Behind the scenes at the RSBG

It's a long standing tradition that Andrew and I stop in Tacoma on our way to Seattle for the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival. We have lunch, I drop him at the Tacoma Book Center, then I zip up to the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way. This year I decided to try something different. Since I knew my friend Ann (the amateur bot-ann-ist) was also headed up to Seattle, I asked the folks at the RSBG if they might give us a behind the scenes tour, and they said yes! 

That's Ann (L) and Nursery Manager/Assistant Curator Atsuko Gibson, who was kind to spend her afternoon with us.

This is a ginormous orchid loving the conditions in the greenhouse.

I love the metal hanging basket planters seen here and in the garden's conservatory. This photo is a reminder for me to try to making something like this.

I did not catch the name of this fern, but I love it's green rhizomes. **UPDATE, Ren Oliver shared that it's Polypodium formosanum**

This is my newest fern crush, Christopteris sagitta. An online search says it's going to be completely impossible to find, so I'll be counting on the RSBG/Hardy Fern Foundation folks to make more! 

Another long standing fern crush that I've only seen available at a nursery I'd rather not order from; Pleopeltis lepidopteris 'Morro dos Conventos' aka Brazilian hairy sword fern.

I didn't catch the name of this fuzzy bunch of seedlings, but they glowed.

Snow had been predicted for the Portland area the day before we left home, but none fell at our place. We did however see it along I-5 as we headed north, and there were patches around the RSBG. Sciadopitys verticillata, the Japanese umbrella-pine...

And a great bird's nest...

In another greenhouse, lycopodium.

Columnea microphylla

There wasn't a name on this epiphytic cactus.

But I loved the color. Just a little too early for the blooms darn-it!

There are lots of plants being grown here, it was exciting to see.

Rhododendrons...

Rhododendron rivulare 

Word is the fabulous color on the foliage is fleeting.

This particular plant caught my eye and when I read calluna (something like Calluna 'Askival' RSBG) on the label (out loud) it elicited quite the shocked verbal response from Ann, Atsuko and Emily Joseph, who had joined us. We joked that someone should have recorded it, it was that good. Who knows if that was the correct label though, it certainly doesn't look like a calluna. ***UPDATE, James Andrew Gould shared what looks to be the correct name: Cassiope ‘Askival’*** 

Definitely a cool plant!

Hoop-house magic...

Accidental shot, but it's kinda cool.

Me thinks this rhododendron leaf pressed into the cement was not an accident.

The old lath houses are falling apart, but still completely fabulous.

I snapped a few shots out in the garden, like this winter heath (white indeed!).

Magnolia (Michelia) platypetala

Adiantum some something inside the conservatory.

And a azalia/rhododendron (?) in bloom that I didn't catch the name of. ****UPDATE, it's Rhododendron boothii, thanks to Eric for the name****

I also have to include a photo of the pyrrosia I LUST after every time I visit.

Because guess what!?! I went home with one! Here's a photo of Ann and I with our treasures.

My Pyrrosia sp. SEH#15113 (SEH = Steve Hootman Executive Director/Curator at the garden).

And Ann's Aeschynanthus tengchongensis JN#11049 RSBG, it had the most incredibly thick succulent leaves.

I also grabbed this Brassaiopsis hispida for sale in the gift shop's plant sales area.

Spiky baby!

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