Thursday, April 21, 2005
What's Blooming Today
The royal azalea, schlippenbachii; its soft, baby pink flowers are very large, like beautiful butterflies landed on a shrub that can become almost as big as a lilac.It's native to Korea and Manchuria, and has been quite hardy for me, previously in a 4b garden, and now 5a. It's said to have a faint fragrance, but it's mighty faint (it's only negative). It does need protection from the afternoon sun, as its large leaves burn easily, developing brown edges in the late summer if too much sun or not enough water, and its blossoms are so large and delicate, that they won't last well if too much wind hits them, so a nice protected spot is best for this shrub, but it's the most beautiful plant in any garden when in bloom.
// posted by IBOY @ 7:06 PM 
