My Blooming Azalea Grove
If you're in or around Germantown, Maryland tomorrow, May 21st, be sure to stop in at White's Nursery for their annual Spring Open House Sale from 9am to 5pm. Their collection of azaleas and rhododendrons is amazing.
Last year, I decided to design a new garden along two sides of the carriage road between my Summer House and my stable. I wanted to add lots of colorful azaleas - a variety of unique specimens in shades of pink, orange, crimson, and white. I already have many azaleas growing and flourishing in this area, but I wanted to expand this azalea grove and add many, many more. We planted at least 350 azaleas down the road - most of them from White's Nursery. And this year, they're blooming magnificently.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- If you follow this blog regularly, you may recall the day we unloaded all these gorgeous azaleas. Many of them came from White’s Nursery in Germantown, Maryland. White’s Nursery specializes in azaleas as well as rhododendrons. It has more than 350 varieties of evergreen azaleas such as Glenn Dale, Bowie Mill, Satsuki, Robin Hill, and many others. In addition, there is a wide selection of deciduous and native azaleas, and some fragrant varieties.
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- This photo is from last May just as we were starting to plant. Before any planting could be done, my gardeners sorted the plants and arranged them by color and variety.
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- Earlier this winter, I instructed my outdoor grounds crew to use any old burlap to cover the areas surrounding the azaleas. I wanted to get rid of the grass and have the space entirely mulched to cut down on mowing and to enhance the appearance of the garden.
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- Holes were cut around the plants.
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- And then the mulch was placed around each specimen on both sides of the carriage road. I am fortunate to be able to make mulch right here at my Bedford, New York farm.
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- Here is one section of the grove all mulched and groomed.
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- And within the last few weeks, all the azaleas have erupted with gorgeous color. Mulch protects Azalea roots and helps keep the soil consistently moist and well-drained.
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- Here is a beautiful light pink to white azalea. I wanted to keep similar colors together. Azaleas prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, or filtered light. Hot all-day sun can stress the plants and make them more susceptible to pests.
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- This azalea is one of my mature specimens – it continues to flourish year after year. It is important when planting azaleas to consider the specimen’s mature height. Some azaleas, including native types, can reach towering heights of 20 feet or more. Dwarf azaleas grow two to three feet tall, and many garden azaleas stay four to six feet in height with as wide a spread.
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- Azaleas are native to several continents including Asia, Europe, and North America. These plants can live for many years, and they continue to grow their entire lives.
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- Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the Ericaceae family, which includes blueberries and mountain laurel. They are also all rhododendrons and members of the genus Rhododendron.
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- These azaleas look so beautiful grouped together and mulched.
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- Azaleas are generally healthy, easy to grow plants. Some azaleas bloom as early as March, but most bloom in April and May with blossoms lasting several weeks.
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- The tube-shaped base of the flower contains a stamen that protrudes from the center. The leaves are often evergreen with wooly undersides.
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- Azalea flowers can be single, hose-in-hose, double or double hose-in-hose, depending on the number of petals.
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- I made hundreds of these markers to place around the azaleas to hlep identify them. Some of the varieties we have here include Azalea ‘Dr. Henry Schroeder”, Azalea ‘Fancy Nancy’, Azalea ‘Tradition’, Azalea ‘Delaware Valley White’, Azalea ‘Mattie Baron’, Azalea ‘Stewartstonian’, Azalea ‘Blaauws Pink’, yellow Azalea Narcissiflora, and Azalea ‘Cannon’s Double’.
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- Azalea petal shapes vary greatly. They range from narrow to triangular to overlapping rounded petals. They can also be flat, wavy or ruffled. Many azaleas have two to three inch flowers and range in a variety of colors from pink to white to purple, red, orange and yellow.
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- The best time to shop for azaleas is when they are in bloom so you can see their flower colors and forms.
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- Azaleas have short root systems, so they can easily be transplanted in early spring or early fall. just be careful not to plant too deep, and water thoroughly after transplanting.
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- Remember, never eat azaleas. Like its cousin the rhododendron, the azalea is a toxic plant, and all parts of the plant are poisonous, including the honey from the flowers.
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- Azalea Exbury orange is an upright growing deciduous azalea that explodes with giant trusses of vibrant orange flowers in early to mid-May.
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- I just love how the rich bold colors of azaleas look in the gardens. All the new azaleas are great additions to this area of the farm. The beautiful displays will get even more stunning in the years to come. Remember to stop by White’s Nursery if you’re in Maryland this weekend! You’ll love their offerings… I think I will get some more too!
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