Pacific Northwest Gardening: Laurie's Garden Tour 2, 0 by

wrote:
Okay, You do know that bats are not birds, right Portland? That was just putting them in the same category with 'flying creatures', right?

I am all for bat houses. My husband and I make a ritual every spring of watching for the first bat to return. In the summer we enjoy laying in the hammock out in the garden as the sun starts to go down, watching the bats come out of the trees and fly around. I do love them. I installed a bat house a few years ago after doing extensive research on the kind of bat we have, the size of house they need, etc. Much of the info I got was from Bats Northwest. I built the house myself according to plans from, I think, their website. If it wasn't their site, it was another bat oriented site. No bats. Nada. Not even bat guano. Possibly they have enough roosting places around here, but we continue to be disappointed. Maybe this year. The house is hung in full sun on the side of a large fir tree, really far up off the ground. Maybe they just hate us! WAAAHHHHH!

James, I have a weakness for nice rhododendrons. I have yet to purchase one of the blue rhodies, but it's still on my list for the yard. I have 3/4 acre and it's one garden space at a time. I love to prune rhodies and especially love salvaging old rhodies that people have let go. There is something so satisfying about it. Here is one of my favorite red rhododendrons. It was here when we moved in and although i generally would not choose red, I like it because it's in the forested part of the yard and really shows up that area.

Tills, your rhody seems to love where it is planted! That's going to be glorious when the blooms burst open.