The Rhododendrons and Azaleas have been amazing this year. Usually we have a problem if the garden is too dry in the previous summer, the plants then abort their flower buds which means that we don’t have many flowers during the following May/June.
Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Azaleas and Rhododendron.
I don’t remember it being very wet last summer, we watered a few of the bushes when the leaves told us they were suffering, but this year they have flowered as never before.
Rhododendrons and Azaleas
They really are the Barbara Cartland of the plant world, frilly, flouncy and most of them are very pink!
Deadheading needed.
These two photos are of the same bush, I hope you agree that it looks a lot better for being deadheaded! As well as looking a lot better, it saves the shrub using energy making seeds, although how I will cope in 10 years time when they are twice as tall, I just don’t know!
Rhododendron and Clematis.
The white Rhododendron is Schnee kroner, I think that is how it was spelt, meaning Snow Crown, one of the few names that I remember planting.
Rhododendrons.
The flowers last for quite a long time, usually about 6 weeks and certainly bring a wow of colour to the borders before all the perennials get going for the summer. I now just have the rest of the rhododendrons and azaleas to deadhead, I might be quite a while!
Wow! What a lovely show, Pauline! Six weeks of all that colour is fabulous. And I bet they stand up to the weather better than many other shrubs. I only have three spindly Rhododendrons (our soil and position is not suited to them really) and find deadheading them too much work! 😉
Thanks Cathy, they do bring a shot of colour to shady borders. Deadheading is rather a pain, I just do one bush each day, then they’re soon all done, just as long as they don’t grow too tall!
Yes, deadheading Rhodies and Azaleas is a chore, but they do look so much better after!
It is a pain Alison, but they look so much better when they’ve been done. I just hope they won’t grow too tall!
Stunning, Pauline, what a lovely range of colours – and it’s odd about the weather as it was in fact a pretty dry summer. Mine too have done well but perhaps not flowered for as long as they have some years.
Thanks Cathy, I don’t understand how they have formed so many buds, whatever the reason, I’m enjoying the result.
The Rhododendrons do look amazing at this time of year! The deadheading is going to be tough in years to come without hiring scaffolding….but it’s worth it 🙂
They are looking rather special at the moment Matt, especially the dark red one. I agree, its worth deadheading them, but as they get larger and larger, it gets more difficult, maybe I will have to move when it becomes impossible!
I am glad they did well for you. I have an Azalea that performs beautifully. Although I do not like its colour (shocking pink) I keep it since it does so well.
Not enough rain in summer does not look likely to be a problem this year. We have had downpours every second or third day since mid-May (steady rain from 7 AM to 4 PM today). However the greens of trees and fields are vibrant and everything looks lush.
I would say that they are the best ever Alain, I’ve never had so many flowers on them before. There’s always a plus when too much rain comes, everything looks so lush and healthy, unfortunately so do the weeds!
Your rhododendrons and azaleas are fabulous. Exciting to have so many flowers this year. Around here many people noticed their rhododendrons did better than ever. Our previous summer was fairly wet and the winter was very cold.
Thanks Susie, it would seem it’s a good year for rhododendrons everywhere! I don’t know if it was the weather or did I give them all a handful of fertiliser last year, I can’t remember! I will give them some this summer when they are forming their flower buds, and water it in well, that should work I think.
super schön, liebe Pauline, wünsche schönen Samstag, Klaus
Thank you Klaus, we are having a wonderful Saturday, garden visiting this afternoon!
happy dead heading – the results are brilliant.
Thanks Catmint, one at a time amongst other jobs in the garden, then they will soon be done, I hope!
What a lovely collection. But what a job dead heading them all. It is worth it though for the wonderful blooms.
I feel it is worth it Chloris, as long as I can reach the tops of the bushes, after that it will be up to the undergardener!
How fabulous Pauline albeit there’s a serious amount of dead heading going on 🙂 I don’t grow either but do like seeing them in other people’s gardens. We were garden visiting in Cumbria last weekend and came across a couple of scented rhododendrons, including luteum and a small flowering white one which made me stop in my tracks to breath in.
The scent is absolutely amazing Anna, I’m not surprised that you were stopped in your tracks! I think R. luteum has the best perfume, but we also have a pink azalea called Homebush whose perfume is also lovely. Cumbria is a marvelous place for Rhododendrons and Azaleas, we have had many a happy holiday up there.
Goodness, a truly gorgeous collection! Wow, respect re all that deadheading! You have put me to shame….xxx
Thanks Dina, but I haven’t done all the deadheadiing yet, some are still flowering! If they all flowered in sequence it would be a lot easier!
What a joyous celebration! Your garden is magnificent in all aspects, and it seems every blog post is a revelation of some new delight. Thank you for your hard work, both in the garden and in your efforts to share it with us..
Thank you so much Deb, for your lovely comments! I like to plant so that the flowers come in waves, following on from each other, so that there is always something of interest, I think your garden is the same!