Amid the trees at Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden and Pacific Bonsai Museum
The Puget Sound Fling last month started its second full day of touring in a forest of towering trees.
Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
At the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way, Washington, I sought out the Victorian Stumpery, “the world’s largest public stumpery, with ferns spilling over 140 stumps and logs in a magical half-acre across the path from the Pond Garden. This artistic arrangement of woody material is planted alongside an amazing collection of ferns and unique plants from around the world.”
Having just visited Olympic National Park the week before the Fling, I could appreciate how natural the stumpery with its twisted trunks and roots and rampant ferns looked under that straight-trunked canopy.
Ferns and moss colonize the rotting logs and stumps artfully placed throughout this garden. Everything here is so green.
Although there’s cinnamon too on the undersides of rhododendron leaves and on tree bark.
A flowering colonizer
Heading back, I spotted a patch of inula flowers, where a bumblebee was still slumbering on the fringy petals.
How cute is that?
I ran into a few Flingers along the way, including Gerhard Bock of Succulents and More, who was sporting a cool cactus shirt.
Jane Finch-Howell of @MulchMaid too, wearing a pretty fern shirt
Seattle garden columnist Erica Browne Grivas was here.
As was Barbara Wise, a longtime Flinger from Tennessee and a representative of Fling sponsor Crescent Garden
A horticulturist at the RSBG, Emily Joseph was also wearing a fun cactus shirt.
And new Flinger Jerry Weiland of Botanica Chaotica was colorful in his floral shirt. Fling fashion!
Pacific Bonsai Museum
The Pacific Bonsai Museum is adjacent to the RSBG, and I popped over to admire their beautiful bonsai collection. Here are a few of my favorites.
The trees in Puget Sound are stunning, whether tall or small.
Up next: The formal Italian-style Andersen Garden. For a look back at the dramatic hillside garden and patio at the Gray Garden, click here.
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I have never seen such amazing bonsai.
Thank you.
They have a really nice display. If you’re into bonsai, the North Carolina Arboretum has a lovely bonsai collection too.
RSBG was a magical place. I thought I’d diligently surveyed every single bonsai specimen, only to see one (on Margaret/thegardeningme’s IG site as I recall) showing a face carved into its trunk! Did you see that one?
Ooh no, I didn’t. I’ll have to go look on her feed.
That was a perfect summer morning with lots of beautiful lighting. RE Jane and Gerhard – reminds me of the Chihuahuan Desert after a rain when the ferns emerge next to all the cacti (I had to go back and read your blog post about Big Bend – do go back after it rains! The desert is beautiful then. And, loved seeing more of Marfa, a town I’ve only driven by on the highway between Midland/Odessa and Hobbs, NM). Oh my gosh, and that is my favorite photo of me this year! Do you mind if I use on my FB profile? I appreciated the signs that went with the bonsai exhibit. I had no idea that you couldn’t use regular potting soil. Those trees were magnificent.
Oh nice, thanks for doing a deep dive into my desert garden posts, Jerry. I do intend to see Big Bend again one day. Since that visit and blog post, I’ve been converted to a desert lover thanks to recent visits to Marfa, Alpine, and Fort Davis. Also Phoenix in April — golden glory!
I’d be happy to send you a high-res copy of that photo of you for your profile pic.
I missed the Bonsai Garden by walking too slowly through the forest. Thanks for posting photos of the bonsai they had some lovely ones. The Flinger portraits were delightful also.
The stumpery was way cool–I loved walking through the forest, so different an environment.
It was for me too, HB. A whole different world.