We are in our “forever home” and I’m a collector with a bit of room
left, also very generous and willing to share cuttings in time. :-)
Lucky you! And you and your husband look young as rhododendron collectors go, so you can look forward to getting to see your plants someday as big as those at Sonoma.
I will review my notes to see if there are any other unmissable hybrids. The main ones that comes to mind would be 1) various old English hybrids that are extremely rare in North American commerce nowadays, like 'Glory of Penjerrick', 'Luscombei', and 'Mandalay' and 2) the crosses Polo was making between 'Rubicon' and R. irroratum. Those could result in some spectacular red hybrids with exotic looking spots. He wouldn't let me buy one in spring 2016. ;-( I bought 'Cary Ann' (!), 'Double Eagle' and 'Leo X Jutland', and wouldn't you know which one just didn't survive being stuffed in a suitcase? Yep, that one! 'Double Eagle' and 'Cary Ann' are doing ok, I was especially suprised 'Double Eagle' was not seriously damaged by last winter. 'Double Eagle' is the intense yellow behind 'Leo X Jutland'.
Cori Ann you seem completely bitten by the rhododendron bug, which is great...I recommend you seek out a cheap used copy of the excellent book 'Encyclopedia of Rhododendron Hybrids' by the Coxes. Curiously, there's nothing better than a guide to hybrids written by people who are famous for not liking them. ;-) I don't always agree with them but they are straight shooters and tell it like they see it! For example, they kind of poo poo 'Mandalay', but it's a very intriguing looking red. Not quite as intense as Leo X Jutland, but strangely luminous yet dark. Like stained glass when the light struck it a certain way.
Q