Bonsai Museum in Federal Way, Washington

The Pacific Bonsai Museum is a hidden gem between Seattle and Tacoma. It sits just off I5, yet feels worlds away. The outdoor museum is enveloped by serene, mature forest and the miniature trees sit under these towering evergreens. Each tree is displayed as if it were a sculpture, on a single pedestal meant to highlight its artistry.

The museum — which does not charge admission — holds a range of bonsai tree styles, including the cascade style, where a sloping branch creates stylistic asymmetry; the similarly-styled semi-cascade; slanting, which features a curving trunk; formal upright, with its exacting symmetry; and the graceful informal upright, with some symmetry and a curving trunk.

The trees are sourced from artists working in the United States, Canada, China and Japan. Some of the trees are hundreds of years old, and a range of species is represented. Some are familiar: There’s a miniature Cypress tree, with its peeling reddish bark, and a blossoming pear tree. The trees flower, lose their leaves in winter and even bear fruit, just as their regular-sized counterparts do.

Overall, the museum is a great place to go to clear your mind and enjoy a bit of peacefulness, as well as appreciate the living artistry of this incredible craft.

Pacific Bonsai Museum

2515 S 336^th Street

Federal Way, Wash. 98003

253 353 7345