When we moved in to our current home in the early 1990s we inherited a shrub that needed some TLC. Despite our best endeavours there came a time when we decided to call it a day and dug it up.
We must have had fit of remorse because we eventually transferred it to a tub that just happened to be spare. It looked a bit forlorn with just a short trunk and two green shoots; but it survived and after a couple of years it had grown into this.
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| Rhododendron - one flower (2008) |
The next year in a larger plot the flower had grown quite impressively.
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| Impressive flower (and a second on its way) |
When it grew too big for its boots/pot it was time for it to go back into the garden. By 2012 the whole shrub was a thing to be admired.
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| Rhododendron behind the foxgloves and lupins - 2012 |
Now there is a second shrub in a large pot next to it which has had one red flower this year. I wonder just how long we will have to wait for them to be as grown up as these.
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| Rhododendron - Fowey Hall Hotel, Cornwall |
Perhaps they think that those Cornish shrubs have an unfair advantage with the weather better there than in the North East of England - not that there is much difference during the current heat wave.
All of them will have to shoot up a bit to catch up with the self-setting sunflower - not fully grown.
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| Eight feet tall & growing bigger all the time. |
11 comments:
Superb! I love seeing the difference from year to year! Well represented this week's thème!
Hi Bob .. what amazing changes .. and I do love rhododendrons ... especially Cornish ones!
Lovely insect and bee friendly plot you've got ...
Cheers - this weather is amazing .. Hilary
I thought rhododendrons only grew in the fall, just shows how much I know. Those are lovely at Fowey Hall Hotel, but yours are coming along nicely.
Nice Pix Bob.
Very cool, on waiting for your slow-growing plants to deliver.
I did the same with the mountain laurels...
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Just lovely. Thank you for such a happy tale!
That's one impressive sunflower!
Nice success story.
Love your series on the rhododendron! Great shots - and the sunflower is VERY impressive!
Your last photo is right out of the fairytale books! Awesome photos, each one in their own beauty! Flowers are magical, when you really stop and think about it!
Awww, yay :) The little flower that could!
Sarah Allen
(From Sarah, With Joy)
I love this story, because it reinforces my belief that life, somehow, will find a way to remain relevant and vibrant. I find the will of this plant to survive - and your dedication to it - incredibly inspiring.
What a wonderful way to evoke this week's theme!
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