Pacific Northwest Gardening: Laurie's Garden Tour 2, 1 by Jamesk

Jamesk wrote:
Pixy, I always think Rhodies look their most splendid in a wooded setting. Your red one amongst the trees is lovely.

Laurie, you'll find a lot to hate in Seattle....Rhododendrons are as common as rain in these parts. Fortunately, I like them, especially yellow ones (oddly, though, I feel the same about Forsythia as you do about Rhodies). When I bought my house here, it came with 47 Rhodies scattered around the yard. I have a pal, with sentiments similar to yours, who volunteered to bring his chain saw over (offer politely declined!).

I found new homes for several in the back garden, moved some around, but still have quite a few of them back there. When I revamp the front garden this autumn, I'll probably have to find new homes for a few more, but I have to say, big shrubs, even if they have to be moved around, make it much simpler to get a mature looking garden much quicker.

Here's a snap of my favorite, just to the west of of the driveway, under an enormous old cherry.