Rhododendron 2011

[johnw]

Rhododendron Schneeflöckchen from Glendoick, a Wofgang Reich hybrid and probably growable in extremely cold areas.  (Originally posted as frosthexe, apologies)

johnw

[johnw]

R. chryseum Fred Robins form and another of June's Bride. There is pink in many whites due to the cold spring, even Fragrantissimum which has always been a pristine white has pink outers this year.

johnw

[johnw]

One of the best native North American azalea species one can grow, Rhododendron vaseyi.  There's a pure white form called 'White Find' that is especially delicious.  Good pink ones crop up every so often in a sowing.

johnw

[johnw]

R. oreotrephes can have exceptional foliage in good forms.

johnw

[Hoy]

You do have some very fine specimens, John!

Where are the foliage of oreotrephes? I can't see anything but flowers!

One of the first rhodos I acquired was 'Tidbt'. It is still with me but I have to reduce some branches after flowering now. It grows too wide!

[birck j c]

You do have some very fine specimens, John!

Where are the foliage of oreotrephes? I can't see anything but flowers!
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Here a shot of the foliage-

but the color of the bayport oreotrephes is extremely good - I think

jens

[johnw]

You do have some very fine specimens, John!

Where are the foliage of oreotrephes? I can't see anything but flowers!
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Here a shot of the foliage-

but the color of the bayport oreotrephes is extremely good - I think

jens

Jens - I don't think the foliage on the Bayport form is a smashing as the one you show, superb.

By the way, I got caught posting a shot of Frosthexe when in fact it was Reich's "Schneeflöckchen", now corrected.  The forumist are a sharp bunch, thanks Jens.

johnw

[Onion]

Rhododendron Schneeflöcken from Glendoick, a Wofgang Reich hybrid and probably growable in extremely cold areas.  (Originally posted as frosthexe, apologies)

johnw

John,

I must correct the name a second time. Rhododendron 'SCHNEEFLÖCKCHEN'. Some small type are lost between the continents. 

[johnw]

Thanks Uli.

johnw

[johnw]

Another must-have rhododendron is R. albrechtii. The colour is a bit darker than it appears in the photos.  it seems to be quite late this year.

johnw

[johnw]

An old standby that flowers heavily every year R. 'Goldfort'.  The night air is filled with the scent of melons.

johnw

[TC]

A couple of rather tender plants at Logan Gardens which did not enjoy our long, cold Winter but have managed to survive and flower.  These were very recent plantings and the varieties were new to me.  Looking round the gardens, of the tender varieties, it was Egeworthii which seemed to be the most damaged.  The leaves do not seem to be tough enough to take frost and heavy winds.  The Maddenii and Crassums seem to have come through virtually unscathed.  The Crassums seem to be flowering about 2 weeks later then usual which is bucking the trend as everything else is 2 weeks earlier.  The wait is worth it for the wonderful scent.

[johnw]

Touring another friend's garden it is clear Rhododendron prefer to grow in rocky soil than in heavy soils.  The first shots show 2 true yakushimanums growing in the cracks of rocks along with many self-sown Callunas and Ericas.

When Jens Birck visited this garden the owners were distraught as the previous night their garden was devastated in Hurricane Juan.  They lost countless trees but I can't recall a single damaged rhodo.  Jens calmy told them not to worry as they would have more flowers than ever before with a sunny garden - and so it has come to pass.

johnw

[johnw]

Yet another friend's garden. Rhododendron fortunei that I grew from seed, the flowers are about as large as you will see in a fortunei.  It was interesting to hear others trying to describe the fragrance, the consensus was of melons though a good number said of rootbeer froth!

As the blackflies were out everyone was given a sprig of sweet woodruf to ward them off.  I'm afraid it didn't work so well.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

Just the type of garden I really enjoy
That fortunei is a bosker..... I love her! She is absolutely gorgeous.
I don't know what root beer froth smells like, so a bit of research needed there.....