Steve Blue Poppy 3

Blue Poppy Day 2024

May 18, 2024
Saturday
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
2525 S 336th St Federal Way, WA 98003
Location Map: See below

The mystical Himalayan blue poppy, Meconopsis, will grace us with its ethereal beauty once again at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden. Come celebrate these fabulous flowers Saturday, May 18 from 10 am to 4 pm and enjoy a feast for your eyes. Walk through a meadow glowing with blooming blue poppies or stroll along the ADA accessible path through the blue poppy glade. There are two fields of poppies to explore! Enjoy musical performances, shop in the art market and enjoy delicious cuisine from a food truck, surrounded by a brilliant botanical garden nestled in a PNW forest.

The RSBG Nursery will be stocked with a stunning selection of plants for sale, including Meconopsis (blue poppies). It’s sure to be a great event. We hope to see you there!

ADMISSION
$10 – General Admission
$7 – Seniors and Students
FREE – Kids 12 and under and Military with ID

 

Interested in being a vendor? Click here to download an application

Interested in volunteering? Email info@rhodygarden.org

For sponsorship opportunities email natalie@rhodygarden.org

 

A special THANK YOU to this year’s Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor

Supporting Sponsor
Sound Credit Union was founded in 1940 and today is one of Washington State’s largest credit unions. With 26 full-service branch locations throughout the Puget Sound area, Sound provides their over 170,000 members with authentic and trusted financial support and services. Sound is driven by the purpose of standing with members, employees, and the community through all waves of life.

 


2023 Artists

Federal Way Youth Symphony Orchestra | 10:30-11 am
website
Founded in 2007 with the motto of “Excellence, Service, and World Education” FWYSO has served the community by visiting single moms, homeless, city facilities, military bases and nursing homes. This orchestra was invited to Los Angeles in 2012 and visited South Korea in the summer of 2014, 2017, and 2019 performing music in more than seven cities. In September of 2017, the Youth Symphony began to rehearse at PAEC (Performance Arts and Event Center) which is located in the heart of the city of Federal Way.


Susan McLain | 11 am-1 pm
website
Performing as Greensleeves Harp, Susan has been providing exquisite harp music for weddings and special events throughout Puget Sound for 30+ years.  Susan also served on the Washington State Arts Commission, Washington State Strategic Planning for the Arts, and served as President of the Musicians Association of Seattle, Local 76-493, for 7 years.  A member of The Recording Academy (host of The Grammy Awards,) Susan has several acclaimed recordings available online.


Elizabeth C. D. Brown | 1-3 pm
website | YouTube
Elizabeth C.D. Brown is head of the Guitar and Lute program at Pacific Lutheran University and a very active performer and recording artist. Highlights from recent seasons include performing at the Northwest Guitar Festival and Music by Women Festival, and premiering a new work for guitar and orchestra with the Seattle Symphony.  


FOOD TRUCKS
Foody Moody: Halal Indian Pakistani Cuisine
Whateke: Authentic Mexican Cuisine


ART MARKET

Joelle Hanton
website | Instagram
Born and raised in Tacoma Washington, and now residing in Seattle, Joelle creates watercolor, acrylic and pencil art for the beauty-seeking daydreamer.
She has developed a unique style of creative expression that reflects the inspirational beauty of the world around her in a distinctly feminine and sophisticated way.
From a very young age Joelle was passionate about art. While in high school she had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy where she took her first watercolor class!
Now she shares her inspiration with others through handcrafted works of art, and heart, that invite the imagination to explore the bounds of possibility.


Kay Pedersen
Kay 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 through 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. Kay’s passion for floral artwork also extends to the outdoors, where her “Forever Flowers”, created from vintage dishware, are a beautiful way to enhance any garden.
Kay is a member of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB) and currently serves as Vice President of the Northwest chapter, “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 retreats including, but not limited to, the ISGB annual conference in Las Vegas and Fire and Rain’s annual retreat at the Pilchuck Glass School.


Patton Glass
Instagram
Patton Glass is a Tacoma based artist who creates hand blown glass work in her small home studio. Her art is heavily inspired by time spent in the garden and in nature, you will find bright colors and whimsy in her work.


Olive Rae Boutique 
website | Instagram
We proudly support Fair Trade and work closely with our artisans all over the world for the most beautiful pieces that change the lives women. We believe in ethical and sustainable fashion, offering apparel, home goods and accessories.


Rainbow Goods & Readings
website | Instragram
Rainbow Goods is the creative corner for Washington native Natalie Haywood, a multidisciplinary artist who loves working with resin and digital mediums. Natalie draws from her background in Shamanic energy work to embody the wonder and beauty of our beautiful Earth in everyday decor. Her jewelry, trays, boxes, planters, and more are all one of a kind- with no two ever the same.


Paisley Studio Brush & Lens 
website
Husband-and-wife artistic team Eric Shellgren and D’Arcy Heiber create photographic and watercolor art. Their creations are inspired by a love of nature, travel, and life in the Pacific Northwest. D’Arcy enjoys painting botanicals, as well as old houses and rusty relics. Eric specializes in botanical photography, focusing on PNW plants, desert species, and landscapes.


LilacBeeGoods
website | Instagram
My name is Jen Parent and I’m an artist currently based in Olympia, WA. I have loved drawing and crafting since I was a child. I also have a huge love for plants. Drawing plants helps me to learn more about them as well and brings me so much joy. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share my drawings and creations with everyone! 🙂


Hannah Nicholson 
Instagram
Functional handmade ceramics for your home, made in Gig Harbor, WA. I’m inspired by the beauty of western Washington, particularly the spring blooms and bright colors you can find among the wildflowers. Treat yourself to a planter, travel tumbler, plant stake, incense holder, berry bowl or one of my other one of a kind goodies! 


David Fishman
website
David Fishman creates hyper-detailed photographs of plant-based subjects and revel them as impressive, intricately populated worlds of their own. David enjoys capturing patterns, textures and shapes of unique botanicals. He carefully extracts the background drawing attention to minute details of delicate parts of plants even spider webs, giving a three-dimensional feeling.


Blue Cactus Press 
website | Instagram
Blue Cactus Press is an independent and hybrid publisher crafting books that serve as community resources for and by historically marginalized groups. Our books are crafted – start to finish – in Washington state and feature local and regional authors from historically marginalized groups. We’re based out of Tacoma, Washington. We’re bringing books, letterpress prints, and tote bags to the Rhododendron Garden this spring!


CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!
We’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 available. The Visitor Center is open from 10 am-4 pm and we’re hoping to fill every hour with a knowledgeable and friendly 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 shift in the Visitor Center). Volunteers must commit to coming to the garden for orientation the morning of event day between 8-9 AM or any time between now and event day.

If you’re interested, please email natalie@rhodygarden.org.

Thank you for supporting the garden!



Yeah! Click ICAL or Google Calendar to add to your calendar.
 

Location Map:
,