Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, 2022

 

 

 

 

This is a garden we have been wanting to visit for a while now.  It is located on the former Weyerhauser property near Federal Way.  Free parking is available in a separate lot about one block away from the entrance into the garden. 

 

A path from the parking lot winds between trees and crosses the main street into the garden area.  There is a modest admission fee with discounts for seniors, students, and free entry for active or retired military, and children under age 12.  Admission fees are collected at the small visitor center/gift shop where one can pick up free pamphlets, a map showing the various trails in the garden, and other items.  There is also a clean, modern restroom with a changing table for infants. 

 

Inside the Bonsai enclosed space

In addition to the outdoor garden there is also an enclosed space with examples of bonsai trees.  The Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, which we did not visit this time, is adjacent to the indoor bonsai exhibit.  Most of the garden is outdoors; however, the other enclosed area is the Rutherford Conservatory.  It is filled with plants, some with wonderful scents.  An unexpected plus was an area with plant sales.  Next time we will be more prepared with a list of things we might like to add to our own garden.

 

 

 

 Much of the garden looks like a forest with paths and beautiful flowering plants all along the way

 

 

 The pond

 

The outdoor garden is not exclusively Rhododendrons but contains many different plants, some native and some exotic.  Here are some of the things we saw the day we visited the garden.  Not all the plants were labeled but most were Rhododendrons.  This is a garden continually in motion, things moving, new things being planted, and areas evolving.  The day we visited we took one of the lesser used paths and found a gardener busy at work.  He was kind enough to talk with us and answer some questions.

 

 

This plant looked like Snow Bells but ours had finished their bloom a long while ago so we are not sure if this is the same or not.

A Giant White Trillium.  It is native to the Northwest but we have never seen it in the wild.

 

Star Magnolia just beginning the bloom

 

 

Magnolia

Very large, each flower was hand-size, rhododendron plant in the conservatory

For additional information, see:

 

www.RhodyGarden.org