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Steve Hootman, director of the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way, gave NSWA members and friends a tour of the garden on March 31. Participants saw more than 100 different species in bloom. Steve has been the director of this well known garden for 20 years, and has journeyed the world collecting rare and exotic rhododendron specimens.

Members toured the 22-acre garden, heard about some of Steve’s adventures collecting specific specimens, learned how the garden keeps these rare species flourishing, and got an inside-the-greenhouse preview of some new rhododendrons Steve has recently collected in India and China. This was an excellent time of year to tour the garden, and provided fodder for a variety of stories.

View a photo gallery on NSWA’s Facebook page.