February Meeting

by Evelyn Weesjes

Clint Smith of Benjamins Rhododendrons, always popular and our perennial February speaker, was back again and this time his talk was ‘In Search of Rhododendrons’.

Many years ago, Clint had been invited to go on a rhododendron expedition to Sikkim but declined after learning of the perils entailed. Fearing the leeches might dine too well on him, or that should he break a leg the native porters would be in dire peril trying to carry him out, Clint opted to limit his search for rhododendrons to those cultivated in the old estates of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Besides, he reasoned correctly, he was likely to see more rhododendron species in these gardens than in the wild because they had received the seeds from the early plant explorers.

Clint’s slides were a collage of all the gardens he deemed the best in his travels on both sides of the world. Since he likes the big-leaved varieties, he started off by showing the huge plant of R. ‘Fortune’ covered with masses of large yellow trusses growing at Exbury. Also there, was a true R. sinogrande, another magnificent big-leaved plant which Clint feels is not true in so many other gardens.

Several rock gardens including those at Exbury, Leonardslee, Edinburgh and Dunedin (N.Z.) were compared in their lay-out and their plantings of dwarf rhododendrons each with its special features. Clint rates Edinburgh very highly for its extensive landscape and collection of ericaceous plants. More than a day would be needed to fully cover all its features.

Then off to New Zealand where the masses of deciduous azaleas at the Christchurch Botanic Garden put on a spectacular show of colour. Clint believes that the New Zealand climate and soil promotes lush growth and makes the flower colours more vibrant than on this continent. The gardens of Pukeiti have been developed on a scale that enables room for the rhododendrons to show their true potential. The tree ferns add to the sense of scale and make admirable companion plants. Clint rated Pukeiti as one of the ten best gardens for its plant collections. The mild climate in New Zealand also makes it possible to grow all the Maddenii’s outside and their lush beauty and fragrance made an unforgettable impression. Vireyas also grow outside, are very colourful and are kept compact by rigorous pinching. Clint also mentioned that the Lofthouse hybrids grew so much better and had more intense colour there than when grown in our climate.

Back in England at Sheffield Park, an arboretum with over six hundred tree varieties, Clint showed a very impressive Kalmia plant which measured 20 feet tall and 70 feet in breadth. Another highly rated garden is Windsor Great Park where the Queen’s garden has an excellent collection of rhododendron species.

Seen at Mount Usher in Ireland was the best R. falconeri ssp. eximium in full bloom that Clint had ever laid eyes on. In another Irish garden, holes had been carved out of a rock cliff and planted with rhododendrons and about one hundred years later they still looked good. Clint holds strong beliefs that rhododendrons need sharp drainage and do better planted either on a slope or in raised beds. In gardens where the ground was flat he thought the growth of rhododendrons was not so good.

Clint ranged around the world in his search for rhododendrons to show us his selection of the best gardens and plants and we can agree with him that they are all very spectacular. Where better to see such a wide range of rhododendron species and in comfort too. Sure beats being blood-sucked by leeches.

Thanks, Clint. See you next February.