The selection is wider in Z5 than Z4, but there are still many variables that effect bloom time, including the exposure in your individual garden. Even though you want to plant them all in a single bed, some will be more influenced by temperature than others. Lists, even fairly comprehensive ones like the one on the Greer Gardens website, apply to Oregon or at least the West Coast and may not be applicable to your climate. A sizable majority of Z5 rhododendrons are listed as mid season bloomers, but that is no guarantee they will bloom simultaneously every or even most years. If you plant only those indicated as mid season you will very probably get some overlap, but it should be close to what you're seeking. Another drawback, though, is color. Red and purple bloomers tend to be late, so effectively everything will be in the pink and white range with maybe some cream and pale yellow.

Cynthia, Sounds as if you prefer sunny climates...is that correct? A good point was made regarding relatives in area wherever you decide to live. Because my DH was 10yrs older when we moved to a 55+ I sure wasn't prepared for the atmosphere. Sure, there was a golf course, 3 pools, group activities, travel club, etc. This is the West Coast, so Spring, Summer & Fall are lovely. I personally could not adjust to being around "all those old folks", so just stayed on 3yrs after his passing. Altho' I was 53yrs I personally was too young for all the organized events & there was & still is so much bickering between this particular community of 2000 residents. One thing I did enjoy was the beautiful indoor pool plus library & at times the travel club. It's simply one's choice. Well, that was 13yrs ago, so I've been leasing out that residence. Am going to try it again in a year & see if time has changed how I feel. What it boils down to, I believe, is a person's attitude. Keeping positive is a must. Instead of hearing, "oh, are you old enough to live here"? Now, I shouldn't be hearing that & if I do I'll take it as a compliment! Hahaa I recall Betty who used to speak of the Villages in Florida, but did move altho' spared from the storms. Must be a nice area to live. Have visited my DDad in Arizona which is nice in the Winter months, both Sun City West & friends in Goodyear. It's an idea to rent space for a while to make certain you like an area. A week's visit doesn't give a true picture. Happiness to you, Sharlee

WantToRetire, I appreciate your input, but the thought of renting an apartment (kids and other unruly types) is abhorrent at my age. But you are correct about retirement developments being expensive. Even "independent living" facilities apartments (1+1) start at over $2300/month rent only. Some 55+ developments in Southern Maine where one might buy a stand-alone condo charge low six figures as a buy-in fee, then there's the cost of the actual condo itself - from the high $200Ks to over a half million. HOAs and remaining utilities are extra of course. One 55+ development I investigated charges two monthly fees for those who buy stand-alone condos: the first is a "land rent" fee of $500/month, then there's the usual HOA fee of $300 to $400/month for utilities, outside maintenance, etc.

Friends bought in an age-restricted, gated community in California about ten years ago. We've visited them. It's not for me, and I really doubt it's for them, but they couldn't get their money out if they sold now. As for being 'gated', there is a gate, but no fencing! This means that an ambulance has to wait to clear the gate; any burglar could walk through the property. The homes are single-family, single-level, all white. The landscaping is perfectly maintained. It's completely SILENT. There are no pedestrians. Eerie. As we approached our friends' home the first day I couldn't quite place the feeling I had. When we drove off two days later I recognized what I felt. It was like a gigantic mausoleum. My friend writes that this neighbor or that one is coping with a dying spouse or is now widowed, or that so-and-so has sickened and died. It's darn depressing! In an ordinary community there's a balance; none there. Why do builders continue to build these developments? Because Seniors are a large source of cash in this economy. We've never wanted a so-called 'no maintenence' community. We'd rather decide for ourselves what needs maintaining and who we want to do the work -- not pay dues to a committee that awards the work -- or doesn't think work we want done is necessary. We don't golf and don't want to pay to support a course. We have an excellent Senior Center in our town with minimal membership fees and activities we can participate in (and pay for) as we wish. Our library is excellent. We're minutes from town and medical care. Our friends are not exactly 'nowhere', but you can see it from there! LOL They have a long drive to hospitals, doctors and shops. (There are some nearby, but not top-notch.) We own a vacation rental condo on Maui in a development of over 300. Some owners are in default on their fees. Some have been foreclosed upon. The association is last in line to collect on a lein. It gets no money while a propety sits on the market, and little even when it sells. I don't want this situation for my main residence.