Remember Rescue Rhodie?

It took a year, but this guy is making a valiant comeback.

Oh wow! That's inspiring. What's the background? Did you find it in the trash or some such?

As for your garden bed, there's not a weed in sight! It's looking grand ....

It came from a lot that was being cleared to build a home. It was hidden back in the woods and the strange fellow who brought it to me rescued it. It didn't look well at all!

He must have sensed your green thumb and nurturing ways. It gives me hope because i tend to panic when a plant starts to look as if it's in decline in some way. I need to have more faith that plants can get sick and recover, just as our human bodies so often do.

The new fruit trees hubby and i brought home are still in their pots (we're still collecting more, and want to have them all before we plant them so they can be properly positioned). The past few days, i've noticed some of the leaves are getting blotchy and yellow, and i'm starting to worry that they're dying before my very eyes! (I may be overwatering.) But i think i have to learn that the occasional wonkey leaves are all part of the vicissitudes of gardening. Ever eager to learn, i'm still going to pluck a leaf and take it to the nursery this coming weekend to see if they know what the issue is and if it's something i can correct. But i no longer feel as if the trees are failing now that they're under my care. :)

Enough blather from me.

Wonderful job KatyMac. Thank you for sharing the story.

Katy, what a success story - love it!

Estreya, I'm sure you'll find out all is well with your trees!!!

Wow, that even looks like it could be our native one! Very cool that you saved it. I'll bet you make the guy's day who brought it to you every time he drives by and sees it getting healthy.

It's a lovely color as well ... i didn't know we HAD a native one! That explains why i've occasionally seen them on my hikes. I think to myself, "A rhododendron? Here? In the middle of the woods? How can it be?"

:)

Hi Estreya,

Yep, here's a link from WSU

http://cahedb.wsu.edu/nativePlant/scripts/webDisplayPlant.asp?ID=nv038

Would you look at that! What a font of knowledge you are, susybell. Katymac, it must be doubly satisfying to know you restored to heath something so cherished in our woods!

Thanks Estreya, but there are other people in this forum who know LOTS more about natives than I do! But, I do think we're lucky to have such nice natives to work with, though.

Katy, it looks great!

Wow what a dandy rescue. Keep up the great work!

Susybell what wonderful info to pass on Thanks.

The first month I had it, it blew over twice! I thought it was a goner fer shure! In the first photo you can just see where I sort of loosely tied it upright with wires covered with plastic tubing on three metal stakes. I took out the stakes last week, I think its roots are established now.