Blooming Pacific Rhododendron's
The "Rhodie" Makes its Debut
The Coast Rhododendron was chosen to represent the state of Washington on the National Garland of Flowers during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois.
The exposition was created to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyages to the "new world." The Women's Congress developed the idea to have a garland of flowers made to represent each state.
Floral contenders from Washington to be on the national garland included the dogwood, clover syringes, gaillardia, Washington holly, marguerite, and the wild rose. Despite the fierce competition the Coast Rhododendron came through with the most votes winning its place on the National Garland of Flowers.
Washington "Rhodie's"
The beautiful flowers photographed here are all from the Olympia area of Washington State taken within a two block radius. The huge rhododendron blooms were everywhere lining sidewalks, driveways, and filling flower beds to bursting. Some were as tall as trees next to two story homes. The wide variety and amazing colors were hard to miss and easy to photograph.
- The American Rhododendron Society Welcomes You
The purpose of the Society is to encourage interest in and to disseminate knowledge about rhododendrons and azaleas.
© 2011 Laura Ross
Comments
- AUTHOR
I'm in the same boat or dry dock so to speak as you are with the drought. I water my shrubs and trees every other day now.
I'm not a master gardener by any means. That said my flowers, shrubs and trees are doing well with the watering I'm doing. I believe the layer of mulch around the plants and shrubs is helping to hold in the moisture after I water them.
Try watering the soil good and add some organic compost manure to it and a layer of mulch on top. I plan on doing this with some new shade loving plants I planted under a tree before the drought. They dry out so quickly after I water them I think this plan with help.
Good luck and stop back to let me know how it's going.
My shrubs and my trees are so dry. I wanted to plant more this fall but this drought has been very hard on them.
I am afraid to fertilize during this drought - what are your recommendations?
- AUTHOR
So glad you had a chance to stop by Dolores. The blooms on these shrubs/trees(some are that tall) are just amazing. I've never read "Rebecca" but it sounds very interesting.
I have two small "rhodie's", that I've fussed over for 12 years and they just started growing taller and branching out this summer. All I did was prune them a little bit and added some organic compost manure to the soil around each one.
Just beautiful. I have loved rhododenrons since, as a girl, I read Daphne DuMarier's novel, "Rebecca" and they walk down a path lined with the huge shrubs. I only have one, but would love more. Your pictures are awesome.
4