I bet you get quite a show in VA though!

:-)

We got a little chilly here the past week, and now have rain with sunshine over the next 2 weeks so that will give spring a nice jumpstart here. Can’t wait!

Cori Ann - Thanks for the pictures - but please be aware, it's generally considered good 'forum etiquette' to lump such posts together whenever possible. You can post up to 10 pictures in a single post, and of course add a second post to a thread with an additional 10 pictures.

Thanks David. I like posting based on names and adding to them over time instead. It’s great when others add their photos of the same type to the thread too. It’s nice to see many different actual garden photos of the same type of plant/flower/foliage all within the same thread.

I think it also can become helpful for others thinking of getting certain azaleas/rhodies to see photos of them in actual normal household gardens in different geographical areas, especially when the threads are by variety name. :-)

I’m really hoping this forum starts adding more photos of azaleas and rhodies this spring. I will be! :-)

You are probably about 2 months early for the rest of the country to be able to post pictures of these shrubs in flower..........the only member of this family that is close to blooming now in my area is Christmas Cheer :-)

I'd also have to add that if I were to include photos of rhodies or azaleas in full boom in mine or neighboring gardens when that does finally happen, I'd be taking pictures constantly and not getting much of anything else done :-) I realize not everywhere is blessed with good growing conditions for these shrubs but here are they are ubiquitous and commonplace........almost to the point of boredom! (most of my design clients request that I omit these plant choices from their garden plans......they want something "different" :-))

So funny. I am heading up to Seattle later in the spring so I will look forward to seeing all those boring, common, beautiful, gorgeous azaleas and rhodies on every corner! :-) I hope you are able to talk a few clients into a couple on rare occasions. It seems so silly not to grow something that thrives in your area with little effort just because others have them! Especially when there are so many different types, so you really could be different by getting unique varieties.

With the summer heat and sun here, I have mostly played it safe with the varieties in my own yard, but I do have some deciduous azaleas that seem unique around here. I will post photos of those in a few months.

I have a large, very shaded area where they all seem to do well here. I’m sure they are not thriving and flowering as much as they would be in the northern PNW, but they’re a beautiful drought tolerant choice here for the shade... seem to need much less water than many other plants. Need such little care. Gorgeous in cut arrangements, so long lasting. Such an easy, easy, easy plant to care for. Hardly ever needs pruning, doesn’t really need fertilizer, hort oils, etc. So easy! Especially compared to my other love, roses. If I had all shade in my yard I would have all azaleas/rhodies and probably no roses!

Gardengal when Stephen Scanniello did a talk at my rose society he joked about how his vacation spot is his boat... miles in every direction all you can see is ocean... not a plant in sight!

I would imagine working in the garden industry you probably don’t want to take photos or look at gardens at all during down time! I appreciate you even popping in the forums when you do to answer questions. :-)

For me and many others though, we work inside or go to school all day and the garden is a wonderful zen filled place to spend hours outside of work. I have some time off currently and almost all of my free time has been in the garden (working and also taking photos) because it gives me so much happiness!

I have two Hino Crimson azaleas and I love the deep red flowers. The only issue is leaf gall which they seem to get every year. I do a "gall check" every day or so and pick them off so the gall doesn't mature and spread spores.

Planted a Hino Crimson last summer and am looking forward to blooms if the rabbits have left anything.

You guys in the Pacific Northwest have the best weather for gardening! There are so many plants including lots of rhododendrons and azaleas that I would love to plant. I live in Zone 6 and I have been pushing the limits by planting Zone 7 plants. It looks like this winter killed most of them. Back to reality.

I am always amazed at those who garden in colder zones. I’m a complete wimp when it comes to colder weather. My hubby on the other hand is from Canada and goes to hockey games in shorts and flip flops. If people had hardiness zones, he’s a zone 6 person, while I am more like a zone 10.

:-)

I love that I have discovered azaleas and rhodies do so well in arrangements. I can’t believe I didn’t really think of them as bouquets before. They’re extremely long lasting.

Different types of rhodies (Cloudburst, Elsie Frye, Crater Lake), azaleas (Hino Crimson, Coral Bells, Red Bird, Alaska, Purity), lemon blossoms, freesias and sea lavender. :-) Happy Spring!