Spring is here, a time of growth and renewal and a time for rhododendron lovers everywhere to celebrate. Rhododendrons only flower once a year, and March through May is the time when most show their splendor. And rhodies are indeed splendid. Growing more than 20 feet tall, with verdant glossy foliage and masses of flowers, they light up a garden and draw gasps from onlookers.
Several years ago, I visited the Mendocino botanical gardens where both native and hybrid Rhododendrons grow along an entire canyon down to the sea. I was fortunate enough to be there in the month of May, and it was like walking though the Land of Oz — the walls of the canyon were alive with brilliant flowers in different shades of red, pink, white and purple.
Whether you are familiar with rhododendrons but would like to learn more, or your curiosity has been piqued, there are some events and activities coming up that might be of interest.
On April 28, the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society holds its 35th Rhododendron Flower Show at Lumbermens [formerly San Lorenzo] Garden Center. In its press release, the society offered tantalizing tidbits of what to expect at the show, including Maddenii series rhododendrons from the monsoon rainforests of the Himalayan Mountains, which are both terrestrial and epiphytes [uses other plants for support].
Now you might not expect a rhododendron show to be full of surprises, but you could very well be pleasantly surprised when you discover that some Maddenii rhododendrons are quite fragrant and hybrids of them have been created by several locals including Mi Amor by Maurie and Fran Sumner of Aptos, a Maddenii series of hybrids by Nancy Ledyard of Aptos and other species, including a multicolored Tahitian Dawn hybridzied by Allan Korth of Soquel.
In fact, all sorts of horticulturists will be descending from the mountains of Santa Cruz, and if you have a rhododendron you would like identified, bring a branch with a flower atop it [called a truss] and someone there may be able to identify it for you.
In addition to this event, the American Rhododendron Society is holding its annual convention in San Francisco today through Sunday in San Francisco.
Now here is where this story takes an unexpected twist: Two whole busloads of American Rhododendron Society members are coming down to Santa Cruz to visit a very special and enchanted place, Bay Laurel Nursery in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
| Bay Laurel is situated on 12 acres of nursery and gardens just outside of Scotts Valley and exists because of the vision and efforts of one man, Pete Moerdyke. Moerdyke, a master horticulturist, generally prefers the company of plants to that of people, with the one exception being his wife, Laurie, who is also his business manager and public relations person. |
In addition to thousands of plants in its nursery stock, Bay Laurel has extensive gardens, which Moerdyke has planted over the last few years. His gardens are absolutely exquisite, especially at this time of the year, containing many rare varieties of rhododendrons, Japanese maples, pieris japonica, blue spruce, birch and azaleas. With Bean Creek and tall Sequoias as a backdrop, Bay Laurel's gardens are a model of beauty and serenity and a testament to Moerdyke's efforts.
Bay Laurel Nursery is wholesale and is open to the public by appointment only.
Growing rhododendrons can be tricky. They need just the right amount of light and will not flower in areas of deep shade. Morning sun is good, but afternoon sun will cause the leaves to burn. Fertilizing will help set more blooms the following year, but should not be done until the plant has finished its current bloom.
Rhododendrons can get quite large and are best not planted in the foreground of the garden. Moerdyke suggests "using a foundation plant," such as azalea, in front of them.
Rhododendrons can be pruned, and often should be, as they can easily get leggy and misshapen. Upon close examination of their branches, one can find tiny green growth buds, and if you prune the branch back to just above that node, a new shoot will emerge there.
David Walzer is a landscape contractor and owner of Earth Art Landscape Design. Contact him at 234-9472.
If You Go
WHAT: Meeting of the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. Slide show of local gardens. Bring flower trusses.
WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday.
WHERE: Live Oak Senior Center, 1777 Capitola Road, Santa Cruz.
DETAILS: 685-2915.
WHAT: The 35th annual Rhododendron Flower Show of the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society.
WHEN: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 28.
WHERE: Lumbermens Garden Center, 235 River St., Santa Cruz.
COST: Admission is free.
DETAILS: 685-2915.
WHAT: The American Rhododendron Society 2007 Convention.
WHEN: April 12-15. Garden tours daily throughout Bay Area; Santa Cruz tour on Saturday; speakers at evening dinners.
WHERE: Embassy Suites Hotel, 250 Gateway Blvd., South San Francisco.
COST: Tours and dinners priced individually, $48-$58.
DETAILS: www.ars2007conf.org.
WHAT: Bay Laurel Nursery.
WHERE: Scotts Valley.
DETAILS: Call 596-1972 for directions and to set up an appointment for a self-guided tour of the nursery and gardens.
Planting rhododendrons
Rhododendrons need lots of organic matter in their soil mix and like acidic soil and good drainage. Mix half organic compost or acid planting mix with your native soil and loosen the roots a bit if your plant is rootbound. Rhododendrons have a wide but shallow root system so dig your holes wide and amend the soil accordingly. Some rhododendron growers create large mounds of amended soil and plant their rhododendrons in these mounds.
