Month: October 2013

Rhododendrons 101

Rhododendrons 101

DSCF7719Members and guests of Chester Garden Club’s were recently treated to an informative presentation by Cora Swinamer, president of the Atlantic Rhododendron and Horticultural Society.   Cora, whose firm Under the Arbor has been designing gardens for clients along Nova Scotia’s South Shore for over ten years, has a special fondness for Rhodos, which do particularly well in this climate.

In addition to many colourful slides* used to illustrate her talk, Cora handed out a list of the many varieties of  Rhodendrons and Azaleas that have been proven to be good performers in our province.

Rhodo "Hong Kong"
Rhododendron “Hong Kong”

The 39 rhododendrons listed were classed as either Elepidotes, which are the large-leaf plants, or Lepidotes, the small-leafed varieties;  or as Azaleas – either deciduous or evergreen.   As a tip and memory aid, Cora suggested that the spelling of Lepidote reminds many gardeners of the word “leprechaun”, and someone else chimed in that the initial letters of Elepidote resemble the start of the word “elephant”, so that it should be easy to remember which description fits which category in the future!

Azalea "Chelsea peach"
Azalea “Chelsea Peach”, with a white Azalea “Shanty” in the background

All the plants on the list were characterized as to zone tolerance, height, approximate bloom-time, and colour; qualities that are important considerations when selecting any plant for any garden.

Rhododendron "English roseum"
Rhododendron “English roseum”

Cora pointed out that site conditions are also important when choosing which plant to add to one’s garden. Rhodos require  soil with good drainage, thrive in acidic soil, and do well in some shade, although, in Nova Scotia, full sun exposure is not a problem.  A useful tip is that “the larger the leaf, the more shade the plant can tolerate.” Exposure to cold weather and stiff winds can cause broad-leafed plants to suffer so, in some cases, a deciduous azalea might be a better choice for planting since they drop their leaves in cold weather.

Azalea "Flame"
Azalea “Flame”

Cora’s presentation covered many aspects of tending to rhododendrons, including planting, mulching, dead-heading, pruning, and dealing with the one pest that seems to affect these plants: the Black Vine Weevil.  She also clarified the terms “tomentosum”  and “indumentum” –  the fine or matted wooly hair growing on the upper and under side of leaves of some varieties of rhodos. Several lucky members of the audience took home cuttings from a rhododendron branch that Cora had used in her presentation.

* Note:  The photos used in this post are not Cora’s but come from a Chester garden.

Changing Colours Usher in New Season

Changing Colours Usher in New Season

As if on cue, the second week of October has DSCF7620brought the first real hint of fall colours to the Chester area. Among the first plants to show their “true colours” were the sumacs which, when backlit by the autumn sun,  glowed with a wide range of reds – blending subtle shades of scarlet, crimson and burgundy.

These colours were followed within days by the lemon yellows, the peach tones and the scarlets that form the autumn dress of the hardwoods that make up a large part of our boreal forest in Nova Scotia.  The colourful palette created by the stands of white birch, trembling aspen and maples that are tucked in among the deep greens of softwoods like spruce and pine, enthralls painters and photographers alike.

sumac

DSCF7671DSCF7679Below…surprise…a lovely spider’s web was spotted early one sunny morning, with the spinner resting and watching at the centre.

spider web in sunshineAs if in response to the sudden appearance of colourful leaves on the trees in the countryside, brown-eyed susans and other autumn-flowering annuals were flaunting their bold hot colours in local gardens.

DSCF7698DSCF7700DSCF7636But, in contrast to autumn’s vibrant autumnal reds and golds, a healthy cluster of white morning glories sprawled defiantly atop a trellis.

DSCF7677While, in keeping with the season, a local nursery’s display signaled “Harvest Home”.

DSCF7697Happy Thanksgiving to all our Canadian viewers!