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“A rock garden it seems to me is a delight that every gardener should strive to bring within his experience ”
 
– Louise Beebe Wilder, The Rock Garden (1933)

A rock garden creates a habitat where the wild plants of the mountains, forests and deserts can grow close to home, in city gardens and backyards - even on a sunny balcony.

 

The Northwestern Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society (NWNARGS) is a society of plant enthusiasts located in the Seattle metro area. Our members come not only from the greater Puget Sound area but also from all parts of Washington State and northern Oregon State. We welcome members and visitors at all levels of gardening experience – from garden beginners to professional growers. 

 

The plants we study include alpine plants; bulbs; small hardy plants; woodland plants; hardy orchids; shrubs and trees like rhododendrons and conifers; and even ferns and desert plants like cacti and succulents from around the world.
 
NWNARGS meets several times a year in Bellevue.  Meetings feature illustrated presentations by local, national and international experts; plant cultivation tips and demonstrations; and information about Pacific Northwest growing conditions and plant resources. We sponsor two plant sales a year, garden tours, and wide-ranging field trips to explore plants in their wild habitat. Our meetings are free and open to the public and non-members and guests are welcome!

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Meetings are also the informal place for members to regale each other with the stories of great plant successes and failures in what some consider the most challenging branch of gardening. We also gather for a potluck in November and a membership garden picnic in Summer.  

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NWNARGS is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and exists to promote:

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  • The cultivation, conservation, and knowledge of rock garden plants, their value, habits, and geographical distribution

  • Design and construction of rock gardens

  • Plant exploration and introduction of new forms

  • History and literature on the plants and gardens

  • Exchange of enthusiasm, experience, and knowledge among members

  • Meetings and exhibitions

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