This Botanical garden is huge.Different kinds of flowers and trees.️In 1931, gardener Carl S.Englush Jr. was hired. He collected specimens of trees and flowers ️from around the world and created the lovely English estate style garden.Around 573 species of plants in the garden. Visitor center has an exhibit and screening short movie about lock and garden.

Gem of a place in Ballard. You can spend hours watching the soothing water flow. Ships passing from high water to low (or the other way around) is interesting to watch.You can find so many different flowers, plants, birds here. Great blue herons are very easy to spot. If youre lucky, you can see seal pups, sea lions. The fish ladder is also great. You can see many different types of fishes.

Occasion: was with wife to explore areas around Seattle.Pros: beautiful garden. Amazing place to walk with wife. Lots of flowers and plants to explore.Cons: coffee options are limited. Too many dog walkers. Weather could damped the mood.Bottomline: fantastic place to visit. Get there early. The locks are more interesting. Worth checking out. There is a burger place near this place -omg so good!

There were so many beautiful flowers of all shapes, colors, and descriptions blooming here. It is a small park, located right next to the Ballard Locks, and is worth a walk through, for sure!

Green way paradise bordering the locks on the north side ,towering mature trees throw this canopy of cover,Very cool shaded central walk throughBldngs still stand that look like they were used extensively at one time for locks maintenance, kind of surrealThere is a designated visitor center in one of these buildings, with information outside on a kiosk like stand about current or upcoming eventsSeveral nationalities from every corner of the earth we see walking along, like a meeting point of nations?its very shocking to have a pedestrian dam cross over so close to the crashing water flow as it makes its way to the oceanRecent rains had raised the water level in Lake Union significantly, the army corp had all but one dam section raised quite a bit, theres this water spray & then like misty fog, you walk through this as you make your way to the south end where waiting is one of the 1st fish ladders in this country to be voluntarily concieved, engineered & then instituted to make a major fishway access point from oceanic to fresh & is in active operationSeveral viewing windows in this beautifully laid out observation room gives one a instant eye full of possible aquatic movements,To have all this available daily as a resident of the of the local NW, its clearly incredible ,1st time viewing though can be off the charts, be preparedDid we mention, there are 2 through ways for ship traffic, the local ocean going fishing fleet is harbored just on the other side of the locks + there resides more marinas of every size, filled to the brim with ships, sailboats, sea planes & then this wonderful architectural flow of floating homesThere are these cavernous dry dock structures that pull in the larger trawlers etcYou might easily observe much of all of this as you make your way along this almost unexpected oasisThe weather has cooled this afternoon, nw sea air smell in the gardensSun is still up, and looking west through the sunset a train just makes its way north across the trestles towards CanadaA ship makes it way under that same train cross over ocean bound, we saw this boat as it came into the locks,Octopus arms rise out on the west side of dam, then you notice the splashing as the fish ladder winds through.08/21/2018 Update: fire air debris from the north has the seattle horizon choked up with a bizarre smoke fog, multiple fires burning in British Columbia & California is on fire-news: yosemite park has been saved!!@God bless firefighters!!!

We decided to go during mid February and perhaps it was a time of the year but the botanical Garden was not spectacular at all. The entire area is very small and there arent much diversity of plants nor are there a large display to walk through. Ive seen far more impressive Gardens in normal parks - its kind of a stretch to call it a Botanical Garden. The only one plus side though is that is well-maintained and clean.

One of our favorite places to relax and enjoy some sun.

I’d love to congratulate the people that maintain this place. It is completely beautiful, I am here mid May and can’t even think that it gets more beautiful than this. Very very very relaxing, so much grass to lay on. You can have views to the locks or just stay within the park itself. They have so many different types of trees and flowers and plants I couldn’t keep myself from taking so many pictures ️

Its a nice small garden, clean well maintained, small rose garden inside, they have small Center with little Museum, which is very informative and gift shop, and also they have special times for the tours, if you want to spend more time and learn about history, so its really nicely done and we had a great time.

Beautiful garden. Admission is free. Very nice walking trail. Pay to park. Attached to the Ballard locks & historic salmon ladder.

Great place to walk your dog, especially on a sunny weekday as it’s less crowded

Very lovely. Sweet smells abound.

2018 Daylily Flower Exhibition was held here on July 8th. There garden was pristine, the live band quiete good and the flowers abundant. 155 blooms on display this year!! The public voted their favorite and this years winner was ALL AMERICAN CHIEF. See you there next year.

Nice relaxing stroll after visiting the locks.

One of the better botanical gardens around and completely free. The plants and trees are tagged for identification and the ranger staff is quite knowledgeable. The rose garden is particularly nice, with many varieties. The park area is large, and its a great place for an outing, a picnic, or just to hang out. In the summer season they have a series of free concerts on the grounds too. The Canada geese can be annoying with their mess however, so watch where you step in the open grassy areas. It is on the grounds of the marine waterway locks for added interest. Both commercial and private boats pass through to go between lakes Union and Washington and the Puget sound, including the Alaskan crabbing (Deadliest Catch) and fishing fleets. There is a fascinating underwater salmon observation area there too. When the salmon are migrating, large numbers of the fish move through, with the occasional seals swimming around hunting dinner. In the spring, there is a resident population of heron that nests in the trees. You can watch the adults bringing fish to the young in their big nests, and you may even see a bald eagle or osprey (the original sea hawk) fly by. Even if they are not nesting, its fun to watch these majestic birds fishing. The park is completely ADA accessible, with restrooms and a visitor center on site. Public guided tours are available in season, and are also free. Limited paid parking is on site, but a public transportation stop is right next to the park. It is adjacent to the bikeway with various rental bikes always available.

Very interesting history and if in town a must see.

Spend some time enjoying the flora and fauna.

Gorgeous and well maintained grounds adjacent to the iconic Ballard locks. There was a lovely, free symphony concert going on when we visited on a Saturday, which added to the beauty of it all. The adjacent Ballard locks and fish ladder are a must see as well. The locks were quite busy on a Saturday and thus the opportunity to see boats coming and going was great. We did also see some fish jumping up the ladder and some seals. Parking is limited and for a fee, but we were able to get in easy on a busy day.

This is part of the Hiram Locks located in Ballard. So besides viewing the park grounds, you can sit along the locks on park benches and watch boats go through the Locks heading into Lake Washington or coming from Lake Washington into the Puget Sound. The main building, over 100 years old, offers educational museum and historical presentation/slideshow viewings in small theatre. You can also go underneath/below the locks to see the salmon travelling through the locks. The park is beautiful for having a picnic, walking and touring all it offers.

Lovely gardens, nice walking paths, and great view of the locks!

So peaceful and beautiful plants

We love the experience of visiting the park.Whenever we go to a new city we always visit botanical gardens.

Fun to see the lock in action. They even have tours!

Beautiful with amazing plants that youd have to travel the world to see. The were trees from China. There were some birds of paradise also a tree that was thought to be extinct. It was an amazing experience and one I would be willing to see again.

Wonderful flowers, great views of the locks and an abundance of critters

Beautiful gardens at one of Seattles premier park attractions.

Park is gorgous, i enjoy walking around the lush greenery and old trees, good place for picnic. Bonus is going to the fish ladder when salmon are running upstream

Very simple botanical garden with caretakers who are very protective of their grass and weeds at the edges of paths. Leaning over the 3 curb for photos is frowned upon as though theyd rather not have people in their public garden. Its still a nice walk.

Always a neat place to visit. Today was quiet with only one boat passing through but it was super unique and from Vancouver, BC. I wanted to walk acros the water to see the herons nesting but it was still a bit chilly despite the sun being out. The park was beginning to blossom and there was a great feel about the place! Beautifully maintained and ideal spot for picnics and gatherings.

Great little botanical garden within the Ballard Locks grounds. Always nice for a little stroll. Best times to visit are spring and fall. In the spring you get cherry blossoms on the trees. In the fall you get lots of pretty colors on the various trees. Either way it makes a great little escape from the increasing urban nature of Ballard.

I go here all the time. Always something to see, plus free concerts on Sundays in the Summer

Able to watch the ships go 8the locks! Beautiful gardens!

This garden is perfect for the space surrounding it. The quiet and colors are soothing, very inviting.

Excellent place for the entire family and even your leashed dog. Lots of history so take your time to explore this gem of a place. Be sure to visit the the gift shop!Few cafes around with in walking distance and a 7 /11 across the way from the bus stop.Other places near by Golden Gardens is just around the corner just past the marina. Things to do while at golden gardens , spectacular views , pier , fishing , boating, picnic area , childrens play park , and sandy beaches !

I absolutely love this place. There is normally at least 2 seals here. Plenty of shady and sunny areas. There are bathrooms and a little gift shop. You can walk across the locks to Queen ann. There is a fish ladder veiwing room. There is a large variety of plants and a small rose garden. Most of the paths are well paved and wheelchair accessible.

Busy on the weekends and summer tourist season. Quiet and well curated garden:very pleasant to stroll through. Just up the road from Ballard and adjacent to the locks and fish ladders. Parking can be a real problem when busy, but there is always a spot to be found. Summer concerts on the grass, Best to bring a picnic basket: nearby eateries not so good. Public transportation available.

Smaller than expected, but very pretty and peaceful. When you pull up, it seems like youre in the wrong place, but its just like a hidden garden. Its amazingly quiet inside, considering how surrounded it is by traffic and the rest of the city.

The botanical gardens are beautiful. The walking paths are well kept and there is plenty of space for everyone to walk at their own pace. It was a gorgeous sunny day when I visited and the flowers and trees on display were breathtaking. I cannot wait to visit again.

Love this place. I feel like Im walking through another place far from my neighborhood, yet Im just right here

Nice quiet park next to locks. Beautiful gardens and on this trip many blooms in June

Always a nice place for a picnic and for the kids to run around in. The Sunday afternoon concerts are a bonus.

This place is a treat for the senses. All of the colors, shapes and smells, and variety of plant are amazing.

A sight to see and snap shots of the worldly majestic trees! Go see for yourself ...

Nice place to visit

A great Seattle maritime experience with the locks and fish ladder. Lots of salmon, seals, and other wildlfe.

Goregious, Perfect time of year to go see it and within walking distance of so many adorable restaurants!!

I love going through their seeing what they have growing, but I always feel jealous when I leave.

Beautiful gardens with some very interesting plants and flowers. Its free and you can also visit the Ballard Locks whole youre there. Highly recommend! If you do any of the free tours of the Ballard Locks, theyll also tell you some interesting stories about some of the plants on the garden!

We have visited this garden and the locks several times.

It’s a beautiful place for spending time with family or friends. I visited here in November and was happy to see Fall colors and variety of trees.

Great escape from the city of Seattle. The surrounding park and gardens are absolutely beautiful. A great place to relax, have a picnic and recharge before your next adventure. Right next to the garden are Hiram M Chittenden Locks and fish ladder.While we were visiting, the Saturday afternoon band was playing and there were a number of dog walkers. Be careful of the goose piles in the grass if you want to play or sit on the hill facing the canal.

Lovely garden with an interesting history. Many of the trees are numbered, and a tree guide is available for free in the visitors center.

Lovely little park to walk around in or have a picnic.

Just a beautiful & calming place. Especially on such a gorgeous Seattle day.

Nice place for a family picnic plus GK/history lessons. Their guided tour is nice, dont miss it if youre not well versed with the details about the locks

Wonderful walk. Music in the park on Sundays

It was spectacular display of botany, exotic and native.

Great place to go and relax. Only one thing we do notlije is having to pay to park.

Nice botanical garden that you can enjoy along with the locks

Just absolutely beautiful place, need not say anymore.

A beautiful spot to enjoy flowers and trees. Lots of unusual plantings with trees identified by a map and numbering system. Just wish all the trees had numbers, as not all are identified and some left me wondering.

Very peaceful ️

Must see Locks and salmon ladder. We bring all of the visitors here and then go eat at Rays boathouse cafe!

Beautiful plants and landscaping. Free to look around! Not always free parking available. But great for a nice walk or picnic.

Looks great, have to go back!

These gardens feel way safer, and therefore more pleasant, than most Seattle parks now because these gardens are completely walled and locked up at night.

Beautiful garden with a huge variety of flora, trees, squirrels and the amazing locks. Worth the short ride from downtown Seattle to experience this.

Very nice! watched the boats making their way through the locks and relaxed in the beautiful atmosphere.

I think we went at the perfect time, flowers were in bloom and gorgeous, ships were going through the locks and salmon were swimming up the ladder

Very nice area to go for a walk

Sweet place to picnic, walk or just relax.

Beautiful park to walk through

Nice place to walk

Great garden and next to historic Ballard locks

Pretty park grounds next to the Ballard Locks, with no fee to enter

Really enjoyed seeing the free car show. Beautiful grounds too.

One of the best place to spend a perfect day!So much to see. Absolutely beautiful

Great place to walk

Even prettier in the rain

Nice small park.

Beautiful place to spend a relaxing afternoon

This is such a cool place for birds, fish, seals, boats, water and pretty plants.

Beautiful property! Beautiful plants

Beautiful park next to the locks. Live music while we were there.

Great park with lots of exotic plants. Good spot to relax and watch some boat traffic, watch the commorants fishing below the spillways or the roosting herons in the tall trees on the Southern side

Beautiful location and great short walk.

A place to learn and enjoy more about nature.

Nice park to take in some manicured nature

One of my favorite places to go and relax and have a picnic. Sitting and watching the boats go through the Locks is so fun,beautiful and the gardens are amazing and wonderful to walk through.

Instagram-worthy!

Great free botanical garden by the locks. Great place for a picnic.

I love to walk my dog here, its always clean and so peaceful despite being in a very busy area. It gives the feeling of being isolated from the busyness of the world. I go here all the time!

Awesome contraption: that boat elevator.

A refuge from the city. A coffee shop would be nice

The locks are cool.

Well maintained garden right near the locks

Just beautiful

A great place to relax and see many different types of trees, plants, and flowers

Awesome

Winter is the off season, you might like it better with out the crouds. But what do you expect for free I guess.