A group of Lakewood Chamber of Commerce members, Lakewold Gardens staff and volunteers gathered on May 7 just inside Lakewold Gardens main gate to officially inaugurate the Don and Mary Williams Garden Room.
Following a champagne toast, accompanied by servings of a lavishly decorated cake, a blue ribbon was formally cut, and guests lingered to walk the new garden as part of the Wednesday night ceremony.
The occasion was a feature of Lakewold Gardens 25th anniversary celebration, the main event for this year’s Mayfest at the popular Lakewood site.
The newest Garden Room, an Asian-inspired area, had its origin several years ago when garden owner Eulalie Wagner began development of the garden area by planting a Japanese maple.
In 2012, the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation began a partnership with Lakewold and brought together the two groups in the “spirit of horticulture” to create Lakewold’s newest garden room. Named in honor of Foundation donors Don and Mary Williams, “although the space does not maintain a definitive Asian gardening discipline,” instead it focuses on native plants and perennials “while drawing space concepts found in various Asian garden styles.”
Thanks to ANR Landscaper Design, landscape designer Anri Ropelje, and to Dan Blossom Landscape Design, who worked so carefully with Lakewold’s gardeners to develop this new room.
The room features the Japanese maple, graceful rhododendrons, now at the peak of their season, large moss-covered rocks, a pair of Japanese-style lanterns and a winding graveled pathway adjacent to the circle drive.
Lakewold, considered Lakewood’s “crowning gem” is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Lakewold is located at 12317 Gravelly Lake Dr., S. W. Phone 253-584-4106 or visit www.lakewoldgardens.org for more information.
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