| Late April and Early May |
Azaleas Azaleas are shrubs of the genus Rhododendron and members of the heath family. There are 8 divisions of the genus Rhododendron. Azaleas comprise two of those divisions. Technically classified as rhododendrons, azaleas are generally more floriferous but have less impressive foliage. Typically non-azalea rhododendrons are evergreen and have flowers that are in trusses (a truss is a flower-like structure composed of many flowers). An azalea is normally either evergreen with flowers singly rather than in a truss or are deciduous and may have flowers singly or in a ball-shaped truss. Most grow in damp acid soils of hills and mountains, and are native to North America and Asia. Native American azaleas include the flame azalea (R. calendulaceum) and the fragrant white azalea (R. viscosum), also called swamp honeysuckle. Most of the brilliantly flowered garden varieties are from China and Japan. Some have deciduous leaves and are usually very hardy, while other are evergreen and frequently less hardy. The deciduous varieties are usually hard to propagate, but much progress had been made in this area. Evergreen varieties are usually easy to propagate. Many hybrid and species azaleas are in the commercial trade. They typically bloom early in the season and are popular for the color they add to the landscape. |
| I bought 6 small azalea bushes in 2009. They have grown larger and bloom nicely in the early spring. I have 3 different varieties, however they are all similar. They should keep growing bigger in the next few years. Notice the azalea on the right has both pink and white blooms! |
| I bought and planted two small peonies in 2010, not expecting them to bloom for at least a couple of years. One of them had two blooms the first year and they both had multiple blooms in 2011 and even more in 2012. Aren't they gorgeous? |
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| It seems that most of the flowers I'm trying to grow these days are ones that my mom grew when I was a child. I have such fond memories of her gorgeous flowers. It was too cold to grow azaleas in Illinois, so now I'm very happy to be in a climate that loves them. |
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| and of course a basket of annuals near the front door |