Rhododendrons May 2008

[Maggi Young]

This Saturday is the date of the SRGC Glasgow Show in Milngavie.
Because of the situation with the presence of confirmed cases of Sudden Oak Death in several west coast Rhododendron gardens, it has been decided to cancel the cut rhododendron classes from this year's show.
This is bad news for the show, of course, though not as bad  as the diagnosis of the disease was to the affected gardens.

Shortly, of course, there is the Rhododendron Conference in Edinburgh.... I wonder how much of a damper the disease will put on the garden visiting that would otherwise be expected of the delegates?

Not good news, is it?

[johnw]

I just got this Wren from our chapter advance sale. It is apparently a witch's broom, caused by tissue culture I presume.  It will be interesting to see where this one goes.

The pictures are terrible as it is nasty outside and I'm not going out for better light.  A penny for scale might give you an idea of how tiny the leaves are.

johnw

[johnw]

I can highly recommend this Joe Brueckner hybrid which, I think may very well be his best.  It has been in bloom for a week now and if the weather stays cool it will give a good show for another week or more.  The name is 'Isola Bella' and some years there is a fair bit of salmon in the colouration, especially in bud.

The cross is fletcherianum Yellow Bunting X (dauricum album Arctic Pearl selfed) I-16

It blooms slightly before mucronulatum, dauricum (sometimes with) and moupinense so it is one of our earliest rhododendrons to flower.  We need such hybrids as spring is very cool and slow to get going. As you can see, a nearby Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' is just past peak, another plant that pays no attention to our cold springs and performs for a good 6 weeks.

johnw - 14c here on the coast but near 25c in the Annapolis Valley today, it was good to get back to the coast!

[johnw]

And a close-up of Isola Bella.

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

That is SO PRETTY John. Are the flowers frost hardy? Moupinense and x Cilpinense are sometimes badly frosted here because they're so early.

[johnw]

Leslie - the flowers are not at all frost tolerant if grown in an open spot. However I've seen plants situated just right that have been unscathed - i.e. facing north or away from the rising sun or with a little overhead protection from trees.

Can send you cuttings anytime.

Glendoick sells it in the UK.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

a few things budding or  opening....

Ledum... palustre?
Rhododendron tatsienense combining with the foliage of a red acer
Buds of R. hanceanum 'Canton Consul'
The glorious pink and white  bud of the fabulously fragrant hybrid R. edgeworthii x lindleyi
Growth bud on R. elegantulum
 fat R. racemosum flower head
Up to R h. rex ssp fictolacteaum buds
R. roxianum oreonastes bud
 R. roxianum oreonastes... we call it "video nasty", which is a shame for such a little cutie

[Maggi Young]

 We have had three lovely days in a  row...
R. 'Merganser'... the waxy bright yellow bells are a clearer yellow than they appear in this photo.
R. 'Egret' daintier bells than Merganser, whiteish and smaller
There is no doubt that many rhodos are flowering rather sparsely this year
Good to see someone isn't just lazing around taking pictures....

[Lvandelft]

Weeding after the washing      

[Lesley Cox]

John, that's a lovely thought and thanks, but no thanks. Our MAF would throw a fit, followed by throwing out the cuttings. There is a process to make it all possible but it involves paperwork to rival a govt. dept and literally thousands of dollars, for a quarantine facility which I don't have at present. So I'll just enjoy the pictures.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Beautiful Rhoddies Maggi !
These species really are lovely !
Thanks for showing them 

[johnw]

A few shots from a friend's garden in Prospect Bay, about 20 minutes from Halifax toward the coast.

The Brodick form of praevernum was stealing the show this morning. What a great species, it has been in bloom since April 21 and still looking perky.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

Glorious! White flowers with blackcurrant markings... our favourite!

[johnw]

Rhododendron oreodoxa in bloom in the south of Nova Scotia last Monday.

johnw

[johnw]

One of the few dependable early yellow elepidotes is Bayport 80-5, a cross of aureum x Prelude. This one is a hybrid done by our local guru Cpt. Richard Steele, in bloom in the south Monday past. A glimpse of Magnolia sprengeri Diva in the rear.

johnw