Story and photos by RSBG Horticulturist & Assistant Curator, Will Clausen Throughout August, new Rhododendron leaves continue to emerge and mature as the relentless summer sun does its best to sear the garden. As the heat builds through the end of summer, the new growth is quickly becoming thicker and more adaptable to both the […]
Story and photos by RSBG Nursery Manager & Assistant Curator, Atsuko Gibson While our nursery specializes in species Rhododendron, we also propagate “companion plants” — the term we use for our non-rhododendron collection. We focus on plants that grow naturally alongside rhododendrons in the wild, as well as many other genera within the Ericaceae, the […]
July Story and photos by RSBG Assistant Nursery Manager, Emily Joseph Somehow, it always surprises me how much cooler it is beneath the shady canopy of the garden than just down the hill in the sun-soaked nursery. Yet it is a well-known fact that trees provide a cooling effect that reduces the buildup of heat […]
South Sound Business – June issue
KUOW – May 22, 2024
June Story and photos by Will Clausen June is a month of transition in the garden. Even though peak flowering has passed for rhododendrons, there are still plenty of species that put on their show at this time of year, and a few that will wait for an even later date. And of course, we […]
Seattle Times – April 23, 2024
Federal Way Mirror – May 3, 2024
April by Will Clausen The beginning of April brings us near the end of the first big wave of color at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden. Thankfully, the second wave should get going just as the early flowers fade away. It has been an exceptional spring for flowers throughout the garden so far and as […]
March by Emily Joseph March at the garden is a month most known for its variable precipitation, temperature swings, and for being the reason we check the 10-day forecast repeatedly. Frequently extolled in weather lore and age-old adages, it seems like a time-honored tradition for the weather to fluctuate without any predictability. Yet, the balance […]
February By Will Clausen February might seem like just another winter month to some, but at the RSBG February means spring is already here. Flowers are starting to brighten up the garden, though sometimes winter weather sneaks through the gate. Rutherford Conservatory It is a short walk from the Visitor Center to the Conservatory, and […]
January By Emily Joseph Seasonal Interest: Often labeled as the dead of winter, January probably ranks as the month of least interest in the minds of most botanical garden visitors. Yet amidst the quiet cold, bastions of the winter botanical world are showing off structure, spectacular bark, and swelling buds about to break, giving life […]
The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, a not-for-profit 22-acre woodland garden, is committed to being an inclusive and welcoming space for the community by offering a range of low and no-cost admissions opportunities throughout the year. The RSBG relies heavily on plant sales, admission fees, donations, membership dues and volunteers to keep the garden thriving and […]
The RSBG is updating its member benefits to bring you more value and exclusive garden privileges! These new and improved benefits will take effect January 1, 2024. After listening to the needs of our members and garden visitors, we have updated our member benefits to bring you more value and new perks! We hope that […]
RSBG earns three tourism awards in ‘Best in the PNW’ The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden wins big in Seattle Time’s 2023 Best in the PNW contest – an inspiring accomplishment for the small non-profit. For first time visitors to the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden (RSBG), it can be a life-changing event. For Federal Way residents, […]
August 24, 2023 The Greater Federal Way Chamber will honor three businesses with Impact Awards as part of its annual Gala from 6-8 p.m., November 18. Federal Way, WA – The Rhody Garden, as it’s affectionately known, will receive the Chamber’s long-running and prestigious Community Impact Award this fall, during the Chamber’s annual Gala at […]
