What a difference a week can make. At the end of May, the buds on this rhododendron tree had come out of hiding but were still tightly closed. I had just visited Bodnant Garden and seen all of the flowering rhododendrons there, so I was anxious to see this tree bloom.
Just a week later, I walked into the garden and noticed that the flowers had burst open. The tree that looked a bit spindly and spiky at the end of May was full of fuchsia pom poms by June. I’m also learning to enjoy each of these phases in my garden as they come — because I know the blooms won’t last long.
Rhododendrons budding on May 31
Rhododendrons flowering on June 6
Expat Linguist 