Island's grand Gold Coast is one of the region's last surviving estates with its original acreage intact, which is remarkable when you consider how many of its cohorts have been divided up into housing developments or golf courses. But it isn't frozen in time. Recently, the site has been undergoing a multi-million dollar revitalization with a focus on biodiversity and native plantings rather than adherence to the plant palette selected for the property more than a century ago. It's a shift in emphasis that's gaining traction in many historic gardens. The new focus on sustainability was also evident when the arboretum recently replaced its storied half-mile-long double allée of European beech trees with native oaks. And meadows throughout the property, which have historically been mowed regularly, are now cut back just once or twice a year to allow a natural habitat to thrive. A new book looks at a layered history A new book, 'Planting Fields: A Place on Long Island,' offers fresh perspective into the now-public arboretum. Full of color photography, both vintage and current (by David Almeida); sketches and plans by the famed Olmsted Brothers, who designed the landscape; and essays by architect Witold Rybczynski, landscape historian John Dixon Hunt and others, it's an homage to the home and property. At Planting Fields, the rolling lawns, gardens and woodland paths still command attention, anchored by Coe Hall, a sprawling Tudor Revival mansion. The estate started taking shape in 1913, when English immigrant William Robertson Coe, chairman of the marine insurance company Johnson and Higgins, and his wife, Mai Rogers Coe, an heiress to the Standard Oil fortune, bought the land, which had once been a working farm. The couple used it as a country retreat. Coe Hall was something of a 20th-century fantasy, deliberately built to look centuries old. 'The Coes were new money, but they didn't want it to look like new money,' said Gina J. Wouters, president and CEO of Planting Fields Foundation and co-editor of the book, with Jerome E. Singerman. 'They wanted it to look like they had generations of wealth.' So, they brought in the best craftspeople of their time. There's ironwork by Samuel Yellin, murals by Everett Shinn and Robert Winthrop Chanler and interiors by Elsie de Wolfe, who imparted a whimsical flair to the home. The landscape, originally drafted by Boston landscape architect Andrew Sargent and his partner Guy Lowell, became a full-fledged Olmsted Brothers vision after Sargent died in 1918. There's a formal Italian Garden, circular pool garden and greenhouses, including one that holds the largest camellia collection in the Northeast. 'Without a doubt, our claim to fame is that Planting Fields is the largest, still-existing Olmsted Brothers residential commission,' Wouters said. 'Other properties have been sold off, turned into wedding venues, etc., but Planting Fields is the original 409 acres. Even on a national scale, that's extraordinary.' A continued emphasis on craftsmanship The Coes themselves were hands-on, taking interest in breeding animals, collecting and hybridizing plants, patronizing contemporary artists and interior decorating. In keeping with the couple's penchant for hiring first-rate contemporary experts, Planting Fields has recently invited renowned Dutch garden and landscape designer Piet Oudolf to create a 1-acre garden for the property. The plan, Wouters said, is to use Oudolf's four-season approach and include perennial gardens and year-round beauty in keeping with the historic design of the property. Wouters hopes the book imparts "an understanding of the incredibly layered history of Planting Fields and the stewardship model that is guiding us today and ushering us into the future.' She hopes readers will also feel compelled to visit. 'W.R. Coe gifted the property to the people of the state of New York – not the state of New York – the people," she said. "That's important.' ___ Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice. ___
