The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the bird for mirth;
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.

-- Frances Louise Gurney

There are many hidden gardens in the 250 square miles which comprise Crater Lake National Park. Most of these are for the more adventurous souls who enjoy out-of-the-way places.

But there is one wildflower garden, close to the road, which even the elderly or those to whom walking is a chore may visit with a minimum of effort.

Eastern side of Castle Crest Wildflower Garden, looking southward. From Kodachrome by C. Warren Fairbanks

Castle Crest Wildflower Garden may be found beside the Rim Drive, one-quarter mile eastward beyond the service station near Government Headquarters. At this point a large sign indicates the way to the wildflower garden, the path beginning near the parking area across the road.

A cold stream flows through the shady glen beneath the hemlocks and firs. The half-mile trail passes over a rustic bridge and through a nursery of young Shasta fir trees. Beyond, one may start the loop walk by either of two branching paths. One of the fascinating aspects of this wild garden is its inclusion of wet, mushy parts and dry, dusty sections. Each area has its characteristic variety of plant life, and one may give way to the other within a very few feet. Springs flow from many places on the slope to one side of the garden, forming wet areas where profuse growths of plants are found.

It has been my privilege, during the seasons of 1954 and 1955, to place identifying signs for many of the flowers and plants, not only in Castle Crest Wildflower Garden, but also along the trails to Garfield Peak, to Discovery Point, and to the lake. Often my wife and eight-year-old daughter come along as helpers. Here at Castle Crest, late in the afternoon, we have watched yellow-bellied marmots feeding peacefully among the rocks. Here, too, flit many tiny hummingbirds, sipping nectar from the wild flowers.

We have found peace in the quiet of early evening at Castle Crest Wildflower Garden. Perhaps you, too, may find here a sanctuary!