Think of Lakewold Gardens as an artist's studio.

Landscape architect Thomas Church drew the principals that provided the intellectual easel for the creation of the gardens. But Eulalie Wagner, the last matron of the Wagner House, provided the vision and drive that resulted in the creation of a gardening masterpiece.

"It's tranquil here," commented Louis Manolides, a gardener, as he skimmed leaves from a clover-shaped pool.  "It's out of the way in the middle of the hustle and bustle of modern life."

That sense of peace began in 1908 when Emma Alexander bought the land on the shore of what is today Gravelly Lake. She built a summer cabin, and in time she transferred the property and cabin to her son, Hubbard Alexander, and his wife, Ruth.

The Alexanders later purchased an adjacent five-acre lot, creating the 10 acres that today comprises the gardens. They also hired designers to construct a house and create gardens to capture and hold the views of Gravelly Lake and Mt. Rainier.

As I walked down the manicured trails through the garden's spring colors, sounds and smells, the lake and mountain were always in sight.

In 1925, Maj. Everett Griggs and his wife, Grace, bought the property.  She named the property "Lakewold," a word of Norse origin that means "lake woods." A dozen or so years later, Griggs sold Lakewold to George Corydon and his wife, Eulalie Wagner.

These two individuals loved working outdoors and began to build the studio that Lakewold Gardens is today.

In 1958, Thomas Church, a renowned landscape architect, was commissioned to provide the framework - the easel if you will - on which Eulalie Wagner would compose her masterpiece.

This work of art - this mixture of unity, simplicity and scale - is eclectic in the range of its colors and plants, featuring everything from a Celtic-themed garden and pond to the Tea House framed by Mount Fuji cherry trees.

As I strolled, I found and enjoyed Picnic Point for its view of Gravelly Lake.  Built in the 1960s, Picnic Point featured tea parties for children with full silver settings on the log table.

Were she with us, Wagner would say that her studio had produced a masterpiece.

Lakewold Gardens is located at 12317 Gravelly Lake Drive SW in Lakewood.

More information can be found at www.lakewoldgardens.org.