Rhododendron Time

The Rhodo time of the year is full on for the next week or so. Many of the scented Maddenia Section plants will be at their peak and with the bluebells, azaleas and some welcome sun the garden is looking great. This 1st image is a plant that was seed grown from NE Vietnam. Very early for this group which includes, liliiflorum, nuttallii and excellens it is a remarkable sight absolutely smothered in flowers. The 2nd image is of a hybrid, nuttallii x edgeworthii bred by my father Mike Hudson in NZ. Its very attractive keeping the bullate foliage of the Rh. edgeworthii and the large scented flowers of the Rh. nuttallii. There are many others dotted around in the woodland, many of which are perched on old rotting logs and stumps where they can emulate their natural position in their native habitat.