National Public Gardens Day is Friday, May 8. Lake Wilderness Arboretum encourages the Maple Valley community to show support by visiting a local public garden. Many local gardens offer low-cost activities and educational resources for families, couples and nature enthusiasts.

Established in 2009 and presented by the American Public Gardens Association, this national event is a celebration that raises awareness of the role botanical gardens and arboreta play in promoting environmental stewardship, plant and water conservation, green spaces and education in communities nationwide. It celebrates all public, botanical, educational, specialty, farm and entertainment gardens, arboreta, historical landscapes and zoos, and each organization participates in its own unique way.

The arboretum celebrates National Public Gardens Day with an annual plant sale. Visitors also enjoy free parking, free docent tours, free garden advice from the master gardeners group and more.