The idea of leaving a legacy is the need or desire to be remembered for what you have contributed to the world. Three former gardeners – Loie Benedict, Marjorie Baird and Britt Smith – have contributed significantly to the PNW gardening community and now the Legacy Garden is keeping alive some of their plant contributions. Loie Benedict’s garden, started in 1948, was featured in garden magazines and people would come by the bus load to see it; today, some of her plants grow on in our garden. Some of the plants have even been named after her – Ajuga ‘Loie’s Lavender’(OL05) and Pulmonaria ‘Benediction’. Marjorie Baird, a landscape designer from Yarrow Point, was an avid collector of award-winning species rhododendrons, some of which now reside in the Legacy Garden. Britt Smith was well-known for his work with western azaleas but he also hybridized several rhododendrons which are now featured in the garden (Rhododendron ‘Britt’s Treasure’, R. ‘Simply Awesome’, and R. ‘Simply Bodacious’ (all are in OL10)). The Lake Wilderness Arboretum is striving to leave a legacy of a sanctuary that inspires, educates and connects us to the natural world. What will your legacy be?
