PAWA Paints Washington Park Arboretum - 2026

For PAWA members only, if you'd like to become a member, please go to our website at

Facilitator: Oksana Limankina

Email:[email protected] Phone: (206) 483 5792

Description: The Washington Park Arboretum is a welcome oasis on the shores of Lake Washington. Jointly managed by the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the City of Seattle, its 230 acres contain a dynamic assortment of plants, some found nowhere else in the Northwest. In May, the Azaleas and Rhododendrons are in full bloom. There are plant collections Asiatic Maples, Birches and Poplars, Camellias, Hawthorns, Hollies, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Japanese Maples, etc.https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/about/

Meeting Time & Place: May 9th -10 AM.

Meet at Graham Visitors Center (GVC) at 10 AM. You will want to arrive early because of limited parking. If you arrive late you will find other painters along Azalea Way. The Graham Visitors Center contains an information desk and is open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Grab a map at the visitor center.

On the website for the University of Washington Botanic Gardens there is an Interactive Map. https://depts.washington.edu/uwbg/gardens/map.shtml

Parking:

There is limited free parking for the public at the Graham Visitors Center, or in the multiple parking areas on E Foster Island Rd below the visitor center. If they are full there is another lot on Lake Washington Blvd, between Boyer and E Interlaken Blvd. Note parking at the Japanese Garden has a 4 hour limit.

If you have a disabled parking pass, you can drive along Arboretum Way, and park in multiple spots there. You need to ask at the visitor center to get access through the gate after 10AM.

Lunch plans:

Please bring a sack lunch, drinks and snacks for the day. University Village (Safeway, QFC, restaurants mostly upscale) is within driving distance at 3020 NE 45th St, Seattle, WA 98105

After lunch:

Same general location Azalea Way and Lookout Loop.

Directions:

Car

From downtownDrive east on Madison Street, away from Puget Sound. Follow it through Capitol Hill and the Central District into Madison Valley. Turn left on Lake Washington Boulevard E. To reach the Graham Visitors Center, follow Lake Washington Boulevard E 1.1 miles through the Arboretum and take a right onto E Foster Island Road. After 0.2 miles, turn right onto Arboretum Drive E to reach the Graham Visitors Center.

From I-5

Take exit 168 for SR-520 East/Bellevue-Kirkland. Merge onto SR-520 and take the first exit, Montlake Boulevard. Continue straight through the signal onto E Lake Washington Boulevard. Continue 0.6 miles and turn left onto E Foster Island Road. After 0.2 miles, turn right onto Arboretum Drive E to reach the Graham Visitors Center.

From SR-520 West

After crossing Lake Washington, take the Montlake Boulevard E exit and follow signs for 24th Avenue E. Turn left onto 24th Avenue E, cross SR-520 and then turn left at the first stop sign onto E Lake Washington Boulevard. Continue approximately 0.4 miles and take the next left onto E Foster Island Road. At 0l.2 miles, turn right onto Arboretum Drive East to reach the Graham Visitors Center.

Recommended lodging: There is plenty of lodging around the University district.

If you find you can't attend after all, please cancel on Eventbrite so that the facilitator may have a proper head count, thanks!

All paint-outs are for Plein Air Washington members. It is easy to join PAWA online. It is a good idea to print out this Eventbrite page to bring with you to be able to refer to this information.

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