LD 413 The Rhododendron Season

The spring has been very cold - far colder than last year -  and the rhododendron season is only just starting (though of course different types of rhododendrons flower at different times of year, including a few  in mid winter) .

We have a number of Spring and early Summer varieties , as most grow well in Argyll, and this one is just coming into gorgeous profusion.   

Rhododendron Ponticum, the commonest  and very invasive type with a distinctive purple flower that can be seen right across the west coast of Scotland  is however not out yet, though May is its usual month.   The buds are also quite small on the few that we allow to grow up by our gate, always mindful that it can take over big areas if left unchecked and is very hard to eliminate once it has done so.