Located near Graham, Washington, just one hour south of Seattle on the way to Mt. Rainier, is a special 4 1/2 acre garden. The Chase Garden sits on a bluff overlooking the Puyallup River Valley and features spectacular views of Mt Rainier. 

The garden is the lifework of Emmott and Ione Chase. Parts of the garden were designed by landscape architect Rex Zumwalt, and the entire garden has been developed and maintained by Emmott and Ione Chase since 1962, and today stands out as one of the finest examples of the Pacific Northwest style of the mid-20th century. The naturalistic woodland, primarily of second-growth Douglas fir trees, has an understory of native shrubs and carpets of trillium, erythronium, vanilla leaf, and other wildflowers.

A meadow filled with drifts of rock garden plants inspired by the wildflower fields on Mt. Rainier features expanses of groundcovers and perennials accented with Japanese maples, rhododendrons, and conifers. Meandering pea gravel pathways wind their way along a gentle slope between the house and lawn and provides views through an open vista to the forested foothills overlooking the Puyallup River Valley and an impressive view of Mt. Rainier. 

A Preservation Project of the Garden Conservancy The mission of the Garden Conservancy is to help preserve exceptional American gardens. The Conservancy holds a conservation easement on the garden and has guided local members of the Friends of Chase Garden in developing public support and planning for the preservation of the garden. For more information call (845) 265-2029 or visit www.gardenconservancy.org.

The Chase Garden
16015 264th St. E.
Orting, WA 98360
206-242-4040

Photos by Yvonne Meziere
Web Design by Pouncy Designs