2008 Calendar of Events
January
Winter Special Exhibit: Weyerhaeuser–Releasing the Potential in Trees
From seed and seedlings to products used for medicine, household goods, home construction, and bio-fuel to recycling processes—discover all the ways that Weyerhaeuser impacts our everyday lives.
| Date |
Description |
| January 1 |
Closed. Happy New Year! |
| January 6 |
Bonsai in winter have a quiet, austere beauty—a subtle quality that is missing during other seasons.
Without leaves, the architecture of each tree stands revealed. Spend part of your afternoon touring the Collection with one of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection gardeners, noon until 1 p.m. |
| January 13 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| January 20 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| January 21 |
Open Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday |
| January 27 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
February
Do not be deterred by winter weather. Overcast skies erase harsh shadows. A soft drizzle lends intimacy to the scene, muting distracting sounds and intensifying colors and textures. Spend part of your Sunday afternoons touring the Collection with one of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection gardeners, noon until 1 p.m.
| Date |
Description |
| February 3 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| February 10 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| February 17 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| February 18 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| February 24 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
March
Winter begins to lose its grip, as buds swell and plum trees burst into bloom. This is the last opportunity to appreciate the architectural beauty of deciduous trees in their leafless state, and the first opportunity to enjoy the delicate colors of twigs and buds awakening to springtime activity. Spend part of your Sunday afternoons touring the Collection with one of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection gardeners, noon until 1pm; inquire in the Rhododendron Gift Shop.
| Date |
Description |
| March 1 |
Spring/Summer Hours: March through September, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., closed Thursdays. |
| March 2 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| March 9 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| March 16 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| March 23 |
Open Easter Sunday
Guided tour begins at noon; inquire in the Rhododendron Gift Shop. |
| March 30 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
April
Take a break from the stress and hurry of your busy day to enjoy the mid-spring extravaganza of color, as landscape trees, bonsai and rhododendrons all show off fresh flowers and foliage.
| Date |
Description |
| April 5 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron garden Shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| April 5-6 |
22nd Annual Plant Sale Fundraiser
Our neighboring facility, the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden is hosting the 22nd Annual Plant Sale Fundraiser. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Please visit their website for more information. |
| April 13 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| April 20 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| April 27 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
May
| Date |
Description |
| May 2-June 11 |
Special Exhibit: “Four Seasons of Sumi-e”
Witness the simple beauty and evocative power that have made sumi paintings treasured throughout the world. |
| May 3 |
Join us for an Artist Reception
2 p.m. until 4 p.m. Meet the artists and enjoy refreshments and a special Sumi-e painting demonstration from local artist Darlene Dihel. |
| May 4 |
Sunday Guided Tour
We invite you to spend an hour of your afternoon touring the collection with one of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection gardeners. Learn the history of bonsai and the essentials for creating and maintaining these pieces of living art. The guided tour begins at noon; inquire in the Rhododendron Gift Shop Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| May 10-11 |
Bud & Blooms: the Federal Way Garden Festival
Feature special lectures include: Secrets of a Dirt Cheap Lazy Gardener by Seattle PI Garden Columnist and author Marianne Binetti (Sat. at 11AM)
The Art of Ikebana by Charles Coghlan and Steve Heck from Hana Design Ikebana (Sat. at 2PM)
Rhododendrons and the Truss Show by Jeanine Smith from the Seattle Rhododendron Society (Sun. at 11AM)
Great Plant Picks by Richie Steffen from the Miller Garden (Sun. at 1PM)
Also enjoy the Seattle Rhododendron Society Annual Truss show and fun activities for the family.
Mothers receive free admission into the rhododendron garden all weekend! |
| May 18 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| May 25 |
Lecture: Formal Upright Style Bonsai demonstration
Simple and serene in appearance, the formal upright style is nevertheless challenging to create. Please join our curator David De Groot, as he demonstrates the process for creating a beautiful formal upright style bon. |
| May 25 |
Sunday Guided Tour Bring your holiday guests and spend part of your afternoon touring the collection with one of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection gardeners. Tour begins at noon; inquire in the Rhododendron Gift Shop. |
| May 26 |
Open Memorial Day |
June
| Date |
Description |
| June 7-8 |
Volksmarch sponsored by the Federal Way Lion’s Club. Enjoy a 5 km or 10 km walk around Weyerhaeuser Corporate campus. Sign up at the east end of the Corporate Headquarters building. |
| June 8 |
Open Workshop
See “behind the scenes” activities as staff and volunteer work on Collection trees and answer your questions. |
| June 11 |
“Four Seasons of Sumi-e”
Last day to view the special exhibit. |
| June 14 - August 6 |
“bigART at Little Trees”
Portland, Oregon artist Tore Djupedal has captivated thousands with his paintings, digital works, and amazing 3D work created with unlikely materials such as paper shopping bags and Velcro. www.bigart.net |
| June 15 |
Happy Father’s Day!
Bring dad in for a special guided tour from noon until 1 p.m. Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop. Fathers enjoy free admission to our neighboring facility, the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden |
| June 22 |
Lecture: Informal Upright Style Bonsai
The classic style of bonsai, a curving trunk, reflects the growth habit of Japanese pines in nature. Please join our curator David De Groot, as he demonstrates the process for creating a classic informal upright style bonsai. The guided tour begins at noon; inquire in the Rhododendron Gift Shop. |
| June 29 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
July
| Date |
Description |
| July 4 |
Open Independence Day |
| July 6 |
Open Workshop
See “behind the scenes” activities as staff and volunteer work on Collection trees and answer your questions. The Sunday guided tour begins at noon; inquire in the Rhododendron Gift Shop. |
| July 13 |
Show off this South Sound treasure to your summertime guests!
There are only 25 public bonsai museums in North America, and the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection is one of the best! Take a guided tour with our gardener and learn the history of bonsai and the essentials for creating and maintaining these pieces of living art. The tour begins at noon; inquire in the Rhododendron Garden Gift shop. |
| July 20 |
Lecture: Slanting Style Bonsai
The diagonal trunk line of a slanting bonsai gives it a feeling of motion and drama. Please join our curator David De Groot, as he demonstrates the process for creating a classic slanting style bonsai. |
| July 27 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
August
| Date |
Description |
| August 3 |
Open Workshop
See “behind the scenes” activities as staff and volunteer work on Collection trees and answer your questions. The Sunday guided tour begins at noon; inquire in the Rhododendron Gift Shop.
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
*August 5, 12,
and 19 |
Summer Garden Lecture Series
Under the tent from noon until 1:00 p.m. More information coming soon! |
| August 5 |
Concert in the Garden
The Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection and the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden is pleased to present "Summer Serenade". Bring a blanket and enjoy this summer concert in the garden performed by the Tacoma Concert Band. Performance begins at 6:30PM. |
| August 6 |
“bigArt at Little Trees”
Last day to view the special exhibit. |
| August 8 - September 24 |
Special Exhibit: HANAKAGO—Japanese Bamboo Baskets
Originally created for a utilitarian purpose – holding flower arrangements – these baskets have evolved into striking artworks in their own right. |
| August 10 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| August 17 |
Lecture: Creation and Use of Bonsai Companion Plantings
Used to acknowledge the season, herbaceous plantings accent the character of bonsai with imagination and grace. fabulous companion plantings. The guided tour begins at noon; inquire in the Rhododendron Gift Shop.
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| August 24 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| August 31 |
Open Workshop
See “behind the scenes” activities as staff and volunteer work on Collection trees and answer your questions. The Sunday guided tour of the Collection will begin at noon; please inquire in the Rhododendron Gift Shop.
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
September
| Date |
Description |
| September 7 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| September 14 |
Lecture: Cascade Style Bonsai
The full cascade style of bonsai represents trees that in nature grow downward rather than upward. These are trees that cling tenaciously to steep bluffs, or hang down from the edge of a rocky precipice. Please join Curator David De Groot for the last lecture demonstration on bonsai for the season as he demonstrates the process of creating cascade style bonsai. |
| September 21 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
| September 24 |
HANAKAGO—Japanese Bamboo Baskets
Last day to view the special exhibit. |
| September 28 |
Sunday Guided Tour
Check in at the Rhododendron Garden gift shop at noon to take a guided tour of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection with one of the collection’s gardeners. Tour is from noon until 1 p.m. |
