We've often noticed the signs for the Rhododendron and Bonsai Gardens as we drive south. This year at least we remembered in the correct season, so on Saturday we headed for Federal Way.

Weyerhaeuser is an international forest products company with its corporate headquarters located in Federal Way, Washington, south of Seattle. It is home to the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden, and the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection. It was a most interesting visit. We figured we'd missed a lot of the rhododendrons, but those which were left were beautiful. The Bonsai Collection was astonishing. We'd never seen such beauty up close, and we thoroughly enjoyed looking at the tiny trees.

On the way home, we stopped in at Dash Point State Park, and Saltwater State Park. Both parks are situated on the shore of Puget Sound, and it was nice to relax for a bit, sitting on a log on the beach and watching the gulls (and the people!).