Rhododendron... every garden should have some

[johngennard]

continuation

 R.Loderi King George
 R.Snipe
 R.Williamsianum
 R.Yak.hybrid
 R.Yak.x Bureauvii

[mark smyth]

Here is my 'Wren' that Bob Gordon told me I should have dug up for the show. "I would have got a major prize"

[TC]

With the weather holding fine, we decided that this was a good time to visit more Rhododendron gardens.
Last Wednesday 25th, we went to Dawyck, near Broughton , in the Borders.
A day to recover, and we left for the Argyll Atlantic coast via Benmore on Friday.  Overnight at Kilmelford and 4 hours in Arduaine on Saturday followed by a visit to the Scottish Rhododendron Society show in Oban.  Sunday saw us at Achamore Gardens on Gigha, just making the ferry by one minute on the outward journey, due to some high speed driving on my part and with Cindy's eyes shut for the last 5 miles.  We also had to yomp like the Royal Marines to catch the last ferry back at 1630 - there is no transport on Gigha and the Gardens are approx. 1 3/4 miles from the slipway.  We managed the 146 miles back home in a leisurely manner and I have downloaded my 3 Gb.s of pictures onto the computer and am now faced with the massive job of putting them through Photoshop and finally downsizing them for the web.  I hope to open up a site for each garden but I am faced with the dilemna of what to include.
For starters, here are a few shots from the show.  To be honest, it looks a bit like a flower arrangers show.

Rh.Griffithianum
 Rh. Xanthostephanum
 Rh. quinquefolium
 Rh. Lanatum KR
 Rh. Kendrickii
 Rh. Agrophylum
 Rh. Serpillifolium
 Rh. Pink Valentine
 Rh. Keysii
 Castle Stalker in Appin

[TC]

I forgot this one of the benches.

[Maggi Young]

John, the BD was enjoying a read through this thread this morning and pointed out a glitsch in a post of yours: #89 on: April 29, 2007, 09:45:20 PM » He says it is to show you he does pay attention to rhodos as well as bulbs!.......You have mistyped R. campylocarpum as campylogynum. I've put a note on the post. I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets my names confused!

[johngennard]

Absolutely right Maggie,or should I say Ian.Thanks for pointing it out.

[Maggi Young]

You're welcome, John.... the BD has his uses beyond bulbs!

I realised today, walking in the garden, that there are quite a number of rhodos that I have either no idea of their name, or only a vague recollection.......their labels are long gone, of course!  I'm off for a session with my old card index ( well, I was younger and less lazy in those days) to see if I can ring any bells!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Talking about Rhodo hybrids - here's Rhododendron x yakushimanum 'Percy Wiseman' - photographed 4 times with two day intervals :

[Maggi Young]

Yes, Luc, it would be hard to beat that Percy Wiseman for a show of flowers... but... I am worried about your cat..... I think it is too late for the vet.... rigor mortis seems to have set in!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

 

You're wrong Maggi it's just a vey well trained cat - it leaves the garden unharmed and keeps it free of mice  - It's name is "Stoney"

[Maggi Young]

Ian is impressed, he says when Stoney has kittens, may he have two?

[David Shaw]

We have just spent the morning helping the village Garden Club coffee morning by manning the plant sales. £300 and mostly in the first 20 minutes! Wish we could do that with our own show in Inverness.
I took some Rhody photos in the garden this afternoon.
R. luteum was inherited with the garden in 1990. The neighbour across the road has the same and of similar vintage so suspect that they were purchased at the same time.
R. delicatissima is a beauty. Maggie would love to get her nose into it - so delicatissima.
R. Sarled has finished its show career and is now in splendid retirement. Wish I was
R. Diamant Red is a nice neat little azalea.

[TC]

I had forgotten about this Rh. which we bought at Glendoick about 3 years ago.  It is planted in a wind tunnel at the side of the house between a Berberis, Pieris and the fence, so much so that I cannot see it from the path.  It caught the early morning sun and looked spectacular with the light coming through the leaves making them fiery red.  I cannot remember its name as we lost the lable but it was one of Cox's new red leaved introductions.  The flowers are a scarlet bell shape and the plant seems to take everything the weather throws at it.  Highly recommended.

[David Shaw]

Blackhills Garden near Elgin is one that will stand up to the wonderful gardens in the SW that Tom has been showing.It was started in the early 1900's by a Mr Christie and is still in the family being run by John Christie.It's main claim to fame is its species rhododendrons planted in two long connecting valleys with ponds and wetlands.
It was the venue on Thursday evening for the Moray RGC to hold its AGM and we preceeded this with a walk round the garden.
The garden is formally open to the public on Sunday for Scotlands Garden Scheme but John recommends independant visits when you can better appreciate the garden. All John asks is that you contact him as he obviously likes to know who is wandering round the garden. For more detailed information see his website www.blackhills.co.uk.
Below are a few pictures of the garden and one or two rhodendrons. The final picture is part of the group of 35 Moray members who turned out for the AGM enjoying fresh coffee and scrumptious home bakes.

[Anthony Darby]

Here's a yellow rhody that is not long for my garden. If somebody wants it they can take it away.