And if not that particular species, certainly related. I started to say, in the same genus, but some botanists actually put it in another genus. Which I only found out about last month...I haven't seen it changed on any Alaskan databases. Here is a link that might be useful: One of my favorite wildflowers

My 'garden' is genuinely minute, the wood looks after itself and the allotment is pretty much under control after 20 odd years. I only grow stuff that wants to grow, don't do any bedding out and let things self seed a lot. Such as the aforementioned Lambs Lettuce. But, yes, I sometimes get home from work and think I ought to be on the allotment - but stay in and have a glass of wine instead.

I happen to find their foliage traits to be among the many fine reasons to plant them! More of my thoughts on the plant can be found here: http://americanvoyages.blogspot.com/2013/07/rhododendrons-rosebay-rhododendron.html I would imagine that they flower a bit more given a bit of sun, and I have seen them growing in pretty much any kind of soil imaginable, as long as it was on the acidic side. Thanks for the nursery reference, Bob. I also managed to find Reeseville Ridge nursery out in Wisconsin, but Blue Ridge seems to be easier to order from. Don't get me wrong, I love the variety of cultivars which we have so far been able to grow, but nothing beats the original palette sometimes.

Today, it was very windy and I went out in the kitchen garden to put one of the arches back in (which blew over) but it was one I moved a few weeks ago, so it was only part way in the ground. Anyway, I'm walking around, checking on the plants (as the winds were dying down a bit) and sure enough, here come my 'helpers' to see what I'm doing. The barn kitties (especially a few of them) love to walk around the kitchen garden with me. I think they believe it's their garden, but I can play it in, too...when I want to. They also seem to think the fairy garden was created just for them, so they'd have a shady place to sleep in the summer...but that's another story. So, we're walking around the garden, fixing the arch, checking on the plants, and finally I just started walking around, figuring out what I plan to move, in the spring. Then, I realize, two of the barn kitties are following me, even as I walk around in (seemingly endless) circles...and I swear, they're offering me the occasional opinion, too. The funny thing is...they're not there for food. I had fed them only a few minutes earlier. They just seem to like walking around the garden...and adding their two cents. I wouldn't be surprised if they take credit for the whole design. "Oh, we suggested the table in the center...and the arch looks so much better, since we had 'the girl' move it. Don't you love that purple clematis, on the arbor?" :)