The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden at the end of September

On my way back to Portland from Seattle in September I paid a visit to the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way. Since I've written about this garden numerous times I tried to photograph things I haven't shared before, or if I had to capture them in a new way. Then of course there are a few old favorites that I can't help but track...

We start at the planting area in front of the Rutherford Conservatory.

Growing over the rock wall is Microcachrys tetragona, aka the creeping strawberry pine, which doesn't produce strawberries and isn't a pine.

It's in the Podocarpaceae family and those are cones, not fruit. Such an unusual plant.

Adiantum aleuticum var. subpumilim

Something about the leaves of this plant reminds me of a Banksia, do you see it?

I had to ask Emily Joseph (assistant nursery and retail sales manager at the garden) what it is... Lysionotus pauciflorus, it's a Gesneriad (African Violet family)! The Cistus Nursery description: "Another intriguing gesneriad, this with deeply lobed shiny leaves, to about 18” frequently adorned with lavender-purple "snapdragons”. A very good plant indoors anywhere, or outdoors where temperatures do not fall below the upper 20sF. We find it is vigorous enough to make a very good pot stuffer for shady situations. Keep from the hottest of sun and place on a saucer of damp gravel if used as an indoor plant. Frost hardy to 25 F, USDA zone 9b." 

I guess I won't be planting it out in my garden. Oh well...

I love the low-growing assortment of textures in this area (still in front of the conservatory).

And who wouldn't want a rock wall you can plant in?

I also love these trough planters and they were looking especially fetching during my visit. Asplenium ceterach...

Cheilanthes argentea (on the left)

Cassiope, maybe C. ‘Askival’

Such cute little dried blooms.

I think that's another Cassiope on the left, and Adiantum aleuticum var. subpumilim on the right.

We're inside the conservatory now, the strappy plant in the middle of this photo is a Curculigo sp.

I believe that grass-like plant growing on the tower is Pyrrosia angustissima...

It was offered through the RSBG Fall Catalogue, but I'm not a member and by the time it was open to the public it was sold out. 

I wasn't too sad about it, since I wasn't 100% sure I liked it. Then I saw it at a friend's garden (she'd received her catalogue order) and instant plant lust and jealousy washed over me. Photo of her plant...

Moving on, big sigh, moss makes everything better.

I do not know what this sweet fern is, but since we're still in the conservatory I wonder if it's not hardy?

Pyrrosia species SEH#15113 (in the catalogue and still available).

I love this Pyrrosia so much!

Another Pyrrosia, maybe P. sp. SEH#12547.

Out of the conservatory now, Kirengeshoma palmata, I think?

Pyrrosia sheareri, of course.

Wowsa! I still sometimes struggle with pink and orange together but this Magnolia sieboldii cone is working it.

Okay yes, I've shared these before, Pyrrosia logs.

I reminder to myself that I need to do more of this!

In the stumpery...

Goodyera oblongifolia, aka rattlesnake orchid.

Rhododendron cardiobasis

Another of the Pyrrosia log/stump plantings that I must visit.

We're back in the RSBG nursery now where I was admiring the increased offerings (including some Little Prince plants). Love the backlit Eucomis with Cheilanthes sieberi.

And it was great to see Pellaea atropurpurea there too! I shared my haul back in an earlier post, but if you're curious I came home with a Rhododendron yuanbaoshanense, a Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum and a Aeschynanthus sp.

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