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Mindful travel around the Pacific Northwest.

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Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden — a colorful velvety hidden jewel

April 28, 2021 by Matthew

This Pinterest pin highlights the colorful blooms featured at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, near Seattle, Washington.  These flowers fan out with an intricate purple pattern against the white blooms on thick branches with waxy green leaves.

There is something so comforting about a rhododendron in bloom — as if to say “Welcome to the Pacific Northwest.” The queen of Washington State forests grows freely in the wild (Deception Pass State Park and Point Defiance Park are just two examples) as well as quintessentially included in virtually every botanical garden in the area. It makes sense that a few miles down the road from Seattle (in Federal Way, Washington), the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, is the celebrated home to over 450 different species of rhododendron.

The 22-acre forest wonderland sits between two major highways connecting Seattle with Portland, so this makes a nice stop along the way to soak up some nature. Stroll through thickets of dense evergreen brush as the round blooms explode with color and wind through the many themed areas of plants that compliment the forest giants. Ferns and alpine flowers flow amongst trillium as a peaceful pond completely covered with a neon-green topping works to ease the worries of life outside this wooded magic.

Most varieties of Rhododendron display their colorful blooms from March to May, but something is always bursting onto the scene — every season offers surprise and delight. Even in Winter, the Rutherford Conservatory serves up inspiring tropical delights, complete with rainforest moisture dancing from the windows overhead while a babbling brook meanders through the floor of the enclosed building.

Check the garden website for pop-up sales, where local nurseries feature their unusual varieties of plants, even beyond numerous offerings of rhododendron. Since the sale area is within the grounds of the botanical garden, the entrance fee is still required — but it’s a small price to pay to help support the mission of this marvelous campus of life.

Speaking of supporting the mission of horticulture nonprofits, the garden also shares the douglas fir canopy with the Pacific Bonsai Museum — offering more than 60 inspiring specimens of miniature trees highlighting the beauty and balance of these intricate works of art.

Rhododendron Species Botanical GardenHelpful Planning Tips
Entrance Fee$8 General Admission; $5 Seniors & students; 12 and under free.
HoursTuesday – Sunday; 10AM – 4PM; Closed on major holidays.
PetsNot allowed (except service animals).
AccessibilityDrive-up options and forest paths wind up and down without steps.
Recommended timeTwo hours.
LocationSee map below — located in Federal Way, WA between Seattle and Tacoma.

The following is a photo collection of the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, an inspiring symphony of color and texture in Federal Way, Washington.

Colorful rhododendron blooms burst alive in this Spring shot at the rhododendron species botanical garden, near Seattle, Washington.
Rhododendron blooms begin pushing out on this photo of the start of the flower.  The buds are red and green and still very tight.  They are surrounded by waxy green leaves with fur like needles on the edges.
Colorful rhododendron blooms burst alive in this Spring shot at the rhododendron species botanical garden, near Seattle, Washington.
Colorful rhododendron blooms burst alive in this Spring shot at the rhododendron species botanical garden, near Seattle, Washington.
Two rhododendron blooms fan out amongst the waxy green leaves while a plastic plate with white engraved letters spells out the scientific name of the particular species.
A brilliant white rhododendron bloom with dark purple specks in the middle bursts alive in this Spring shot at the rhododendron species botanical garden, near Seattle, Washington.
The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden is amongst a wooded areas that includes the maple trees featured in this photo, still pushing out fresh light yellow leaves.
There are over 450 species of Rhododendron in this inspiring botanical garden, including this tall tree of purple blooms amongst long and thin dark-green leaves.

Rutherford Conservatory — tropics under the fir canopy

The Rutherford Conservatory is a bright greenhouse within the 22-acre grounds of the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, near Seattle, Washington.  Here, giant tropical blooms erupt under the glass and metal frame of this space.  The blooms are white with a butter yellow center.
Bright pink blossoms pop out amongst green leaves in the Rutherford Conservatory in Federal Way, Washington.
Delicate linear purple orchids grow confidently amongst other tropical plants, safe and warm inside the Rutherford Conservatory.

But there’s more than rhododendron — forest nature comes alive

Tiny blue meadow flowers flow beneath sunshine beaming down in a field.
A fresh fiddlestick from a sword fern starting to unravel to produce a beautiful frond.  The light glows against the very delicate and thin ball of green matter.  The brown forest floor, still dormant, is blurred out in the background.
The forest scene in the rhododendron  Species Botanical Garden near Seattle, Washington features many varieties of trees, including fir and the maple shown in this photo.
Large clumsy wet drops of water pool on a waxy green leaf of a forest plant.  The leave has gentle veins that lead to jagged spikes on the edges.
The yellow flowers of Oregon grape push up on the forest floor in this Pacific Northwest Spring scene.

Pop-up plant sale — unusual jewels

An unusual flower opens up with a creamy white stamin while the variagated leaf dabbles between olive greens and rich deep purple.  The green leaves below are blurred out.
The plant pop-up sale at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden is popular with local gardeners.  Here there are several pink flowering plants amongst many varieties of hosts and other textured plants.  The brown wood frame holds together clear plastic roofing that allows in a lot of light.
Matthew Kessi poses for a selfie next to a nearly budding Rhododendron plant, not yet fully formed.  He is smiling and wearing a gray down jacket.

The map below offers a few additional options to enjoy nature in the Federal Way area, including West Hylebos Wetlands Park.

This Pinterest pin highlights the colorful blooms featured at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, near Seattle, Washington.  These flowers fan out with white blooms holding specks of purple pollen on wires branches with waxy green leaves.

Filed Under: Pacific Northwest, Parks and Gardens, Photo Gallery, Seattle, Things to do Tagged With: Botanical Gardens, Federal Way, Rhododendron, Seattle botanical gardens, Seattle Parks

I hope you’re enjoying Kessi World

Hi, I’m Matthew Kessi. Travel with me around the Pacific Northwest to inspire love and respect for nature and foster meaningful connections. My lifetime traveling the planet — over 60 countries — gives me a global awareness that offers a fresh look at Oregon and Washington.

If you have questions or feedback, please let me know and be sure to sign up for a biweekly email that invites you along my journey.

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I would like to acknowledge that much of my inspiration comes from living on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.

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