Rhododendrons 2014

[Maggi Young]

I do hope that frost forecast is wrong, Ian - I can't bear to think of that fragrant beauty suffering damage.

[mark smyth]

Maggi what was that fab looking Rhodo on Beechgrove this evening? I was expecting Jim to mention it

[Lesley Cox]

For myself -  I do enjoy clicking open the pictures, however for me most of the time it goes very slowly. Believe it or not I still use dial-up. When my brother comes into town he has devices that gets things to move much faster, so then I can and do open the pictures. I sure that I'm the odd duck out there, so who knows why others do not click open the photos. ?  Hopefully they will speak up.

Robert and Maggi, for me anyway, it's a matter of time. I seem to have much less of it since "retiring," that concept whereby one has masses of spare time. It's not so, with all the other things to do, one didn't have time for before, and people assume one can do heaps of NEW things because now one is sitting about doing nothing at all. So I click on the unknown and the more obvious pics which have lots of colour or leaf form but leave many which have too much detail or are of "general" things rather than specific and of course many days recently have gone by without my opening the Forum at all (Shame on me. I always managed to dip in when I was working.)

[Lesley Cox]

(It might also have something to do with the fact that my PC and laptop both live in my bedroom which is akin to an icehouse at this time of year.)

[Lesley Cox]

I noticed yesterday that R. forrestii repens having sat unplanted in a polystyrene box for about 16 months now, since I lifted it to move, and had water up to its eyebrows for about a month last winter, has more buds now than ever before. Perhaps it likes to be badly treated but more likely it's going to put on a great display prior to its demise. Many plants do this, in an attempt to reproduce from seed before it's too late. For years I never had a seed on Roscoea procera (or purpurea procera?) a beautiful white with a double purple flash on the lower petals and originally grown from Joe Elliott's seed.  Then it got very dry one year. It flowered well and made lots of seed all of which which I gave away. I never saw it again as it didn't come up the following year.

[Robert]

(It might also have something to do with the fact that my PC and laptop both live in my bedroom which is akin to an icehouse at this time of year.)

Lesley,

I suffer the cold room syndrome too!  Since I love my work, I can't imagine retiring, however all my activity keeps me slim, my wife would say "too skinny!", but also cold too often.

Rhododendron calendulaceum, one of a few, good, dwarf forms of this species. All are under 75cm, some even smaller after 15 years.

[Matt T]

Robert, you Rhodo photos are an inspiration. I'm adding very other plant to my wish list of plants to grow in a future woodland garden. Thanks for this transatlantic treat.

[Maggi Young]

Maggi what was that fab looking Rhodo on Beechgrove this evening? I was expecting Jim to mention it

Sorry Mark, I wasn't paying attention - didn't see a rhodo amongst all the potting and decking - will hav a look when the programme is on i-player to see if I spot it.

[Maggi Young]

Sorry Mark, I wasn't paying attention - didn't see a rhodo amongst all the potting and decking - will have a look when the programme is on i-player to see if I spot it.

Do you mean this one, seen in the opening section in the conservatory?





-not sure - looks like it may be a R. formosum hybrid - I don't think it's a  pure species -  leaves too plain.

[mark smyth]

yes that's it

[Robert]

Robert, you Rhodo photos are an inspiration. I'm adding very other plant to my wish list of plants to grow in a future woodland garden. Thanks for this transatlantic treat.

Matt,

Thanks for the compliment. It is my understanding that some of the Southeastern U.S. species need a long growing season and heat to do well. Maybe you already know the ones that will do best in your area, but, at least, I wanted to put it out there.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Each Spring, it's one of the highlights in my garden : Rhododendron Yakushimanum


... and with it's neighbour : Rhododendron 'Percy Wiseman'

Another Yaku hybrid of which I lost the name.

Rhododendron 'Chicor' was cut back to the ground a couple of years ago because it was damaged - it's rejuvenating itself wonderfully !

[Roma]

Rhododendron calostrotum 'Gigha' yesterday.  minus 2 last night so it's all brown today.  Lots of the buds had already aborted though I am not sure if it was frost damage earlier or some other reason.
I don't know the name of the blue one

[Thorkild Godsk]

Rhododendron from the garden today.
1 Rh cinnabarinum ssp xanthocodon
2 Flower of No 1
3 Rh cinnabarinum
4 flower of No. 3
5 Rh cinnabarinum
Thorkild - DK

[Maggi Young]

Your cinnabarinums look very healthy, Thorkild.  I abandoned mine because of powdery mildew attack  some years ago - they never looked as good as yours.