Here in Valley Forge the azaleas are in serious bloom, and the first few large-leaf rhodies are coming out: Solidarity (still in pot from Rare Finds) is opening it's second bud, Fantastica (planted last spring) just opened and a couple of Blue Peters are showing color (though I had to take 8 of 10 buds off one because the deer took most of the leaves off). Tapestry just opened it's first flower yesterday - wow; I didn't know what it would look like, but the purple with almost black blotch is great. I've got about 15ish rhodies, 5ish azaleas, and 3 laurels waiting to plant - most from the Jenkins Arboretum & local ARS plant sale that just ended yesterday (I got two carloads) plus hitting up Waterloo Gardens a few times this spring (they had some since sales on Pieris and a few others). (Jenkins sale plants came from Rare Finds, Octorora Nursery, and ARS members.) Planted two lepidotes yesterday (Mary Fleming (done flowering) and R. Keiskei cordifolia (in mid-late flower - yellow with some greenish hints, max 1' tall). Luckily we have a 1-3' tall freestone retaining wall along the walkway that runs the length of the house, and I planted the keiskei close to it so it's easy to view up close - so long as I keep the annoying aegopodium (bishop's weed, gout weed") groundcover away form it. (Aegopodium get around 1'+ tall and very thick). (On the other hand it does provide a nice green carpet in the shade, crowds out (other) weeds like Microstegium grass, and puts up 2' flower stalks that makes it look like a sea of while floating above the greenery in July). I've laid out a rhododendron walk in about a 1/8-1/4 acre slope between the house and driveway (which is about 15' above the house). Then I get to totally cage the darn area this winter.... (I HATE DEER) My worst problem will probably be winter winds with some of the more tender ones, though Ken Janeck and Crete (both yak's) planted in the "wind tunnel" between the house and garage came through with no damage (other than deer). Hopefully they'll put on buds this year.

The only one I know that I've tried from the Southern Living article is 'Ramapo'. They had them at Home Depot one year. Lovely color but very fussy about cultural conditions and I ended up killing it. It would probably be happier in the NC mountains than in the Piedmont, at least that's the excuse I settled on. At my last house I inherited a ton of gorgeous deciduous azaleas, old varieties that I never did identify, and I wasn't smart enough at the time to propagate them for when I moved. Having inherited a very different set of azaleas at this house, I've learned to pick varieties that have a more 'graceful' abscission. The ones at this house hold onto their faded, browning flowers way past when they should and the effect is rather ugly, I think. So I'd say avoid anything called Red Ruffles like the plague. At my last garden the azalea blooms dropped when they were still fresh looking and the look of the scattered blooms on the ground was very pretty. The only one I've acquired since that goes out of bloom as gracefully as it comes into bloom is (I think) George Lindley Tabor, which is on your proven performers list. Also on that list is R. minus, which I've seen grow wild just north of here. For the most part, I've been trying to grow native deciduous azaleas through the woods and keep the deer from ruining my vision. Just for interest, I've also been told there's a bluff with Kalmia somewhere along the Eno River in Durham, not far from me, so apparently with the right cultural conditions they will grow around here.

I am yet down in Florida for the winter, but thinking more and m I bought myself a digital camera but is kind of complicated My grandson 16 is visiting and he is helping me to learn to use the camera I have some neat stuff in the gardens here to show you. But that isn't fair, right? Roses in bloom, jasmine, four oclocks, gingers, Bromeliads, oh some nice stuff Need to get out in the yard and try some pictures I hear from family and neigbhours things are already popping up in our gardens. Hope in Barrie that we do not lose to many plants form lack of winter snow cover.

Great to read your posts. I moved one year ago from an acre in the Fraser Valley, BC (30 yrs. there) to 12 acres here in Grande Prairie. It is quite a change but I'm in the "loving the sunshine/brightness here" camp. I could imagine moving back to a milder climate when I'm "retirement" age but I would prefer the Okanagan or Vancouver Island as they get considerably more sunshine than the Lower Mainland. I am pleasantly surprised by how much does grow here but I honestly have had a good laugh that my daffodils (planted by the previous owner) are blooming in JUNE! It's interesting to see (in my mind) spring plants bloom so late but I kinda like it because it is warm enough (most days) to be outside enjoying all the flowers and shrubs. Back in Chilliwack, although the flowers started much earlier, including those gorgeous azaleas this thread was originally about, one enjoyed them from the warm dry house. Lonnnggg cooool weeeeet springs were expected. Summer weather was awesome for 2-3 months and then the lonnnggg cooool weeeeet fall would blur into the very gray, wet, slushy winter. Great for cozy reading by the fire but tiresome after awhile and the kids go a little stir-crazy. So far we have loved living here but I can appreciate the long cold winters could feel like a burden after some years. Hard to complain right now with the light lasting til midnight and a perfectly great day revamping an old flower bed. Planted hydrangeas, a willow, a dwarf spruce and transplanted sedum, but no azaleas yet. Happy gardening everyone wherever you are or wish you were.