rhododendron species botanical garden

Beautiful during each season, perhaps autumn is the best for its tiny leaves changing color.I've enjoyed this experience by myself, with my sweetheart, and well as with family and small children.Sometimes we bring a picnic or hot chocolate.

What a wonderful garden!We went on a somewhat drizzly September day on our way back to town from Tacoma.The scope of this botanical garden is amazing! A number of roadies we had never seen or heard of before and though a lot of them were not in bloom, it was well worth the slow walk through to view the gardens, There are not just roadies but a stump garden and other features.Planning note - we did this as part of a loop day trip to the Glass Museum in Tacoma as it is on the way there (or back) and is literally next door to the Pacific Rim Bonsai collection which is a separate attraction.If this were in Atlanta we'd be back to visit again.

May and June are the best times to view the gardens! The Rodies are beautiful! Such as refreshing time of year, nice trails, let's breath the fresh air! Even nice when it is raining! Just dress for the weather!

Even though it is near the Interstate, the walk through the woods is very relaxing. Well worth the visit anytime through the Spring, Summer, and early Fall - best to go in early afternoon, and take a relaxing stroll - they lock the gates promptly at 4 and if you arrive in late afternoon, you are going to feel rushed to see everything. (They don't let you stay late...)

We bought a family membership to the gardens this year. We've made it a point to visit every 4 to 6 weeks throughout the year. There are always plants in bloom or at interesting stages. Most folks only visit the gardens in April to May. However, species rhododendrons are blooming as early as February. It's the hybrid rhododendrons most people have in their own yards that wait until May to bloom so folks think that's the time to visit. By May, most of the species rhododendrons are done with their big display for the year. However the azaleas are coming out in full force then so folks are still happy. But this garden also has an amazing collection of ferns (check out the Fern Stumpery!), trilliums, magnolias, primroses, irises, poppies, heathers and heaths and more. Even in the Fall it keeps getting better, most of the rhododendrons people are aware of come from the Northern Hemisphere in Asia. However, the Southern Hemisphere also has tropical rhododendrons which are just now coming into bloom (yes, you can have a tropical rhododendron as a houseplant and have it repeatedly bloom all winter). In the lovely conservatory, you can see all these tropical rhododendrons.The Bonsai Gardens are also quite amazing and they are attached to the Rhododendron gardens by a short gravel courtyard. The Bonsai Gardens are free to the public to visit. The Rhododendron and Bonsai gardens are open Tuesday - Sunday (closed Mondays).

We visited in late Summer so only saw a few of the many Rhododendrons in bloom. Even then it was worth a walk through the trails with the huge douglas fir and many other plants and exhibits. Very peaceful except for the Interstate sound which is only 3 or 4 hundreds feet away. There is also a greenhouse which displays some less cold hardy Rhodies.

Our hours are 10am to 4pm, Tuesday through Sunday. If visitors arrive too near to closing time we do not offer a discounted admission. Our gates lock at 4pm and all visitors need to have exited the 22 acre Garden by that time. We are sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment that this may bring.

stopped here on our way south from Seattle. What a beautiful garden. Well laid out with an amazing variety of rhodies. Easy to tour and nicely done Info on each species. Worth a visit while in Seattle

This was a 2 hour stop for me on my way from WA to California. This garden is right off I-5, very convenient, and if the traffic noise wasn't so near this would be paradise. My visit occurred in mid April, and most Rhodies were in bloom, a spectacular sight. There are also tall pines, other blooming trees and flowers, lots of ferns, a pond. The walk through the garden is about a mile, but there are loops you could add. It's not just a feast for the eyes. Some flowers and grasses give off wonderful scents. I often just closed my eyes and just let the scents penetrate. Well worth a visit!

We didn't realize how large the garden was, how much there was to see. We were there in early April, and most of the rhododendrons were in bloom. It was well worth the entry fee. The Bonsai collection was an added bonus.

If a visitor wants to see the "peak bloom," then mid-March through April is an excellent time to visit. However, there is always something in bloom throughout the year. Many visitors spend well over an hour to just walk along all of the trails within our Garden and discover all of the beautiful display areas including the Victorian Stumpery, pond garden, gazebo, alpine garden and the Rutherford Conservatory which is filled with tropical wonders. The Garden Gift Shop hands out maps to our visitors so that they can explore and follow a self-guided tour which helps the visitor learn about the various plants which our plant hunter/explorer has brought back from around the world.Visiting during different seasons of the year enables you to see different plants at their peak that they would have missed out on during March and April. In May and June the amazing Blue Poppies (Meconopsis) are in bloom, as well as the Azalea Garden. And fall is fantastic for colorful foliage. There is always something in bloom in the Rutherford Conservatory!

The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden (RSBG) is a totally separate organization than Weyerhaeuser's Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection. The RSBG is a 501c3 non-profit organization that receives NO funding from Weyerhaeuser. That is why we are listed as two separate gardens. However, we do both utilize Weyerhaeuser's parking lot and we have a joint entrance into our gardens.We hope that visitors will take the opportunity to enjoy BOTH gardens when they come to visit!

This garden has matured beautifully. If you haven't been in a while, you will be amazed. Of course, May is the peak month for rhodies in bloom, but there is at least one blooming every month. There are so many other interesting plants to see as well, such as a magnificent stand of the notoriously hard to grow Himalayan Blue Poppy. It's important to know that all the plants in the garden are species plants. No hybrids allowed. Many are native to Washington and many came along with the rhodies from expeditions to far off places like Burma. All the plants have similar needs to rhodies, thriving in this Western Washington woodland. Don't miss the Stumpery! This is the most creative use of fallen trees ever.

Don't miss the Conservatory and Gift Shop with many unusual items. Bonsai collection adjoining was a favorite visit as well. Sorry not to be able to walk the entire garden as I am sure we missed seeing some of the unusual "Rhodys."

A beautiful garden – well groomed pathways, pleasant staff, and amazing plants. Everything from tiny primulas too tall, floriferous rhododendrons. We spent two days wandering the gardens, taking photos and just drinking in the beauty. Not to be missed is the Rutherford Conservatory.