Rhododendrons by the Willow

My rhododendron garden, planted mainly with anonymous, unwanted shrubs, is really growing well in the dappled shade and shelter of the Willow tree. After just a few seasons I am enjoying a kaleidoscope of warm colours each spring.

Fruit Salad Colours

My rhododendron flowers range from tropical fruit salad colours to creams and rose pinks, lemon yellows and warm brick reds. By sheer good luck the whole area is beautifully co-ordinated. And there is a good progression of flowering times. Nothing blooms too early (frost) or too late (drought).

Flower Surprise

The tropical, warm colours were all a happy surprise. When plants don't flower for some seasons in a big garden they get ignored. Then, all of a sudden - magical colour!

Hurray for my bargain bin rhododendrons. I never really gave up on you. Remember all thse water bucketing by hand sessions when the irrigation wouldn't reach?

The shrub below is a beauty - but what's it called? I found two possible labels in the kitchen drawer - this could be a long shot, but somewhere in my garden I have the rhododendrons Percy Wiseman and Virginia Richards. Hmm.. Wonder if they knew each other? Wonder if this beautiful shrub is one of them?

Whatever your real names you are are all legends. I finally have a rhododendron garden to be proud of.