Botanical gardens work hard to keep their plant life happy all year so that it doesn't sulk back to its underground room to write dismayed diary entries. Marvel at the awe-inspiring results of this constant TLC with today's Groupon, which gets you your choice of admission to The Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island:

• For $6, you get a one-day general admission pass (a $12 value).
• For $27, you get a one-year membership (a $55 value).

An annual membership grants floral devotees unlimited visits with up to three guests, discounts for seasonal concerts held on the grounds, invitations to exclusive lectures and events, and rock-cultivation lessons in the Japanese Garden.

Created by Prentice Bloedel, a pioneer in renewable resources and sustainability as head of the MacMillan Bloedel Timber Company, The Bloedel Reserve encompasses 150 acres of natural settings and gardens designed by accomplished landscape architects. A trail leads sojourners on their environmental odyssey through natural life Wednesday through Sunday. The moss garden cushions hikers’ heels with the forest's shag carpet, while a large pond acts as a bird refuge for flocks of water fowl and sky-bound beavers who've accidentally amassed their dam material into rudimentary flying machines. To ease the transition back into the noisy urban landscape and its roving gangs of marching bands, visitors can take refuge in the French country–style Bloedel residence on the west side of the grounds, where bookworms browse a library of 1,400 horticultural publications and camera-clutchers ensnare commanding views of Port Madison Bay. Explorers can blaze their own trail through the picturesque vistas of Pacific-Northwest wilderness or give three weeks advance notice for a guided tour in the company of one of The Bloedel Reserve's domesticated dryads.

For the one-day pass, children under age 5 get in for free and children ages 5–12 get in for $6.

Reviews

The Bloedel Reserve has received numerous awards and honors for its gardens, including being named one of the 10 greatest botanic gardens in the United States by USA Today. Yelpers give The Bloedel Reserve a perfectly pruned five stars:

• Astounding beauty -- great balance of the organic/natural/unchecked nature and the human-shaped, pruned, etc. Peace, quiet, natural wonders. – Liz A., Yelp
• I must admit I found Bloedel to be magical. It was beautiful and green and I was awestruck at how gorgeous our world is…My favorite was probably the Japanese garden. There was a guest house, cherry blossoms, and rock pathways. – Kiki M., Yelp