The Lim Garden is a private 1-acre residential garden and specialty nursery located in the Cottage Lake area of Woodinville, WA. Collectible rare and uncommonly seen plants are a specialty, along with plants that thrive in woodland shade and understory.
This is my childhood home. Creating a garden here (or anywhere) was never on my radar until the summer of 2017 when the random idea to dig a BBQ fire pit in the backyard escalated into a full-fledged dive into the world of horticulture.
With no experience, just an intense newfound fascination with plants and a drive to create a personal sanctuary, things quickly snowballed. Left as wild woodland since logging came through in the 1890s, the land remained relatively untouched over the 40 years my family lived there. Before I knew it I had selectively felled dozens of trees to open up light (don’t worry there are many more), built a network of beds, paths, and structure, loaded in tons of rockery, a flagstone terrace, goldfish pond and more. A small propagation greenhouse was added in 2020 and an accompanying nursery area in 2021.
The property's varied topography, accentuated by mature cedars and firs, fosters numerous microclimates and light variations. While predominantly woodland, the garden blends diverse styles: lush tropical elements grace the pond area, sunnier borders reflect cottage and meadow themes, and native flora intermingles with non-native species elsewhere.
The garden boasts approximately 2500 species and cultivars, showcasing numerous rare gems and debut plants. Emphasizing foliage and form over flowering, I view blooms as seasonal highlights within beds. Notable collections encompass Aucuba, Ligularia, Farfugium, Aspidistra, Polygonatum, Disporum, ferns, and broadleaf evergreens. Adjacent forest land is creatively integrated to expand and envelop the space, enhancing its sense of size and seclusion.
The garden is still in its youth, evolving and maturing with each passing season. It’s basically all just an experiment and a personal expression that I've decided to open to the public in the hope of contributing to a community of passionate gardeners and sharing the joy this journey has brought me.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you in the garden soon!
best,
Alex Lim
The garden is located in the Cottage Lake area of Woodinville, WA.
It is a private residence and only open to the public by appointment or on specified Open Days.
We'd love to have you visit, please contact us at TheLimGarden@gmail.com or (206) 713-7333
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