Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring

[Lesley Cox]

Well, just one actually. Here is Rh. keiskii ssp cordifolia, in flower now though past its best due to hot, drying winds over recent days. Still nice though.

[Maggi Young]

Apologies for not commenting sooner on this little cutie!
I did see it while enjoying self immensely at Discussion Weekend ,bt too hectic to post then!!
Hope I'm not the only one loving these rhodos!!

[Paddy Tobin]

Lesley,

I obviously missed this posting when you put it up. What a delightful plant, obviously a very small plant but what flowers, a great size and a beautiful colour. I am envious of your mention of 'hot, drying winds'. Can you remind me what these are exactly? Here it is blowing a gale with driven rain and it is simply miserable.

Any more beauties like this one?

Paddy

[johnw]

Lesley - Apologies too as I missed it as well.

Magnifique!

Keep them coming.

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

Most of the tinies are passing now but I'll try 'Oban' shortly. I don't like to photograph it as the lovely bricky pink always comes out a more "shocking" pink shade with my camera.

[Maggi Young]

Seeing Susan mention in another thread that she was enjoying lovely spring weather and her rhododendrons, reminded me that I got some photos the other day from my sister Ann and her husband Bill, in Dunedin.... their rhodos are looking good, too......

[Lesley Cox]

Dunedin is in the middle of its annual Rhododendron Festival at present, or maybe it ended yesterday. Not sure. There are dozens of open gardens for the occasion, (including Susan's I think) but I haven't had time to go looking myself. Here is 'Oban' as mentioned above. It has a more interesting colour than I'm able to show but isn't too bad. Quite a large part isn't flowering this year so I'll be able to do early cuttings.

[johnw]

Now what to do with this next year!

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

Know any good house removal firms?

[Lesley Cox]

This is the only (and poor) truss on Rh. roxieanum v. oreonastes this year, the first for 3 years though it flowered quite well once before that. There are signs of more buds for next year, dependant probably, on whether it gets masses of water through the summer.

[johnw]

Wonderful big truss for Oreonastes.

The sibling sinos were dragged off by visiting friends in their suitcases to the west coast. This one is more than anyone is willing to tackle.

Even the barn may be to low for this one next year.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

Know any good house removal firms?

There's  Wrappit, Droppit and Haul'em   ... a long established firm .......


Lovely baby sino, John, you must be a very proud parent.

Here's my R. roxianum oreonastes flower ( from a previous Scottish spring)... mine has more colour to the blooms than Lesley's  but  her foliage is better than mine 

[Lesley Cox]

You are right Maggi, on both counts. Yours has a lovely flower. Mine is very pale and not ruffled like that. Even the spotting is pale. "A poor thing, but mine own."

[Susan]

While I don't want to start  a "mines bigger than yours contest" this is mine.  It is just going over and has been badly battered by the wind and the heat.  I was still, rather proud of it

It has taken part in the wheelbarrow ride around the garden, several times, but now looks happy at last.  What a reward this year.  R pachysanthum is nearby and it also did well this year.

Susan

[Maggi Young]

Wow, Susan, what a bosker! Mine has NEVER done that well...that is YUMMY!!
I am fond of R. roxianum oreonastes or "Videonasty" as we call him, for short.....
the whole plant is a good thing, isn't it? Shape is neat, foliage always attractive ( even in my case, for the most part) and those flowers ! Especially in that quantity!