The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden invites you to our next webinar on
September24, 2026, at 5 p.m. PST with RSBG Curator Steve Hootman.
Join us for a look back at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden’s first expedition to Japan.
In 2025, Steve Hootman and RSBG Nursery Manager Atsuko Gibson spent nearly two weeks exploring the island of Honshu in search of new knowledge and plants for the Garden’s collection. Their journey took them through some of Japan’s most beautiful mountains and remarkable forests, where they made approximately 100 plant collections.
During this webinar, Steve will share images and stories from the expedition, offering a closer look at the landscapes, forests, and plants encountered along the way. He will also discuss the importance of these expeditions and how plant collecting contributes to the knowledge, documentation, and continued development of the Garden’s living collection.
Whether you are interested in species rhododendrons, plant exploration, botanical collections, or simply the remarkable landscapes of Japan, this webinar offers a behind-the-scenes look at an important chapter in the Garden’s ongoing work.
Price: $15 for RSBG members | $25 for non-members + tax
Registration closes on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
You do NOT need a PayPal account to complete payment – see details below
Can’t make it to the live Zoom webinar? Don’t worry! You can still register and submit a payment for the event, and a link to the recording will be sent directly to you! Please include a comment in your registration form letting us know.
Please read:
- When you register for the webinar, you will receive an email confirming your pending reservation for the webinar. Next, you must complete your payment to secure your spot. Note: Please ensure you input an email where you’d like the link and recording sent to (email used during registration will be sent the link).
- You can pay with a credit card/VISA on PayPal (you do not need a PayPal account) – click the button “Pay via PayPal” > click “Pay with Debit or Credit Card” > Check out as a Guest by entering your email address > enter your payment information > ensure the toggle is off towards the bottom of the screen to pay as a guest.
- On the morning of the scheduled webinar, you will receive an email from RSBG staff with a link to the Zoom
webinar and further instructions on how to join.
How to Join the Meeting
- Please note that you do not need a Zoom account to attend the lecture. However, you will be required to download Zoom software on your device. There are two ways to do this:Visit Zoom.us and find the “RESOURCES” drop-down menu at the very top of the webpage. Hover your mouse over the arrow next to “RESOURCES” and select “Download Zoom Client” from the drop-down menu. Select the first download button on this page labeled “Zoom Client for Meetings.”
OR
- Click on the lecture link, which will be emailed to you. The link will prompt you to download the software.
- You do not need a webcam or a microphone to participate; you will need a device with speakers to hear the lecture.
- All Zoom registrants will be muted during the lecture. We will take questions in the chat functions and answer them in a Q&A session at the end of the presentation.
Steve Hootman – RSBG Curator
Questions? Email us at info@RhodyGarden.org.
September Webinar:The 2025 Expedition to Japan
September 24, 2026
Thursday
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
ZOOM Event
Location Map: See below
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