Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the genus Rhododendron. They bloom in the spring and their flowers often last several weeks. Shade tolerant, they prefer living near or under trees. Plant enthusiasts have selectively bred azaleas for hundreds of years. This has produced thousands of different cultivars. (Source: Wikipedia)
In the cemetery where I frequently walk, one of the major paths is lined with birch trees with azalea bushes growing underneath. The first ones to spring into bloom (last week) were the yellow ones shown in my previous post. This week followed by the ones above, which are kind of pinkish orange. We had a couple of really summery days at the beginning of this week - above 20'C on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the temperature dropped back to just around 11'C again, though - and with quite strong winds blowing as well. (Winter jacket back on when I went out for my walk!) Still sunny and no rain, though. On the whole we've had a very dry spring here - as I also read about in blogs from the UK. In the cemetery, sprinklers have been on this week, watering lawns and flower beds.
Absolutely beautiful. Our local parks have azaleas and rhododendrons blooming at the moment.
ReplyDeleteAddy, we too have some rhododendrons in bloom already, but most of those are a bit later than the azaleas.
DeleteThe darling buds of May. Smashing photos.
ReplyDeleteAzaleas are stunning at this time of year, and a beautiful sight, especially on a dull day.
ReplyDeleteThose look beautiful and such a lovely colour.
ReplyDeleteThe weather really is strange this year. The north has had dry and sunny days and we have had rain and cloud for days with hardly a hint of sunshine. I am still wearing winter clothes on the morning dog walk.Usually my winter clothes are put away by now.
Carol, my warmest winter clothes went down to my basement storage room weeks ago, but there's one that gets to stay in my wardrobe upstairs all year round, just because one never quite knows! ...
DeleteWhat a gorgeous display!
ReplyDeleteThere's something quietly beautiful about the rhythm of seasons in a place like that—azaleas blooming beneath birches, bursts of color against shifting weather, and the careful human touch of sprinklers keeping it all alive through a dry spring.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blossoms! I hope you will like the ones I am going to show on my blog next week, when I write my summary of this passing week; on Monday, after O.K. and I arrived from Austria at my place in the early afternoon, we walked in the palace grounds where the large rhododendron bushes were at their most gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteIt's been warm here until yesterday, when the temperature dropped and strong winds make it feel even colder than it is, plus the wind dries quickly whatever humidity the soil gets over night. This morning, we had 6C, but it is supposed to get to around 17C in the afternoon, and warm up to the 20s over the weekend.
We're still a bit behind you here, Meike, and most of the rhododendrons here are not in full bloom yet. They're usually a bit later than the azaleas even if it varies a bit between varieties. Looking forward to your photos from the palace grounds :)
DeleteVery pretty. I have one in my front garden that's bright pink
ReplyDelete