Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden (22 acres) is a nonprofit botanical garden specializing in rhododendrons, located at 2525 South 336th Street, Federal Way, Washington. It is open to the public daily except Fridays (and Thursdays off-season); an admission fee is charged during peak season.
The organization was founded in 1964 by members of the American Rhododendron Society to develop a comprehensive collection of the rhododendron species. In 1974, after outgrowing several other sites, the collection moved to its current location, generously provided by Weyerhaeuser Company corporate headquarters. In 1980 the garden opened to the public on a limited basis.
As of 2006 the foundation's mission is devoted to the conservation, research, acquisition, evaluation, cultivation, public display, and distribution of rhododendron species. The gardens contain over 10,000 rhododendrons arranged by geographic area of species origin, and set within a woodland of native conifers.
[edit] References
- History of the Rhododendron Species Foundation, Clarence Barrett, Eugene, Oregon, 1994.
