Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Rhododendron and other Ericaceae => Topic started by: Lesley Cox on October 05, 2008, 04:22:43 AM

Title: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 05, 2008, 04:22:43 AM
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.

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Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Maggi Young on October 23, 2008, 08:54:33 PM
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!!
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Paddy Tobin on October 23, 2008, 09:27:57 PM
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
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: johnw on October 23, 2008, 09:34:05 PM
Lesley - Apologies too as I missed it as well.

Magnifique!

Keep them coming.

johnw
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 23, 2008, 09:56:44 PM
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.
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Maggi Young on October 27, 2008, 08:46:09 PM
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......
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 27, 2008, 09:55:46 PM
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.

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Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: johnw on October 29, 2008, 08:13:52 PM
Now what to do with this next year!

johnw
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 29, 2008, 08:55:46 PM
Know any good house removal firms?
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 29, 2008, 09:13:12 PM
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.

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Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: johnw on October 29, 2008, 09:21:26 PM
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
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Maggi Young on October 29, 2008, 10:57:58 PM
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. ;D

Here's my R. roxianum oreonastes flower ( from a previous Scottish spring)... mine has more colour to the blooms than Lesley's  :D but  her foliage is better than mine  :-[
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 29, 2008, 11:43:57 PM
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."
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Susan on October 30, 2008, 04:10:53 AM
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

Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Maggi Young on October 30, 2008, 11:37:13 AM
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!  8)
 
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Susan on October 30, 2008, 06:47:27 PM
Maggi, this particular plant is growing in full sun now, facing south (which is your north of course), previously it was in too much shade.  The foliage is one of the reasons I love it.   I'm a bit of a sucker for good foliage on a plant.  Good forms of yak, williamsianum (in flower at present, including a white form) makinoi and anything with a different indumentum.  I have just bought a tiny plant of R bhutanense with the most wonderful deep plum colour under the leaf.  Might have to keep the plant upside down!

Susan
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 30, 2008, 08:17:34 PM
Yours is certainly a winner Susan, but it took Maggi's and mine to make you produce yours.  :) Where are the pachysanthum and others though? Please?
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 30, 2008, 08:20:47 PM
I bought a small one of Alistair's from Louise, the other day, as R. bureavii and the rust indumentum is there all right but wiped off, the underside is the colour of deep red plums.
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Maggi Young on October 30, 2008, 08:38:32 PM
The upper indumentum usually gets washed off with rain quite quickly here as the leaves get older on all the rhodo types that are completely "furry" when they are  newly emerged, but the lower indumentum stays really well of course.
 Anthony Darby has a neighbour who washes the fuzz off the new leaves of her rhodos, if I recall..... gawd help us from daft neighbours like her, that's all I can say. ::) :P
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Susan on October 30, 2008, 11:34:11 PM
Have taken a few photos but will have to wait until after the Trillium week-end as we are just leaving now.  Have been so busy trying to keep on top of the garden, hardly have time to read anything.  Supposed to be snow to low levels - doesn't look like it at present. Here's hoping.

Susan
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: TC on November 03, 2008, 11:03:00 AM
Thank you for supplying a "Rhododendron fix" for all of us in the Northern hemisphere.  We will have to wait another 4 months before our season starts again -  weather permitting.
I find myself staring at the buds on my Cinnabarinums willing them to be flowerbuds instead of new growth !  Keep posting pictures to give us something to cheer us up as the Winter takes hold here.
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 03, 2008, 09:27:04 PM
Our filthy forecasters are AGAIN saying snow for Otago this evening, to 200m which definitely includes Susan and me. ??? So it's back to winter again for us too Tom.
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Susan on November 05, 2008, 11:03:05 PM
Tom, not sure this is going to be uplifting.  The first is a photo from this morning.

A couple of days ago it was like this.  A view of Loderi King George and L Crest. Then Loderi King George close up.

A group of R loderi Julie, and a Rhododendron bought as R griffithianum but is not, although an acceptable flower. Then R Loderi Julie, a lovely creamy colour.

Susan
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Susan on November 05, 2008, 11:20:59 PM
A couple more. A New Zealand hybrid, Kiwi Magic.  The back of the flower of R Kiwi Magic.
R Mt Everest which has been stunning this year.  I have also planted seven up in our paddock so am waiting for them to "join hands" and provide a sort of avalanche of Mt Everest! I shall be able to see them from the house, I hope, although after a second snowfall we won't notice them.
Rhododendron arboreum grows at our front gate, next to Mt Everest, and some nice reds.

Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum  and a closeup of the flower.

Rhododendron pachysanthum taken a couple of weeks ago.

Susan


Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Maggi Young on November 06, 2008, 12:58:27 AM
Oh, Susan, what beauties..... what a pain to have the snow come now. The Loderi types are super... they are so glamorous, I think!   Your pristine white arboreum is a STUNNER! I am green witth envy  :o
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: johnw on November 06, 2008, 02:58:45 AM
Susan -  What stunners!

Loderi Julie and pachysanthum have me drooling.

johnw - +13c at 11pm.
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 06, 2008, 04:13:03 AM
Isn't it horrid Susan, when just for once the weather forecasters get it right? It happens so rarely. :)
Title: Re: Rhododendrons in the Southern Spring
Post by: Susan on November 06, 2008, 04:39:37 AM
Thank you.  The Loderi group are quite glam aren't they.  Always make sure I have the make-up on before visiting them. 

Have not seen too many "Julie"s around.  It is a superb plant.

I have a plant which I am posting which looks and smells like a Loderi but it is not known here as one.  I believe it came from a very early nursery in Dunedin and the name is long since gone. Ignore the brilliant laburnum next door, it is there to keep the wood pigeons happy.

Maggi, I have the white arboreum which I was told comes from quite high up in the Himalayas, and a pink one, but the pink is well, a bit pink if you get my meaning.

Susan.
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