Keep the Arts in Bloom
on Vashon Island
Vashon Island boasts some of the Northwest's finest private gardens and natural oases. For two days in June, the proud and passionate owners of these gardens grant exclusive access to the Vashon Garden Tour, welcoming the public to stroll through the verdant foliage, fragrant flora, colorful blooms, and masterful designs.
Proceeds from the Vashon Garden Tour help sustain the nonprofit work of the Vashon Center for the Arts, which grows the arts on Vashon and cultivates the artists of tomorrow.
Everywhere on the VCA campus the arts are growing lush and verdant: our auditorium in Katherine L. White Hall (aka "The Kay") boasts a bounty of live music, dance, theatre, film, and lectures all year round. In the Koch Gallery, each month brings a new bouquet of local and nationally renowned artists; the Blue Heron Education Center is always abuzz with art and dance classes for every age and skill level; VCA's Vashon Artists in Schools (VAIS) program nurtures budding creativity in classrooms all across the region throughout the school year; and the Blue Heron Meadow is (literally) a beautiful protected wetland where classes, performances, and installations happen en plein air!
So, as you go garden to garden, flower to flower, think of it as pollinating creativity and helping the arts bloom all across Vashon, no matter the season!
When Gardens are Galleries...
Our Gallery
is a Garden!
During the Vashon Garden Tour, the VCA Gallery is turned into a garden of artistic expression! You're invited to stroll through an annual exhibition we call The Secret Garden. You'll find beautiful works by botanical artist Jean Emmons—including the glorious painting Dahlia Sonic Bloom which is the featured icon for this year's Vashon Garden Tour! This gallery show has been three years in the making and represents the largest exhibition of Jean's original watercolor and egg tempera paintings (as opposed to print) ever offered to the public for acquisition.
VCA Gallery will also feature three-dimensional, sculptural garden art by local artists, suitable for all-seasons in the PNW outdoors, so you can turn your garden into a gallery all year long.
The Secret Garden exhibition is always FREE to garden and art lovers alike, Wednesday–Sunday, 12–5 p.m. from June 4–29. Join us on for the FIRST FRIDAY OPENING RECEPTION on June 4 from 5–8 p.m.
Proceeds from artwork purchased during the exhibition support the nonprofit work of Vashon Center for the Arts.
Gorgeous Gardens &
Much More!
In addition to seeing the beautiful gardens on the tour, you can also partake of...
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Delicious food and refreshments throughout the weekend on the VCA campus (where you can also get your Garden Map and find public restrooms)!
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Our fabulous Garden Raffle to win valuable garden-themed prizes! Raffle tickets can be purchased at VCA starting on May 15th, Wednesday–Sunday, 12–5 pm
Visit our FAQ page for more bonus info!