BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 METHOD:PUBLISH PRODID:-//hacksw/handcal//NONSGML v1.0//EN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260505T134102Z DTSTART:20260516T170000Z DTEND:20260516T230000Z UID:20260516T170000Z-20260516T230000Z-9616@rhodygarden.org SUMMARY:Blue Poppy Day 2026 DESCRIPTION:The mystical Himalayan blue poppy\, Meconopsis\, will grac e us with its ethereal beauty once again at the Rhododendron Species B otanical Garden. Join us on Saturday\, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. t o celebrate these breathtaking blooms. Wander through a meadow glowing with blue poppies or enjoy a stroll along the ADA-accessible path thr ough the Blue Poppy Glade. Explore the RSBG nursery\, featuring a stun ning selection of plants for sale\, including Meconopsis at peak bloom . While you're here\, enjoy local artists in our art market\, a floris t vendor\, delicious food trucks\, and a live music performance.\n\nAD MISSION\n  $12 - General admission\n  $9 - Seniors and students\n  FRE E - RSBG members\, children (age 12 and under)\, and military with ID\ n\nInterested in volunteering\, vending or for sponsorship opportuniti es\nEmail :  info@rhodygarden.org\n\n\n\n2026 Food Vendors\nThe Villag e Perk: A coffee truck featuring an extensive menu featuring scrumptio us custom drinks—including coffee\, espresso\, and smoothies.\n\nZayto ona: Mediterranean Food Truck\n2026 Performing Arts\nJet Cities Chorus — 1:00 PM: Jet Cities Chorus is a chorus from the Seattle–Tacoma area that sings four-part\, a cappella harmony with songs from many eras\, including popular music\, show tunes\, and jazz. Founded in 1962\, th e chorus performs at festivals\, ceremonies\, and celebrations through out the South Puget Sound area.\n2026 Art Market\nHannah Jean: Ceramic s inspired by the beauty and magic of Western Washington. Delicately h andcrafted cups\, bowls\, mugs\, travel tumblers\, spoon rests\, plant ers\, and more. Each piece is 100% unique\, and made by hand in Gig Ha rbor\, Washington.\n\nBunnybeegirl: I grew up in Seattle and enjoy liv ing in the PNW. I have always been a crafter and took up the art of pl aster casting five years ago. I love casting plants\, flowers and foun d objects because it allows us to enjoy them a bit longer.\n\nSaze Gla ss: Sue and Zeke are partners in life and glass who love to share thei r creations through Saze Glass. Whether making large scale home decor in the hot shop or objects for everyday use\, they like to capture the shiny and refractive essence of glass. They use precious metal fume\, opals\, and special colors in their mugs\, jewelry\, and sculpture.\n \nPoverty Bay Beads: Kay Pedersen has lived in Federal Way for the pas t 50 years and has been extensively involved in the local arts scene. From choreographing for local theater and choral groups\, to creating beautiful art pieces through stained glass and flameworked glass\, Kay has kept her creative spirit flowing. Since 2009\, Kay has specialize d in flameworked glass\, with a passion that leans towards sculptured floral pieces which she then uses to create beautiful\, unique jewelry and miniature glass flower arrangements in vintage salt and pepper sh akers. Beach themed pieces are also part of her expertise such as glas s oysters and ocean themed jewelry. Beautiful serving pieces are also part of her repertoire.\n\nKay is a member of the International Societ y of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB) and currently serves as Vice President of the Northwest chapter\, “Fire and Rain”. She was the December 2019 Sp otlight Artist in the ISGB magazine\, “Bead Release”. Kay continues to learn techniques from internationally known glass artists at various conferences and retreats including\, but not limited to\, the ISGB ann ual conference in Las Vegas and Fire and Rain’s annual retreat at the Pilchuck Glass School. Recent travels for classes in Thailand\, and th e Corning Museum of Glass have helped to hone her skills.\n\nJoelle Ha nton Art: Joelle of Joelle Hanton Art creates paintings\, prints\, and stationery that invite viewers into a world of quiet wonder. Blending gouache\, watercolor\, and acrylic with digital tools\, her work capt ures the poetry of everyday beauty—where nature\, nostalgia\, and imag ination gently intertwine.\n\nFoxwillow Studio: Born and raised in wes tern Washington\, I have always been inspired by the beauty of the nat ural world\, and I capture that through my colorful whimsical artwork. Creating mostly through watercolors and pen and ink\, I draw from fol k art style to create my unique pieces. I have dedicated my career to conserving natural resources\, and I hope my work inspired others to d eeply appreciate and protect the Earth. My creative journey draws on e lements of growth\, expansion\, and connection to my community and wor ld around me. \n\nMoonAndCauldron: Laura Irene is a queer\, autistic\, multi-media artist based in Seattle\, working under the name Moon & C auldron. She specializes in small-batch ceramics and playful crochet a migurumi\, blending spooky and body-inspired themes with nostalgic cha rm. Her handmade work includes pieces like ghosts\, bat ornaments\, an d her signature “Madge” ceramics—designed to bring both humor and hear t into functional art. Laura is an active member of Seattle’s creative community and brings an inclusive\, thoughtful presence to every mark et she joins.\nAmanda Gligorea Art: My name is Amanda Gligorea\, and I am a self-taught emerging artist. While I began my artistic journey i n 2020 by refinishing furniture\, I have spent the last 2 years transi tioning to canvas painting. This shift has allowed me to incorporate g reater detail and a wider variety of mediums into my work\, resulting in unique\, one-of-a-kind pieces. My work focuses on creating a sense of joy through the use of vibrant\, uplifting colors. I specialize in subjects such as wildflowers\, abstract florals\, sunsets\, and mounta in landscapes. I enjoy experimenting with different mediums to continu ally evolve my techniques and artistic skills.\nJadedVineDesign: Julie Carrasco\, owner of Jaded Vine Design\, is a professional artist work ing in glass\, textiles\, and jewelry. She lives and works in North Be nd\, Washington\, where she sinks her hands into large-scale sculpture s that reflect the human condition. Alongside this practice\, she also thinks in miniature and values treasures held close to our bodies. Ju lie is inspired by her Filipina-American heritage and the natural worl d of both lands. She hopes to share this inspiration with all who expe rience her creations.\n\nBelle Pétale Floral: Belle Pétale is a boutiq ue floral design studio located in Tacoma\, Washington inside the hist oric Court House Square. Each floral arrangement is made to order and created with a custom palette of seasonal flowers that are sourced in the PNW from local flower farms\, to ensure the highest quality and un ique variety. Every stem is hand-chosen and intricately placed to crea te a bespoke design for life's big and small occasions.\n\n \n\n \n\n  \n\n\n\nCALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!\n\nWe're looking for friendly\, plant lov ing people to volunteer in the Visitor Center for an hour to help hand out maps\, tally plants\, and general visitor direction and guidance. We have several slots available. The Visitor Center is open from 10 a m-4 pm and we're hoping to fill every hour with a knowledgeable and fr iendly plant person to help ensure visitors have an amazing experience at the garden. Volunteers will receive a free day pass to attend Blue Poppy Day (which they can participate in before and/or after their sh ift in the Visitor Center). Volunteers must commit to coming to the ga rden for orientation the morning of event day between 8-9 AM or any ti me between now and event day.\nIf you're interested\, please email inf o@rhodygarden.org.\n\nThank you for supporting the garden!\n\n  X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

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The mystical Himalay an blue poppy\, Meconopsis\, will grace us with its et hereal beauty once again at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden. Join us on Saturday\, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate thes e breathtaking blooms. Wander through a meadow glowing with blue poppi es or enjoy a stroll along the ADA-accessible path through the Blue Po ppy Glade. Explore the RSBG nursery\, featuring a stunning selection o f plants for sale\, including Meconops is at peak bloom. While you’\;re here\, enjoy local artists in our art market\, a florist vendor\, delicious food trucks\, and a l ive music performance.

\n

AD MISSION
\n  $12 –\; General a dmission
\n  $9 –\; Seniors and students
\ n  FREE –\; RSBG members\, children (age 12 and under)\, and military with ID

\n

Interested in volunteering\, ven ding or for sponsorship opportunities
\nEmail :  info@rhodygarden.org

\n
\n

20 26 Food Vendors

\n

The Village Perk: A coffee truck featuring an extensive menu featuring scrumptious cu stom drinks—including coffee\, espresso\, and smoothies.

\n

Zaytoona:< /strong> Mediterranean Food Truck

\n

2026 Pe rforming Arts

\n

Jet Cities Chorus — 1:00 PM: Jet Cities Chorus is a chorus from t he Seattle–Tacoma area that sings four-part\, a cappella harmony with songs from many eras\, including popular music\, show tunes\, and jazz . Founded in 1962\, the chorus performs at festivals\, ceremonies\, an d celebrations throughout the South Puget Sound area.

\n

2026 Art Market

\n

Hannah Jean: Ceramics inspired by th e beauty and magic of Western Washington. Delicately handcrafted cups\ , bowls\, mugs\, travel tumblers\, spoon rests\, planters\, and more. Each piece is 100% unique\, and made by hand in Gig Harbor\, Washingto n.

\n

Bu nnybeegirl: I grew up in Seattle and enj oy living in the PNW. I have always been a crafter and took up the art of plaster casting five years ago. I love casting plants\, flowers an d found objects because it allows us to enjoy them a bit longer.

\n

Saze Glass: Sue and Zeke are partners in life and gla ss who love to share their creations through Saze Glass. Whether makin g large scale home decor in the hot shop or objects for everyday use\, they like to capture the shiny and refractive essence of glass. They use precious metal fume\, opals\, and special colors in their mugs\, j ewelry\, and sculpture.

\n

Poverty Bay Beads: Ka y Pedersen has lived in Federal Way for the past 50 years and has been extensively involved in the local arts scene. From choreographing for local theater and choral groups\, to creating beautiful art pieces th rough stained glass and flameworked glass\, Kay has kept her creative spirit flowing. Since 2009\, Kay has specialized in flameworked glass\ , with a passion that leans towards sculptured floral pieces which she then uses to create beautiful\, unique jewelry and miniature glass fl ower arrangements in vintage salt and pepper shakers. Beach themed pie ces are also part of her expertise such as glass oysters and ocean the med jewelry. Beautiful serving pieces are also part of her repertoire.

\n

Kay is a member of the International Society of Glass Beadmak ers (ISGB) and currently serves as Vice President of the Northwest cha pter\, “Fire and Rain”. She was the December 2019 Spotlight Artist in the ISGB magazine\, “Bead Release”. Kay continues to learn techniques from internationally known glass artists at various conferences and re treats including\, but not limited to\, the ISGB annual conference in Las Vegas and Fire and Rain’s annual retreat at the Pilchuck Glass Sch ool. Recent travels for classes in Thailand\, and the Corning Museum o f Glass have helped to hone her skills.

\n

Joelle Hanton Art: Joelle of Joelle Hanton Art creates paintings\, prints \, and stationery that invite viewers into a world of quiet wonder. Bl ending gouache\, watercolor\, and acrylic with digital tools\, her wor k captures the poetry of everyday beauty—where nature\, nostalgia\, an d imagination gently intertwine.

\n

Foxwillow Studio: Born and raised in western Washington\, I have always been inspir ed by the beauty of the natural world\, and I capture that through my colorful whimsical artwork. Creating mostly through watercolors and pe n and ink\, I draw from folk art style to create my unique pieces. I h ave dedicated my career to conserving natural resources\, and I hope m y work inspired others to deeply appreciate and protect the Earth. My creative journey draws on elements of growth\, expansion\, and connect ion to my community and world around me. 

\n

MoonAndCauldron : Laura Irene is a queer\, autistic\, multi-media artist base d in Seattle\, working under the name Moon &\; Cauldron. She specia lizes in small-batch ceramics and playful crochet amigurumi\, blending spooky and body-inspired themes with nostalgic charm. Her handmade wo rk includes pieces like ghosts\, bat ornaments\, and her signature “Ma dge” ceramics—designed to bring both humor and heart into functional a rt. Laura is an active member of Seattle’s creative community and brin gs an inclusive\, thoughtful presence to every market she joins.

\n

Amanda Gligorea Art: My name is Amanda Gligorea\, and I am a self-taught emerging artist. While I began my artistic journey in 2020 by refinishing furniture\, I have sp ent the last 2 years transitioning to canvas painting. This shift has allowed me to incorporate greater detail and a wider variety of medium s into my work\, resulting in unique\, one-of-a-kind pieces. My work f ocuses on creating a sense of joy through the use of vibrant\, uplifti ng colors. I specialize in subjects such as wildflowers\, abstract flo rals\, sunsets\, and mountain landscapes. I enjoy experimenting with d ifferent mediums to continually evolve my techniques and artistic skil ls.

\n

JadedVineDesign: Julie Carrasco\, ow ner of Jaded Vine Design\, is a professional artist working in glass\, textiles\, and jewelry. She lives and works in North Bend\, Washingto n\, where she sinks her hands into large-scale sculptures that reflect the human condition. Alongside this practice\, she also thinks in min iature and values treasures held close to our bodies. Julie is inspire d by her Filipina-American heritage and the natural world of both land s. She hopes to share this inspiration with all who experience her cre ations.

\n

Belle Pét ale Floral: Belle Pétale is a boutique f loral design studio located in Tacoma\, Washington inside the historic Court House Square. Each floral arrangement is made to order and crea ted with a custom palette of seasonal flowers that are sourced in the PNW from local flower farms\, to ensure the highest quality and unique variety. Every stem is hand-chosen and intricately placed to create a bespoke design for life’\;s big and small occasions.

\n

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CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!
\n
\nW e’\;re looking for friendly\, plant loving people to volunteer in the Visitor Center for an hour to help hand out maps\, tally plants\, and general visitor direction and guidance. We have several slots ava ilable. The Visitor Center is open from 10 am-4 pm and we’\;re ho ping to fill every hour with a knowledgeable and friendly plant person to help ensure visitors have an amazing experience at the garden. Vol unteers will receive a free day pass to attend Blue Poppy Day (which t hey can participate in before and/or after their shift in the Visitor Center). Volunteers must commit to coming to the garden for orientatio n the morning of event day between 8-9 AM or any time between now and event day.

\n

If you’\;re interested\, please email info@rhodygarden.org.

\n

Thank you for supporting the garden!

\n

 \;

\n URL:https://rhodygarden.org/events/blue-poppy-day-2026/?lang=en ATTACH:https://rhodygarden.org/events/blue-poppy-day-2026/?lang=en ATTACH:https://rhodygarden.org/c19/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Blue-Pop py-Day-Event-Slider-960x350-1-150x150.png LOCATION:Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden\, 2525 S 336th St Feder al Way\, WA 98003\, Federal Way\, WA END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR