Getting Here
You’ll find UpGarden on the top level of Mercer Street Garage at 650 3rd Ave. N in the Uptown neighborhood of Seattle, directly across the street from McCaw Hall and connected to the Seattle Center campus by a covered pedestrian skybridge with elevator access. We border Upper Queen Anne, South Lake Union and Belltown, and our central location puts us in easy reach of Downtown and other neighborhoods by public transportation, bike or car.
By Public Transportation
UpGarden is located in one of the best spots in the city for public transportation options. Numerous King County Metro bus routes serve the area including the RapidRide C, D and E Lines. If you are taking the Link light rail into the city, Westlake Station connects to the Monorail (built for the 1962 World’s Fair) that runs every 15 minutes to the Seattle Center campus. Another transit option from Westlake is the South Lake Union streetcar. During the summer, there is a free shuttle that runs along the Seattle waterfront that will take you to Seattle Center as well. As you can see, the possibilities are many! We suggest that you use the King Country Metro trip planner to map out your journey.
By Bike
Seattle is a bike-friendly city with robust infrastructure built for pedal power. Because we are so close to the waterfront, biking can be one of the best ways to visit the garden while avoiding traffic and enjoying the views that make Seattle so special. Lime bikes are readily available to rent. The City of Seattle Bike Program has maps and route information to help you plan your ride. Download the Seattle Bike Map as a brochure.
By Car
From the North
From I-5 South: Take exit 167 for Mercer Street / Seattle Center. Continue west on Mercer St. After you drive under the Route 99 overpass, the garage is on the right with the vehicle entrance off 3rd Ave. N. Pedestrian access from the street is available through stairwells at all four corners of the garage.
From 99 South: Take the exit toward Valley St. Follow Valley west and take a left on 3rd Ave. N. The garage vehicle entrance is on the left after you cross Roy St.
From the South
From I-5 North: Take exit 167 for Mercer Street / Seattle Center. Continue west on Mercer St. After you drive under the Route 99 overpass, the garage is on the right with the vehicle entrance off 3rd Ave. N. Pedestrian access from the street is available through stairwells at all four corners of the garage.
From 99 North: Take the Mercer Street / South Lake Union exit. Turn left onto Dexter Avenue N, then turn left onto Mercer Street. Turn right onto 3rd Avenue N.
Parking
There is free two-hour parking north of the garage on neighborhood blocks marked with green RPZ 13 (restricted parking zone) signs during the posted hours (e.g., 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.). There is also metered street parking to the south around the Seattle Center. Garage parking is available as well at the current fees set by Seattle Center. Please note that when there is an event happening across the street, garage parking rates surge.
Navigating the Garage
UpGarden is located on the top level of the parking garage. We can be reached via staircases from street level at all four corners of the building. There is an elevator on the southside of the garage which also connects to a pedestrian skybridge crossing over Mercer St. to Seattle Center. The garage elevator will take you to the top level of the garage where you can either take a small staircase leading directly to the western entrance of UpGarden or avoid the stairs and circle up a half level in either direction to reach the western or eastern entrances.
Points of Interest
From the vintage Airstream toolshed to the classic Ford Galaxie planter to our very own bee yard, there are a number of fascinating detours and landmarks to watch out for as you wind your way through the garden plots grown by our UpGardeners. Here are a few of our favorites to add to your must-see list.
Click or tap any feature on the map to see what makes it special. For the full tour, visit the Virtual Garden.
Meet Our Bees
Resident honey bees play an essential role in keeping the garden and the surrounding Uptown neighborhood blooming and resilient. Our rooftop position offers exceptional exposure to sunlight and protection from ground-level wind currents as well as access to a rich forage corridor spanning Seattle Center, Queen Anne hillside gardens and nearby parklands.
Stop By the UpGarden Apiary
The UpGarden apiary was established to support urban biodiversity, boost crop yields for our plot holders and Giving Garden, and provide hands-on educational opportunities about pollinator health. Managed by resident beekeeper Jeff Steenbergen, our hives thrive in the unique rooftop microclimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
A quarter million bees call one of our four hives home during the peak season of June. The population drops by seventy percent during the winter months.
Foraging the Garden
The pollinator beds around UpGarden are rich with flowers our bees love. Here we see one going about its work of collecting nectar and pollen from a passionflower.
Making Honey
Back at the hive, bees add enzymes to the nectar to stabilize its sugars and store it in cells (the shiny spots), fanning it to cut water content from about 80% to under 18%.
Feeding the Young
Bees mix nectar and pollen inside the cells, and this fermented “bee bread” feeds their young. The larger bees with big eyes are drones, the colony’s males.
Raising the Brood
The tan, capped cells are where the colony raises its young, called brood. Inside these cells, developing bees grow from larvae into adult bees.
Staying Cool
On hot days, the bees gather at the entrance of the hive to help keep the internal temperature steady. They also fan their wings to help circulate air and cool the hive.
Soaking Up the Sun
Our hive entrances face south to maximize exposure to the morning sun. Sunlight helps bees warm their bodies so they can become active and begin foraging earlier in the day.
Welcoming Visitors
The bee enclosure is located just inside the southeastern entrance. Take a peek inside the fence then wander the garden to see our pollinators hard at work.
Solitary mason and leafcutter bees work alongside the more social pollinators on the roof.
UpGarden’s pollinator focus has evolved over time. Following seasonal losses common in rooftop honey bee wintering, we expanded our apiary efforts to include native solitary bee species such as masons and leafcutters. We have partnered with local pollinator specialists (such as Crown Bees) to install nesting houses, tubes and native pollinator beds to support high crop yields for community plots.
Group Visits and Special Events
As part of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods P-Patch Program, UpGarden is open to the public to enjoy during daylight hours. In addition to offering a quiet, reflective haven above the noise of the city, the garden is an ideal venue for group visits, social gatherings and special events.
Host Your Next Event with Us
We are a community-managed open space and UpGardeners love seeing the many ways our neighbors use the garden to enrich their experience of city life. Art classes, school field trips, volunteer days, block parties and workshops have all happened here, and we’re open to hosting more.
Fill out our contact form and tell us your idea. An UpGardener will be in touch.
Apply for a Plot
UpGarden is one of 91 P-Patch community gardens across Seattle. Plots are assigned by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. There is a greater demand than supply, so if you are interested in gardening your own plot, the best time to join the interest list is now.
Join the Interest List
All Seattle residents are eligible to apply and may join two interest lists concurrently. Check out the P-Patch map to see which community gardens are in your neighborhood. Browse the full list of P-Patches to get more information and decide which would be the best fit for your location and gardening goals. You can register to join an interest list either online or over the phone. There is a small annual fee once a plot becomes available, and the city offers subsidies for low-income residents. Openings generally pop up between January and June and wait times vary by garden.
Volunteer at UpGarden
While you are waiting, take advantage of our volunteer opportunities where you can work in the garden and start learning best practices for your own plot.