Ok so I admit it was that line “Famous for the Rare and Unusual” that got me. How could I resist? However I think I’ve been forever ruined by the Rare Plant Research open house, where you will see the truly rare and unusual. Still we enjoyed wandering the grounds on one of the first truly warm days of the season. We practically had the entire place to ourselves, it was lovely. There were several amazing rhododendron trees, including the one pictured above. Its leaves were huge and bent backwards and down towards the ground. I mistakenly thought they were in that position because Eugene had set a record cold temperature the night before (28 – burr!) but we were told that was normal. I thought the tree growing inside the greenhouse (below) was a great image, although part of it looked to be dead. I managed to come away empty handed, except for a free copy of their mail order catalog. 
I just can't wait to get down there! It's high on my list of things to do now that I have some free time on my hands. I better hurry, I don't want to miss the magnolia show.
ReplyDeleteThe magnolias were magnificent but there were a ton of other things that weren't even starting to put on their show. It'll be worth it when ever you go. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteI was just visited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture concerning the rhododendrons I purchased from Greer Gardens this Spring(4/09).Greer plants have been found to test positive for Sudden Oak Death (SOD), a fungus disease that is fatal to Live Oaks and a host of other species including rhodies. azaleas, red buds and dogwoods, all of which are in my Texas landscape. This disease has no current remedy. Plants found to be infected by USDA Lab tests must be burned or buried six feet deep, and all potential host plants within a 10 meter area must be similarly destroyed per the USDA Inspector. For more info on SOD the USDA website is www.aphis.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/sod/
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