Rhododendron: The 102nd Flower of Spring & Summer

Here's another flowering bush that was planted here by previous owners, and I admire both its lovely blossoms and its drought-tolerance! It never gets watered and somehow stays alive, seeming to do fine in the hot and dry summers we have here, as well as the freezing winters.

Did you know that there are over 1000 species of wild Rhododendron and over 28,000 cultivated species?! WOW!! This beautiful and extremely popular flowering shrub is native to most parts of the world except Africa and South America, and it's the national flower of Nepal. Many Rhododendrons are evergreens (including ours), which adds to their popularity as a landscaping plant. Some tropical species are epiphytes, growing on the sides of trees! Finally, did you know that Azaleas are actually a type of Rhododendron?! No wonder they look so similar!! :D

If you would like to know more about Rhododendrons, Wiki has a great page here: Wiki: Rhododendron. Also, if you want more information and lots of pictures, The American Rhododendron Society also has a wonderful site!