Get a dose of inspiration when you visit 13 beautiful gardens in the Madison Park area!

Day of Tour Check-In Instructions
Check in location:
The corner of 41st and E Madison St (across from Red Apple)

What You’ll Get at Check-In
A wrist band and map of all gardens on the tour.

Check-in Time
Anytime between 9:45am and 2pm on Saturday May 18th.

Tickets and Receipts
Your name will be on file at check-in.
Your "ticket" will be the garden tour map given to you at check-in.

Garden Tour Descriptions 

1- 3820 E McGilvra St.  

A delightful garden designed with multiple areas to enjoy, from terraced patios to fireside nights. Formal and informal seem together naturally. The backdrop of greenery creates privacy and nature combined. Many people passing by comment on the beautiful roses along the street, and the weathervane in remembrance of pervious family pets. 

2- 3804 E McGilvra St.       

Open to lake views and the open sky, this garden captures the best of the northwest. There is so much to enjoy, and taking a hot tub under the stars is always a pleasure. 

3- 2300 38th Pl E.      

Rich with texture and a sense of calm to enjoy from every view inside the home. A clean design with an Asian aesthetic. This garden has evolved over the years, from being a dog-friendly space to one to sit outside and enjoy the simple and reflective design. The new raised bed along the street will showcase beautiful dahlias. 

4- 2171 38th Ave E.     

Garden designed in 2016 by Marnie White Garden Design to enjoy the west facing view. The owners enjoy playing croquet and eating dinner in the back yard, watching the changing shades of the orange-purple-chartreuse plantings as the sun goes down. And on extra hot days a dip in the pool is especially enjoyable. 

5. 2241 39th Ave E.    

A large deck made to enjoy the outdoors, from the concealed BBQ to the round hot tub. The “grass” is dog friendly. Having a deep overhang from the house will provide a covered area on rainy days to still enjoy the fresh air.  

6. 2001 42nd Ave E.

Beautifully designed by Shapiro Ryan Design, LLC in 2023. The multi use spaces are meant for outdoor entertainment. The owner added bee hives, hops for beer brewing and bulbs for springtime enjoyment. 

7. 2015 42nd Ave E.

This multi-level garden was created to accommodate different areas to socialize and relax, all on a smaller-scaled city lot. The thoughtful design leads you from the lower level to the backyard seamlessly. Created by Octavia Chambliss Garden Design. 

8. 1869 41st Ave E.

This garden was designed and installed by Octavia Chambliss Garden Design, to give multiple uses for entertaining. The “dining pavilion” is wonderful to use from spring to fall, and the deck was designed to provide extra seating when there is a large party. It’s a work-in-progress and ever changing. The raised planter beds in front produce a crop full of fresh vegetables every year. 

9. 1629 McGilvra Blvd E.

Inspired by a visit to the Jardines Nuevos, a portion of the Generalife gardens surrounding the summer palace in the Alhambra (Granada, Spain). This ultra-private northwest contemporary garden features a modernMoorish fountain centered in the social space and surrounded by lush foliage. A heavy emphasis on color, texture, and fragrance create a tranquil air to delight the senses. This garden was created by ASLA award winning designer Paul Broadhurst of Broadhurst + Associates for owners Franz Diessner and Joe Overland.  

10. 3914 E Garfield St.

Designer & Gardener:  Patrick Orton

Dish Rock Installation: Marenakos Rock Center

Landscape & Horticulturist:  Max Wagner

Schipka Laurel Hedges:  Big Trees 

“Growing up, our neighbor had a spectacular Japanese garden laid out almost all the way around her city home. The design was connected by a hand built “river” complete with cataracts and falls, bridges, steps and landings.  In order to protect her refined, private world, the garden was entirely fenced, gated and locked.  I could only hear the river sounds between invitations to visit.

The City of Seattle presented our neighborhood with plans to T-up the Madison, McGilvra, Garfield Street intersections.  They included replacing two old trees with a bike ramp, right in front of our home.  It was time to develop another, more aesthetic option that would preserve our trees. 

Given the14, 70-year-old Sweetgum trees lining our street and dirt and noise from East Madison Street, our garden plan had to: 

Enhance the growth and health of heritage trees, Screen traffic and capture more pollution; Provide a visual sense of tranquility; Be able to be maintained without gasoline powered machines; Be open to the neighborhood 24/7. 

I thought back to my neighbor’s Japanese garden and there I found my inspiration.” 

11. 1409 42nd Ave E.

Designed to extend the living room to the outdoors, with an outdoor fireplace to provide warmth and ambience. The two-level garden provides different areas to socialize and entertain. The plantings were designed to always provide color year round. 

12-13. 1207/1215 41st Ave E.

Designed to draw you outside and to be viewed from every room in the home. Some of the spaces are enclosed and intimate, others open and spacious, while all are focused on family enjoyment. The garden compliments the Italian style of the home, with multi-level decks and utilizes the mature trees of neighboring homes as a lush backdrop to create the feeling of a larger garden.  

14. 1406 McGilvra Blvd E.

“When I purchased 1406 McGilvra in 2001, there was virtually no garden. The front yard contained 18-foot Camellia bushes to the right as you entered the yard and to the left five huge 15 foot Rhododendrons.  Where the blue stone patio is today was a formal elevated red brick patio with a giant hot tub. The backyard was all lawn with a play house/swing arbor and an open gazebo.  

After demoing the brick patio, I first planted a gorgeous silver Hemlock, followed by the black bamboo, the Wisteria, the Forest Pansy trees on the parking strip, the Hinoki trees and so on and so on. Unfortunately, the Hemlock, my favorite tree in the garden, fell over about 4 months ago due to its small root ball, a characteristic of Hemlocks in general. 

I have been drawn to gardening ever since I was young helping my grandfather in his rose garden up on Queen Anne Hill. Nothing like it, though I do tire of the maintenance at times! “ 

15.  1228 41st Ave E.

This is not on the tour, but as you walk down the street pause on the sidewalk to enjoy the thoughtful design in front of this home. The curved wall is softened by thoughtful plantings and graciously leads you to the elevated front door entrance.