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Indian Basmati Rice ( the best), Cornichons, gluten free crackers, Sardines, Olives, Artichoke hearts, tomatoes, Vino 🍷. Cheers!

I try to eat 1 can a day!

It’s snowing in the Pacific Northwest in May ! My snowball bush has gone bonkers this year, 14 feet tall cascading branches adorn with “snowballs”. The neighbors always say how they love this time of year because it always puts on a show. The Snowball Viburnum is a standout among flowering shrubs and has been an all-time favorite for decades.

This shrub, native to China is timeless and adds charm in late April/ early May and seems to glow in the moonlight. It’s a wow factor. Large, showy “snowball” flowerheads, measuring an impressive 5” across begin as a light creamy green and quickly mature into a brilliant pure snowy white. There are many blooms on a branch and become heavier as they open to their “snowball” size. It was a Mother’s Day gift over 20 years ago in a two gallon pot.

In the Pacific Northwest it is deciduous. It has non fragrant blooms that attract bees and butterflies to your garden. It is great as a backdrop for perennials or as a privacy screen like we used it for. It tolerates a wide range of soils. For best results, plant in well-drained, acidic loamy soil in full sun to partial shade.

Rhododendron ‘Kimbeth’ is dwarf shrub, growing 3 feet tall by 4 feet wide. This plant sports prominent pink buds throughout winter and come spring, late April open to abundant rose-pink, bell shaped flowers that have a downward facing grace to them. Harold Greer, a famous Rhododendron photographer and Hybridizer from Oregon, developed this exceptional beauty. I think I own all of his books, and they have been like a bible to me. He also operated Greer Gardens. I wish I could have gone out in the field with him, because he really had some wonderful photography and was a pioneer in his work. He crossed ‘Kimberly’ x ‘Elizabeth’ to create this graceful shrub. Best grown in morning sun with dappled afternoon shade. It’s also small enough to grow in containers, provided adequate moisture. Truly a beauty.

Rhododendron ‘Anah Kruschke’ is an attractive, hardy hybrid with a compact mounding growth habit growing well in morning sun and a dappled or high open afternoon shade. Foliage is dense and lush with dark green leaves to 4.5 inches. Flowers are reddish-purple, with deep purplish-red spotting on the dorsal lobe and are carried in a tight conical-shaped, medium sized truss. It makes a good cut flower for Mother’s Day, when it’s in bloom. Blooms profusely and become a beautiful sight when in full bloom. Grows over 7 feet in 50 years. Prefers well drained moist soil, not wet.

Hybridizer: Kruschke , Wright. Sr. & Jr. 1973).

The Dove or Handkerchief Tree is native to China and is famous for its unique flowers and is not often seen in my area. The flowers feature small central blooms surrounded by two large, white, papery bracts that flutter in the wind like Doves or handkerchiefs as the wind blows. Definitely a conversation piece. The actual flowers are small reddish, that turn darker as they age are surrounded by two large modified bracts that are the main feature and give it its name.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade, especially in the hot afternoon sun is preferred.

Water: Requires consistent moisture, not dry.

Soil: Rich in organic matter, well drained.

Flowers: Typically in May

General: Protect from strong winds and give a rigid stake for the first three years. They can take 10 years to bloom from seed so buy a cultivar like Sonoma. USDA zones 6-8.

Rhododendron: ‘Red Walloper’

This robust foliage hybrid not only has strong thick stems , the large blooms are stunning. In bud, the blooms show a deep rose red, which opens gradually lightening through many delightful shades of pink to a beautiful pastel pink. This cultivar grows to a strong thick caned shrub of large stature. It can grow over 8 feet tall no problem. No bending trusses on this one. Give it room in the background so it can become a solid anchor shrub or a privacy block if that’s what you want. I think the name Walloper says it all.

Blooms: Buds are a dark rose red opening to rose and then fades to several shades of pink to a pastel pink, see pictures. There is a dark red small semi-circle blotch at the dorsal throat with spotting above it adding to more drama. Stamens are white adding more contrast. Trusses are domed shaped held tight. It’s gorgeous.

Bloom time: Blooms early May

Exposure: filtered to full sun

Zone : 6b

Growing Conditions: evenly moist, well drained acidic soil, preferably with organic matter, peat moss.

Hybridizer: Halfdan Lem (1889-1969) a renowned Norwegian-born rhododendron hybridizer based in Seattle Washington, know for creating prolific large-flowered hybrids suitable for the Pacific Northwest. I love his ‘Point Defiance’ a favorite of mine. He Developed a signature “ Walloper” series. He was part of A prominent group of Pacific Northwest hybridizers and member of a local study group that included Bill Whitney of Brinnon Washington and Hjalmar Larson, pioneers in hybridizing many of the parent plants that many we now have came from.

This robust foliage hybrid not only has strong thick stems , the large blooms are stunning. In bud, the blooms show a deep rose red, which opens gradually lightening through many delightful shades of pink to a beautiful pastel pink. This cultivar grows to a strong thick caned shrub of large stature. It can grow over 8 feet tall no problem. No bending trusses on this one. Give it room in the background so it can become a solid anchor shrub or a privacy block if that’s what you want. I think the name Walloper says it all.

Blooms: Buds are a dark rose red opening to rose and then fades to several shades of pink to a pastel pink, see pictures. There is a dark red small semi-circle blotch at the dorsal throat with spotting above it adding to more drama. Stamens are white adding more contrast. Trusses are domed shaped held tight. It’s gorgeous.

Bloom time: Blooms early May

Exposure: filtered to full sun

Zone : 6b

Growing Conditions: evenly moist, well drained acidic soil, preferably with organic matter, peat moss.

Hybridizer: Halfdan Lem (1889-1969) a renowned Norwegian-born rhododendron hybridizer based in Seattle Washington, know for creating prolific large-flowered hybrids suitable for the Pacific Northwest. I love his ‘Point Defiance’ a favorite of mine.

One of my favorite lavender Rhododendrons is ‘Arthur Bedford’. It’s a larger upright and vigorous hybrid that is an oldie but goodie. It tolerates exposure to full sun but will have darker foliage in partial shade. Its funnel shaped flowers with ruffled edges are pale mauve to lavender-blue with a distinctive brownish-red dorsal blotch. This is a good selection for a background plant as
overtime it grows large and wider. Bees like it, making it an addition to pollinator gardens. Does well in acidic,rich well drained soil. Also it’s verticillium wilt resistant.

Blooms: First week of May.

Flowers: Pale mauve to lavender-blue with a distinctive brownish -red blotch dorsal blotch. Funnel shaped flowers with ruffled edges. 3.5 “ across held in dome shaped trusses of 11 to 16 flowers. Light fragrance.

Foliage: Leaves oblong-elliptic, thick up to 6.5 inches long, glossy, dark green with reddish-purple stems, retained 1 year.

Hybridizer: T.H.Lowinsky 1936. Developed in Britain.

Parentage: (mauve seedling x ponticum) .

Starry Night ‘Gletschernacth’ Rhododendron

If you are looking for a very deep violet purple dwarf Rhododendron, look no further. This exceptional dwarf shrub blooms are very showy with their extra long stamens that surround a violet-maroon colored filament that extends more than an inch beyond the bloom adding more drama to the rotate- shaped bloom. Small scaley leaves are bronzy green and have an attractive twist. It is a slow-growing that can reach 3” ft tall and wide making it suitable for large containers. I always recommend ground planting so they receive adequate moisture if you’re out of town.

Light: Prefers partial shade

Hardiness: Hardy to around -5°F. USDA hardiness zones 7-9.

Bloom time: Early April

This plant does well in organic moist soil amended with peat moss.

Hybridizer: It was created by renowned German breeder Hans Hachmann. The hybrid was introduced in European nursery circles in 1976. reg. By G. Stuck 1983 in the United States in 1983.

Parentage: Rhododendron russatum x Blue Diamond.

I thought this was cute. I have a birdfy feeder so now it’s food and housing.

Rhodendron: ‘Rocket’

This beauty has bright pink ruffled flowers with prominent protruding stamens with white anthers that are tightly packed in a ball shaped truss. The foliage is thick and heavily veined and the deep pink flowers create a stunning contrast against the dark green foliage. The flowers are frilled , about 2.5 “ wide and are a vibrant pink with a reddish pink blotch which makes this one of my top picks for pinks.It also holds its color well.

Bloom time: Midseason, early May.

Height: 5 feet in 10 years. Upright habit.

Cold Hardiness: -15°. (-26°C)

Parentage: Cunningham’s White red catawbiense seedling

Hybridizer: Shammarello 1958

Rhododendron : ‘Rocket’

This beauty has bright pink ruffled flowers with prominent protruding stamens with white anthers that are tightly packed in a ball shaped truss. The foliage is thick and heavily veined and the deep pink flowers create a stunning contrast against the dark green foliage. The flowers are frilled , about 2.5 “ wide and are a vibrant pink with a reddish pink blotch which makes this one of my top picks for pinks. It also holds its color well.

Bloom time: Midseason, early May.

Height: 5 feet in 10 years. Upright habit.

Cold Hardiness: -15°. (-26°C)

Parentage: Cunningham’s White red catawbiense seedling

Hybridizer: Shammarello 1958

Rhododendron: ‘Crater Lake’

I had my first R. ‘Crater Lake’ 30 years ago, so when I moved I bought 3 more. I have always been a fan of this cultivar because it looks quite beautiful as it gets larger. It’s an early bloomer so it’s a pop of color in your spring garden. It also looks different in the morning sun vs. afternoon shade. The first photo is a 40 year old specimen in the shade. Its growth habit is upright and nicely branched on this floriferous, spectacularly colored hybrid.

Flowers: The flowers are really a child of (Augustinii ‘Barto Blue’ x ‘Blue Bird’ both spectacular in their own right. Flowers are flat saucer shaped to about 2” wide with ruffled edges. The color is an electric violet blue, held in small 3-flower trusses, many per branch. When in full bloom it’s a cloud of violet-blue, almost periwinkle in the morning sunlight. The stamens are long and white, like long eyelashes. A sight to see.

Foliage: Small, dark green, evergreen leaves. New growth is bronzy yellow, later turning to Irish green. It grows more upright than spreading, looking grand with three planted 3 feet apart. Reaches 5-6 feet tall. Makes a beautiful informal hedge or specimen plant.

Culture: Thrives in full sun and partial shade, preferring acidic well-drained moist soil, rich in organic matter.

Hybridizer: Dr. Carl Phetteplace

I had my first R. ‘Crater Lake’ 30 years ago, so when I moved I bought 3 more. I have always been a fan of this cultivar because it looks quite beautiful as it gets larger. It’s an early bloomer so it’s a pop of color in your spring garden. It also looks different in the morning sun vs. afternoon shade. The first photo is a 40 year old specimen in the shade. Its growth habit is upright and nicely branched on this floriferous, spectacularly colored hybrid.

Flowers: The flowers are really a child of (Augustinii ‘Barto Blue’ x ‘Blue Bird’ both spectacular in their own right. Flowers are flat saucer shaped to about 2” wide with ruffled edges. The color is an electric violet blue, held in small 3-flower trusses, many per branch. When in full bloom it’s a cloud of violet-blue, almost periwinkle in the morning sunlight. The stamens are long and white, like long eyelashes. A sight to see.

Foliage: Small, dark green, evergreen leaves. New growth is bronzy yellow, later turning to Irish green. It grows more upright than spreading, looking grand with three planted 3 feet apart. Reaches 5-6 feet tall. Makes a beautiful informal hedge or specimen plant.

Culture: Thrives in full sun and partial shade, preferring acidic well-drained moist soil, rich in organic matter.

Hybridizer: Dr. Phetteplace

Rhododendron ‘The Honorable Jean Marie De Montague’

‘Jean Marie’, as it commonly called, is quite abundant in the Pacific Northwest gardens, for foundation garden plantings and specimen shrubs, and is in my opinion is probably the best Red,and possibly the highest rated. If you’re looking for a red you just can’t go wrong with this hybrid. It was the first one I bought in 1982 and it preforms well and usually without fail. It holds its color well and the foliage is a dark green. It also makes a great cut flower for the vase, as it is usually in bloom for Mother’s Day!

Blooms: Abundant showy vibrant, scarlet-red, wavy-edged flowers, dome shaped trusses, with a slight, dark red spotting in throat, 3.125 “ across. When in full bloom it is a show stopper. Planting in masses it really is a Wow factor!

Foliage: Rich dark green, leathery leaves that often have a distinct V-shape. Considered a vigorous grower, with a dense, mounding habit. Leaves are kept for three years, and often elliptic or oblanceolate make it look fuller. Winter foliage remains dark green. Dense habit.

Performance: It is known for being sun-tolerant, but preforms best in part shade to dappled shade, protected from the hot afternoon sun. Practically every new “red” introduced must be judged against ‘Jean Marie’ to see if it is better, and few actually pass the grade.

Height: 5 feet in 10 years.

Cold Hardiness Temp. -5°. USDA. (-21°C).

Hybridized: C B. van Nes & Sons.

Parentage: griffithianum x unknown

R. Augustinii, is not a hybrid but a selection of the species, that was named by Dr. Carl Phetteplace of Eugene Oregon. A unique shade of lavender , named after James Barto a nurserymen in Junction City Oregon, who hybridized many rhododendrons from seed. This form grows to six feet tall in 10 years. Blooms late April, early May. Ultimate 8 feet, upright and spreading.

Hardiness: Zone 7-9

Water requirements: Water once a week in the summer.

Blooms: Lavender bell shaped flowers to 2” long, held in clusters of 2-6. Color can vary on the same plant from year to year. Quite striking.