Azalea

This bright little character took me completely by surprise last week. I had no memory of planting it! How did that happen? Probably it was quite small last year, so small as to be forgettable, but not every plant, bush and flower in the garden is destined to be a memorable star — at least not in its first year. The red rhododendron I recently featured here was inconsequential (even a bit poorly) for at least two years, but I’ve seen specimens in the neighborhood studded with bright red flowers and as tall as a house. I read once in one of the gardening magazines that if you’re looking to add flowers and plants to your garden and you’ve admired something in your neighbourhood it’s likely that plant will do well in your yard, too.