Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden
History & Context
Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden exists because of a rescue. In the mid-1990s, SeaTac Airport's proposed third runway condemned residential land in Burien, including the one-acre private garden of Elda Behm, who had been gardening the property since 1965. Her collection was extensive and uncommon, built over 30 years through active involvement with the American Rhododendron Society, garden clubs, and plant societies.
In 1999, an agreement was reached to relocate Behm's garden rather than destroy it. Stephen Lamphear, then a Burien city councilman, led the campaign. The Port of Seattle, City of SeaTac, and City of Burien made 3.5 acres of abandoned runway land available adjacent to the North SeaTac Community Center. The land came with a cost: subcontractors had demolished houses decades earlier but buried the debris in the basements rather than hauling it away. Cleanup preceded any planting.
In fall 2000, approximately 200 volunteers dug ground covers, perennials, and shrubs from Behm's property. Over winter 2001, Big Trees Inc. of Snohomish transplanted the large specimens, including a Parrotia persica (20 feet tall, 15 feet wide), a weeping white pine (Pinus strobus 'Pendula') that Behm had started in a one-gallon pot, and a large star magnolia (Magnolia stellata). About 85-90% of the original plants survived relocation.
The garden opened to the public in 2003. In 2005, it was renamed from Highline Botanical Garden to Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden. In 2005-2006, a second major rescue brought the Seike Japanese Garden, originally built in 1961 as a war memorial designed by Shintaro Okada of Hiroshima. The relocation was funded by the State of Washington and the City of SeaTac. Every rock was measured, mapped, and replicated in its original placement, along with mature specimens including a century-old Acer palmatum.
The garden has since grown to 10.5 acres (roughly 6 acres under cultivation) through partnerships with regional plant societies and community investment. It is managed by the Highline Botanical Garden Foundation, a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3).
Garden Sections
Elda Behm's Paradise Garden
The anchor garden. A 120-foot recirculating stream empties into a 7,000-gallon pond, with a rustic log pergola and an assortment of mature trees, shrubs, and perennials transplanted from Behm's...
Seike Japanese Garden
Historic pond-and-mountain style Japanese garden, originally built in 1961 by the Seike family in Burien as a war memorial for their fallen son. Designed by Shintaro Okada of Hiroshima. Relocated to...
King County Iris Society Display Garden
Labeled iris collection on the east side of the main path. Extensive cultivar display with identification tags. Valuable for cultivar comparison and bloom timing observation.
Seattle Rose Society Celebration Garden
Over 100 roses arranged around a formal lawn with a central fountain. All roses organically maintained. Popular wedding venue.
Puget Sound Daylily Club Display Garden
Recognized display garden for the American Hemerocallis Society. West side of the main path.
NW Fuchsia Society Garden
Fuchsia species and cultivar display.
Western Fuchsia Species Society Garden
Fuchsia species collection, distinct from the NW Fuchsia Society's cultivar-focused display.
Hicks Rhododendron & Azalea Garden
Rhododendron and azalea collection.
Lins Peony Garden
Peony display garden.
Cascadian Cultivars
Displays plants with a definite Northwest association, including selections of the Western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale).
Sensory Garden
Designed by Barker Landscape Architects from a concept by Greg Butler (2008). Includes a rain garden, tunnels of vines, and fragrant, tactile, and textural plantings. Planned to engage all senses.
Visit Log (1 visit)
May 25, 2026
First visit to Highline SeaTac. Arrived early on Memorial Day and had the entire garden to myself. Entered through the iron gates past some nice signage and immediately heard running water from the Paradise Garden stream. The western edge of the garden is the most mature and well-designed section, anchored by the water feature and Behm's transplanted specimens. The design feels cohesive here in a way that the newer society gardens don't quite match yet, which makes sense given the 25+ years of establishment.
The labeled iris collection was impressive and in peak display. The demonstration roses were also showing well. Having plant society partnerships maintain dedicated display sections is a smart model — it provides expert volunteer labor and curated collections that a small foundation couldn't maintain alone.
Wandered to the far side and found a large, well-organized community garden / pea patch adjacent to the community center. The Seike Japanese Garden on the east side has excellent stonework and some striking mature Japanese maples and trained pines. The historical significance of the garden (1961 war memorial, Shintaro Okada design, meticulous relocation) adds depth that most visitors probably don't appreciate from the signage alone.
Notable Findings
- Iris collection in peak bloom — worth returning mid-May in future years to photograph cultivars and document bloom timing
- Rose garden organically maintained — good case study for organic rose culture in the Puget Sound lowlands
- Seike Japanese Garden Acer palmatum specimen appears healthy with good structure; no obvious dieback or stress
- The water feature effectively masks airport noise; deliberate design choice noted in Pacific Horticulture article
- Cascadian Cultivars section with Rhododendron occidentale selections — worth checking bloom timing on return visits
Return notes (6)
- Return in June-July for rose peak and daylily bloom
- Photograph iris cultivar labels for species inventory
- Explore Sensory Garden, Hicks Rhododendron section, and Lins Peony Garden (not fully explored this visit)
- Check Cascadian Cultivars section for Western azalea bloom
- Document specific Acer palmatum cultivars in the Seike Garden
- Look for disease/pest issues on the organically maintained roses as summer progresses