Monthly Garden Spotlight

February

By Will Clausen

February might seem like just another winter month to some, but at the RSBG February means spring is already here. Flowers are starting to brighten up the garden, though sometimes winter weather sneaks through the gate.

• Rutherford Conservatory It is a short walk from the Visitor Center to the Conservatory, and this is a good place to start regardless of the weather. There is always something blooming in the Conservatory, but February is the prime time for flowers. Entering the relative warmth, Rhododendron boothii will be one of the first things to draw your attention. Bright, light-yellow flowers with orange stamens coordinate with the new growth which emerges while the plant is still in bloom. These rich red leaves might actually outdo the flowers and are covered in long, fine, white hairs which really glow when the sun hits them just right. Growing low among the ferns near the waterfall is Rhododendron pauciflorum, a species with flowers which rank among the smallest in the genus. Though insignificant in terms of size and number, the flowers are a bold red. Swinging past the back door, a large shrub with flashy crimson flowers is growing between the glass windows and the path. This is Rhododendron vialii. Many other treasures are blooming in the Conservatory now, so take your time looking around before heading out into the garden.

• Lower Woodland Even though February is the unofficial official start of serious flower season at the RSBG, it is still a good time to appreciate bark. Rhododendron falconeri falconeri and R. arizelum are a couple of highlights in this part of the garden. Both have smooth bark in shades of cinnamon which peels off in sheets as the plants mature, somewhat reminiscent of madrona bark. Don’t get too swept up by all of that and miss the flowers though. A big, old Rhododendron ririei, one of the largest specimens in the garden, should be in full bloom with pink flowers that really stand out in the still somewhat stark landscape. Meanwhile, R. moupinense can be found in several spots in the Lower Woodland. Their white to pink-blushed flowers are beautiful and larger than the leaves.

• Trillium Trail & Pond Garden Connect to the Pond Garden via the recently created Trillium Trail. Later in the month if the weather has been warm, check for the first signs of growth as the earliest trilliums might be just starting to emerge from the ground. On a cold day, this is one of the best spots in the garden to see a startling adaptation, called thermonasty, that many Rhododendron species have developed to cope with low temperatures. Along the trail Rhododendron davidii, huanum, and R. asterochnoum leaves droop on the branch and curl up nearly as tight as a rolled cigarette in order to protect themselves from damage. Not to worry, they will be back to normal when the temperature rises again. On the far side of the pond, a grove of R. lanigerum will be blooming with large trusses in shades of red and pink as long as the temperatures haven’t dipped too low. Unfortunately, freezing temperatures tend to spell doom for open flowers, and bright colors soon turn to brown mush. On the odd snowy day, check the R. mallotum just uphill of the Pond Garden in the Stumpery. This species displays some of the greatest foliage in the genus, and it is special to see the leaves dusted with snow.

On the way out, it might be wise to stop through the Conservatory once more to check for any flowers you missed and to warm up a little. See you in March!

Click on images below for full-size photos.