Hello, beaniebeagle. Some good ones are A Sandy Rhododendron in Oregon and Carlson's Gardens in New York. Both have an excellent rating by Garden Watchdog. You can also check the American Rhododendron Society's Website and the Azalea Society of America's Website for more vendors. Luis

A few comments. First, if you have really deep shade you won't get many flowers regardless of color. So plan(t) accordingly. Second, I would suggest using pine bark fines (AKA 'soil conditioner') instead of peat moss, which has a tendency to either repel or hold water (I've seen it blamed for both) in ways that are bad for azaleas. Peat moss is OK for potting mixes but not as the primary component of azalea beds. Try adding compost too. Remember to plant'em high. Now about your original question ;^>... I agree that white or mostly white flowers and foliage can brighten up a dark corner. A good small white-flowered cv is 'Hardy Gardenia', which stays compact with great foliage throughout the year. Flowers just starting for me in MD. There's a Kurume I just saw called 'Mizo No Yamabuki' that has starry yellowish flowers that would complement your color scheme (don't know how big it gets). Check into Rhododendron keiskei (sp?) selections and cvs; the species has nice small yellow flowers, but probably earlier than 'My Mary'. Could also add some of the variegated-flower types that are white with stripes, flecks, etc. of purple or red (I think pink and yellow together are obnoxious but that's just my opinion; if you like that combo there are many more variegated azalea cvs to chose from). If you want nice low growers that can function as ground covers try the North Tisbury hybrids -- some have light enough flowers to work in your conditions. There are some nice picture galleries on the Internet that might help you find cvs that you like, including at the ASA website (link below). Hope this helps! Here is a link that might be useful: Azalea Society of America website

I noticed that the RSF doesn't have much if any native azalea seed. The best way to get such seed and good advice on how to grow it is to join the Azalea Society of America. I sounds like they would be a good group for you to join anyway. Many of their members live near you. They have an annual seed sale. The Azalea Society welcomes membership by anyone interested in azaleas, from all cultures and disciplines. They invite those who wish to learn, and those who know and wish to share their knowledge. Membership is $25 per year. Bob Stelloh, ASA Treasurer 65 Sierra Drive Hendersonville NC 28735-7963 They have chapter meeting. There is a Virginia Chapter at: Northern Virginia Chapter Leslie Ann Nanney 703-644-5651 8646 Tuttle Road Springfield VA 22152 Chapters provide meetings, lectures, seminars, plant sales, auctions and exchanges, and fellowship at the local level. National membership includes membership in one of the local chapters, with At-Large affiliation for those members not joining a local chapter. Guests are always welcome at the local chapter meetings. The Azalean (ISSN-1085-5343) magazine is the journal of the Azalea Society of America. One of the major benefits of membership, it is published and mailed to the members in the spring, summer, fall and winter of each year. Each issue is 24 pages, 16 of them in color. Each spring, one of the local chapters hosts an annual convention to immerse members and friends in a long weekend of azalea activities at a national level. They feature tours of excellent local gardens during the day, renowned speakers each evening, and ongoing sales of azaleas and companion plants. The 2007 convention, Azaleas in the Pines  A Texas Garden Party will be held in Nacogdoches TX on March 29 through April 1, 2007. See some of the many beautiful public and private gardens in the area, hear talks about azaleas and rhododendrons, meet your far-away gardening friends again, and get some rare azaleas and rhododendrons for your garden. Future conventions: Scheduled future conventions include: Year City Chapter Contact 2008 Asheville NC Vaseyi Ed Collins 2009 Fairfax VA Northern Virginia Dan Krabill Members frequently share seed, cuttings, and plants. It is a great way to get different selections from different areas. There are different colors of many of the species. Some species are very diverse. ASA members delight in finding the different forms and sharing them. Here is a link that might be useful: Joining the Azalea Society of America

Any azalea specialist nurseries in your local area? And have you tried any independent garden centers, or are you only seeing the Encore series because you have just looked at warehouse store plant departments? If it were me I'd try to identify and talk to some local independent vendors about local performance - what kinds have proved successful in the area. (Or at least somebody that is serving the same gardening region). All the more so because you are trying to use this planting as an architectural feature (screen), that you will want to hold up well. Also if you do some more looking on the web you may be able to find favorites lists from rhododendron or azalea society chapters operating in your same area. Definitely the American Rhododendron Society maintains chapter lists that include evergreen azalea cultivars that members in each local group have been happy with.