Travel can bring great opportunities for learning and expanding our thinking. We are very fortunate to live in an area where we don’t even need to catch a plane in order to visit some awesome destinations. Interested in learning more about protecting our environment with smart gardening practices? There are many educational gardens to explore, if you just know where to look. And many times, demonstration gardens have no admission charge. So, whether it’s a water utilities’ demonstration garden, a habitat garden or one at a Native American cultural center, it’s time to go exploring.

Here are a few recommended destinations.

• Did you know we have a 65 foot deep peat bog nearby? Shadow Lake Bog is located close by in Renton. Call for an appointment and you can meet a guide at the property for a guided walk through the bog on a boardwalk or on trails that run through the serene forest. On a recent visit I delighted in not only the diverse native plants and abundant wildlife (even saw fresh bear prints!) but in the owner’s enthusiasm for saving and protecting this rare type of environment for future generations. The visiting hours for the public are 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more information call 425-432-4914 or visit www.shadowhabitat.org.

• Another local treasure to discover is the Lake Wilderness Arboretum located in the heart of Maple Valley. Paths meander through native forest, cultivated gardens and botanical collections. The newly redesigned Smith/Mossman Western Azalea Garden features one of the largest collections of deciduous Western Azaleas (Rhododendron occidentale) in the world. The WSU Master Gardeners have a new “Tribal Life Trail” that showcases native plants and their uses by NW Native Americans. Guided tours are offered at 10:00 a.m. every third Saturday of the month. The arboretum even has plant sales 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturdays throughout the summer. Open dawn to dusk, visit www.LakeWildernessArboretum.org or call 425-413-2572 for more information.

• After visiting the “Tribal Life Trail” at the Arboretum, continue learning how American Indians used our Northwest native plants by taking a trip to Daybreak Ethnobotanical Garden. Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants. Located in Discovery Park in Seattle, this destination within a destination will further yield a wealth of native plant knowledge. Adapted to growing in our region’s soils and climate, native plants generally require less maintenance (such as watering and pest control) than do non-natives. Perhaps you’ll discover some native plants that will add just the right touch to your own yard. Information about Discovery Park is available at www.seattle.gov/Parks/Environment/discovparkindex.htm.

• Then when the growing gets tough, don’t throw in the trowel, visit the Covington Water District’s WaterWise Landscape Garden. Showcasing water wise principles of gardening, visitors can get up-close and personal with a multitude of perennials, shrubs, trees and annuals that thrive on just the water that nature provides, or on very low amounts of water. A handy plant list available at the garden enables self-guided tours which are available during daylight hours.

• Take part in the WaterWise Garden Faire from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, June 20. Guided garden tours, display and demonstration booths, plus mini garden seminars will all highlight ways to develop an attractive landscape that saves the homeowner both money and water while protecting our environment.

Take part in the Mini Garden Seminars and learn about everything from rain gardens to green gardening tips to native plants for native birds. Tom Watson, the go-green guru of King County, will speak at 2 p.m. on, “The Frugal Green Gardener – Money-Saving Tips for the Yard and Garden.” Door Prizes will be given away throughout the day.

The WaterWise Demonstration Garden is located at the Covington Water District, 18631 S.E. 300th Place, Covington. Call 253-631-0565, Ext. 170 or visit www.covingtonwater.com.

If you travel outside the area this summer, take the opportunity to stop in at demonstration gardens along the way. A few minutes doing a quick internet search could lead you to discover another garden treasure, and they’re usually free!