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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

What's The Attraction?

Last week, I mentioned our house was built in 1891.  With so many families over the past 100 plus years calling it home, many plants and trees have been added on nearly every side of the house. By the time we purchased it, the gardens had become overgrown and wild after years of being neglected.  As part of the renovation we did a few years ago, I took on the additional challenge of taming the gardens and trying to whip the grounds back into shape.

Last Fall, the old spindly rhododendron received a hell of a trimming so it wouldn't continue to overshadow and crowd the lush greenery around it.  I was worried that if it survived the butchering I gave it, it would be a long time before it bloomed again, after all, nearly half of it was carted away.

So imagine my surprise the other morning as I headed down the stairs in my pj's and noticed a woman with a big fancy camera out on the lawn.  I paused for a second and as I did, she looked up and saw me peering out the window at her.  She smiled and pointed to the gardens under the window so I just smiled and nodded "okay".

Later that morning I headed outside to see what the big attraction was.

And here's what I saw!


That old rhododendron now in full bloom, the healthiest and fullest I've seen it since we moved in!

What a beauty, no wonder she stopped to take a photo!


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34 comments:

Dual Mom said...

Wow Deb! It was obviously just what the rhodies needed. They can be finicky shrubs. I'm going to have to hack mine back in the fall...see if I get the same results!

Amber said...

Beautiful!

June said...

My rhododendron is not happy and I have yet to see it bloom like this.. Time to relocate it for the 3rd time!

That is a spectacular show of flowers - WOW!

Simply Suthern said...

Lovely.

Mae Rae said...

wow, those are truly BEAUTIFUL!

Mae Rae said...

wow, those are truly BEAUTIFUL!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous.. absolutely gorgeous

melissa said...

Wow so pretty! I love those.

Helene said...

Wow!!!!! They're beautiful!!! Definitely something to be enjoyed!!

Danielle said...

Absolutley breath taking!

Shannon K. said...

I may have stopped to snap some photos off too! You should have asked her to email you some ;) I can imagine that would have been a bit bewildering though.

SuziCate said...

Gorgeous! Thanks for letting us take a peek!

Heather said...

I have never ever heard of this plant, but man it sure is pretty!

Makes me want to get out of the house and wander into peoples yards!

Annsterw said...

Absolutely beautiful!!!!!

Linda Medrano said...

Mine is in full bloom now too, but the flowers are blue. (I know that has something to do with acidity but I want them pink and don't know how to accomplish that!) Any ideas?

kyooty said...

They are totally gorgeous!!! I had a HUGE batch of these at my New England house but I didn't know what to do with them, so I didn't. This house? has some other plants that I will need to work at. Any idea what to do with a Burning Bush? (haha and I just went to gutterville))

Babes Mami said...

I love that color! How great that it bloomed so prettily! Is that even a word? :]

happynester said...

soo lovely!
and very jealous! i cannot seem to grow rhodos here.. too cold.
but i have a slight addiction to collecting hydrangeas!

looks great!

cheri said...

sometimes, all the plants just need a little attention. like giving them a trim :)

love your flowers :)

BigSis said...

That is BEAUTIFUL!

Bunnym said...

Stunning! Someone has a green thumb.

tootles,
bunny

Liz Mays said...

Is that ever fantastic? You did a great job out there. Utterly gorgeous.

Respectfully Yours said...

Wow, that looks spectacular...I love it. Great job.

We will call you "green thumb" from now on.

Rose said...

the flowers are beautiful. we bought an older home and had the same flowers in bloom. just a wonderful gift.

Unknown said...

How beautiful!

Lydia

Janie B said...

WOW!! That is incredibly beautiful! Love the color.

jules said...

That's beautiful. My rhododendron is a spindly little thing. Maybe I need to butcher it this fall...

Tammy said...

I love lavendar rhodies...ours are all pink and I want lavendar!!!

Beautiful...we had a good year over here with blooming rhodies too!

Unknown said...

I definitely agree...that's a beautiful picture! I'm impressed with your gardening skills. I haven't seen such gorgeous flowers in a long time.

Unknown said...

That is beautifl.That is my favorite color. BTW I have award for you. http://bit.ly/a0pUES

f8hasit said...

I've always admired rhododendrons but never had any myself! This makes me want to run to the local garden center to start one in my own yard!
Well done!

At least she wasn't taking pictures of you or your family in their pj's! Or was she....?
:-)

gayle said...

Wow they are beautiful!!

Maureen@IslandRoar said...

So beautiful! You obviously have the magic touch!

Lisa said...

The flowers are so very pretty! I'm trying to get some planted around my place. When I marrried hubby he had NOTHING planted. It was very bare and sad looking.

I know now I want a rhododendron.