elandan gardens

It was very educational. Walking around and reading about all the different plants and trees was amazing. I really learned a lot. It is a great place to take children to learn about the different plants and trees.

I can't count the number of times I went past Elandan Gardens when driving on the Kitsap Peninsula. This time I stopped, toured and shopped and was amazed at what this artistic couple have done over the years. Elandan houses a world-class Bonsai collection. It is a place of peace and beauty right off Kitsap's Hwy 16. Eagles and herons frequent the gardens. Ask questions... there is an enthusiastic bonsai expert there. Be prepared to be surprised... there are fascinating rocks, plants, ponds and hidden places to sit and enjoy the scenery. And, don't bypass the international boutique.... a decorator's paradise. Loved it!

We stopped here on our vacation and enjoyed looking through the store they have. There are very interesting and what I assume are one of a kind items to look at. There is a lot of asian themed items with intricate detail. We did not pay to go through the gardens as we didn't have time, but the glimpse of them you see from the store looks amazing.

Our garden club traveled to see this Garden, it had been on our "must see" list for a long time. Yes, do take the time to get there - we had to figure out a U-turn as we zoomed by the gardens the wrong way. When you get to the parking lot you see lots of statues and figures, and "art" - certainly you'll find something you like. The store is amazing - antiques and antics - dogs and a comfy cat will greet you in an amazing array of treasures from all over the world. The garden is an absolute delight - we were fortunate enough to have a tour by THE master bonsai artist, Dan Robinson. He also pointed out two eagles very high up in a tree close by. All the bonsai creations are different and are anywhere from 50 years to over 1000 years old and collected from various parts of USA and Canada. Take your time, and enjoy the water features, the tree creations, flowers, and the view.

Lovely collection. Overlooks the Inlet. A peaceful place with many beautiful examples of the art of bonsai. A little hard to get to if you're coming from Bremerton.

As you pull into the parking area, you might question your decision, but head right in. The collection of bonsai is one of the best and you won't be disappointed.

The seaside setting of these gardens is just stupendous, the walking paths through dozens of beautiful bonsai are well tended in a very natural way. The stories of the individual trees are posted for your education and enlightenment. This beautiful garden is a labor of love and it shows in every way.

We recently had an opportunity for a private guided tour of Elandan Gardens, led by the owner Dan Robinson. So much knowledge about this garden art form was shared with us, and his devotion to the craft is evident in the many different types of trees he showed us, on this waterfront setting. It was so much more than we expected, and so much fun. Highly educational and inspiring, I recommend it for anyone with an interest in plants and trees.

This is owned/run by Dan Robinson, the father of American bonsai. His work and style created the form of American bonsai as separate from the more traditional Japanese and Chinese forms. This work is breathtaking and he and his are almost always there to help be tour guides. He has trees that he has collected himself from all over the world and trained for decades to create impressive natural wonders. Definitely worth the visit.His son also does giant marble & rock sculptures used in landscaping. You'll see many of his pieces, cut on a diamond-bladed band saw taller than many houses.

Who would have thunk there would be a place like this in little Bremerton WA? My daughter and I were on vacation in the area and stopped in kind of on a whim, and are so glad we did. Such a cool place! The owner was there, told us about the place and taught us about the art of Bonsai. There are trees there hundreds and hundreds of years old! And the general landscaping and views are just wonderful. We spent several hours walking around and admiring everything, and asking the owner tons of questions, all of which he answered patiently yet enthusiastically. The huge and eclectic gift shop area is run by the guy's daughter, and they have a couple of dogs and a cat to enhance the relaxed atmosphere. When we first arrived, I wasn't sure the place was worth the entrance fee, but it definitely is worth the time and admission if you're looking for a way to spend an hour or two.

It is wonderful to visit a place created with such great passion. I've seen the sign for thirty years and on a whim stopped in. What a treat if you like garden design and bonsai. Dan has the touch and the desire it's evident in his hidden gem at the Sounds edge. It's an obvious plan but with whimsy built in as well,his descriptions of his works is so enlightening and the people working at the gardens are a treat as well. Well worth a visit to a NW garden gem.

The Elandan Gardens has bee around for a long time, and so have many of their beautiful Bonsai specimens. This is a wonderful place to see Bonsai that have been carefully grown and maintained. One can purchase excellent specimens. The place has been burglarized several times, and the owners are still hanging-in there. If one is looking for excellent Bonsai, this is the best place on the Olympic Peninsula.

Dan and Diane rolled out the red carpet for our group of a dozen out-of-towners, including special guests from Romania. The garden is in a class of its own - gnarly beauty that bewitches an mesmerizes. The waterside setting and the story of the transformation of a landfill were upstaged by Dan's hospitality and tales of the bonsai trees themselves.

This garden is a labor of love. The owner/gardener walked with us and explained what was special about each tree. It was peaceful, beautiful, a retreat from the hustle of the streets.

Always enjoy stopping here. Stone works are interesting as is the Bonsai walk-thru. The gift shop is totally ecclectic and both my wife and I buy something at least half the time we stop.