Rhododendrons 2016

[Robert]

I missed most of the Rhododendron (Azalea) season this year. A few of the late bloomers.



One of a number of Rhododendron cumberlandense in our Sacramento garden. Most of the trusses are past their prime, however a few are still looking good.



This plant is labeled as Rhododendron ungernii. It may well be, however I need to take the time to give it a good look over to make sure. Whatever the name, the late blooming white flowers are very heat tolerant and look great. The foliage is excellent too with some nice indumentum (this in itself is very indicative of R. ungernii as well as the late bloom period.)



Rhododendron christianae

The "Vireya" type Rhododendrons are doing very well this year. Sorry I missed photographs of some of the others.

I also missed photographs of Rhododendron eastmanii. The form in our garden has pure white flowers and an intoxication fragrance. It is a late bloomer (just finished). Warm weather in the garden spreads its fragrance all the more. For our hot climate it is near the top of the list of "must save, must keepers". I have other forms that are also white, but with some amounts of rose-pink too.

[johnw]

Last night we had a great potluck dinner with friends and a pre-meal walkabout through their garden, Rockburn.  The native skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus, has finally settled in along the brook.  Damn chilly & foggy it was, typical Halifax weather in May, June and sometimes July.

john

[johnralphcarpenter]

The show carries on into June here: R. 'Buttermint', R. camtschaticum, R. occidentale.

[johnw]

In flower at moment 1-4 Rhododendron trichostomum v. ledoides, Glendoick's deep pink form a real cracker. 

5. R. kiusianum Hancock-Steele, a very slow growing one nearly  40 years old.

johnw

[johnw]

Friend Sheila and I drove up to the Kentville Research Station's display gardens in the Annapolis Valley last Friday. KRS started developing rhodos suited to the climates of Atlantic Canada back in the early 1950's and they wound up in the mid 80's.  The rhodos are getting big, Sheila in front of a grex of fortuinei x smirnowii just going over, of this lot 'Bellefontaine' was the best.  Good to see youngsters on an outing at the gardens.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

Felt I had to share these photos of the utterly charming Rhododendron lowndesii growing so well in the Belgian garden of Luc Gilgemyn - from its size beside a Shortia you can see how diminutive this little rhododendron is!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

   You beat me to posting it, Maggi !    No worries !  It does quite well in it's peatbed in the shade.

[Maggi Young]

Seeing it looking so lovely in your garden made me so excited I couldn't contain myself , Luc! You are such a good grower.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Seeing it looking so lovely in your garden made me so excited I couldn't contain myself , Luc! You are such a good grower.

   

[johnw]

Felt I had to share these photos of the utterly charming Rhododendron lowndesii growing so well in the Belgian garden of Luc Gilgemyn - from its size beside a Shortia you can see how diminutive this little rhododendron is!
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Dear me, I will be wringing my hands till Christmas over that lowndesii.  Jens Birck may very well join me.

john

[Maggi Young]

Dear me, I will be wringing my hands till Christmas over that lowndesii.  Jens Birck may very well join me.

john

See Luc, I told you so!

[johnw]

Luc - You must try R. ludlowii so we can all see a well-grown live one for once in our lives....

john

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Oops too much praise for me people, I guess I was just lucky picking out that particular spot to plant it - and so far no real hot, dry summers since I planted it, I don't think it would appreciate that.  Must say I water the peatbed every single night whenever there's a dry warm period.

Luc - You must try R. ludlowii so we can all see a well-grown live one for once in our lives....

john

Would love to give it a try if I find one, John !

[Steve Garvie]

A superbly grown lowndesii Luc!!!

I got ludlowii from Glendoick last year. It is listed as still available (Hecc 10050 collection). It can be ordered now for an Autumn delivery. 
https://www.glendoick.com/shop/rhododendron/rhododendron-dwarf-species/ludlowii-hecc-10050.html

[Gabriela]

Where else you can see something like this, than in this forum??!!! - and the lucky ones in Luc's garden