If bees could pay in cash (or gold), then I was going to be a millionaire by now. We have the following evergreen rhododendron in our front lawn. This is the largest one. We have about three more on the side lawn.
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Can you see one of the other rhododendron peeking out from the far-side in the top second picture. I can't have enough of their beauties; try to take the shots from every possible angle; in every possible mode at all times. The last picture in the second row is that of a night shot.
I have not planted these trees. I live in a house that is 103 years old and it has the still original shape, structure, design, foundation, basement, wooden floor, the door latches(knobs) and keys and all the door/windows' border/framework (whatever those things are called). It's fun to stay in this old house as all the floors all the time creeks; bathroom doors do not have any lock; the rule of the house is if the bathroom doors are closed, that means someone is inside and no one should barge in without knocking; the closet doors are such that if one gets locked inside, one will not be able to come out as there are no locks inside; no wood work can be done inside the house unless it's absolute emergency; anytime we ask any constructor to fix anything, he starts salivating over the wood and advices us that such chestnut, pine wood are no longer available!! Why am I rambling about our house instead of the garden? Well, what I am trying to say is that whoever stayed in this house took great care of the house and the yard. One person or perhaps many person, over the years, whoever stayed in this house planted all these azaleas, rhodendrons, dogwood, evergreens and other many flowering trees around the front, side and back yard of the house. They seemed to have much knowledge as varieties of such trees were planted; the locations provided the exact requirements of the trees in terms of light, shade and soil. I do not take care of them, but they are growing big and strong. I wonder when the trees were planted, what size they were then, if the person got to see and enjoy its beauty. My humble thank you and gratitude to them wherever they might be on this earth or mixed in air.
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New growth appearing in the tree. The tree is a medium size in both height and width-wise. It's height must about ten feet; the width must about five feet or more. The second picture is that of a close-up of the bud; more blossoms soon going to boom in the third picture
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Close-up shots of the flowers.
The tree is a magnet for bees; from tiny fly-like bees to these large bees (bumble bees??) buzz around it, flying from one flower to the next. How do they choose which flower to visit? Why are they, most of the time, hovering around the top-flowers instead of the flowers at the side and bottom branches? Are enough pollen left for many bees to visit the same flower? Many such questions would crowd together in my mind as I stand mesmerized watching their activities.
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The pictures are hazy because the bees zoom around in sonic speed; difficult to catch a still-shot.
The house we are staying in now while we build is the same. My grandfather build it before electricity! However he did not like flowers so much. Veggies, he loved and grew every year. I bet your bees could not be any happier!
ReplyDeleteWow! built before electricity? That must be really old. That time people had to grow veggies as they didn't have walmart or costco to get food year round. Is your grandfather still alive? Do you get to hear stories from him? Perhaps you should share some as such stories are so fascinating to read.
DeleteYes he grew everything until about ten years ago! He grew the best peas an largest watermelons. We live next door to the bigger house he built. I have daily stories up until this past November when he had an awful burn accident. My grandmother still enjoys the newer house just not as much :( so this is a very hard time of year.
DeleteKL, how lovely to have such an old house. A home like yours would be my 'dream home'. Here in Scotland homes with such history are so expensive!!
ReplyDeleteIt must be great to have inherited such a mature garden too. That sure is a beautiful Rhododenron, I've a few more just beginning to open their buds.
I see your bathroom is like mine - nobody locks the doors, we all know when somebody is in there :)
Angie, it might not be a dream home as it is small :-). And with old house comes many problems. My dream is actually to own a castle in the UK, one day. Will it not be fascinating? I will be immersed in history then, one of my favorite subject. Of course, to own one, I either have to win a lottery or loot a bank :-).
DeleteThanks KL for your regular visit> The link from your comment to your post directed me to Nostalgia of 2011, wonder if that's intentional, so thanks that i saw your Minehaha Falls which i love. But this post, i love these flowers too, rhodos are always a come on for everybody, so sorry we can't grow them here.
ReplyDeleteHI Andrea, thank you for dropping by :-). Do drop back again. Huh! I don't know why the link took you there. I don't even update that blog anymore. This blogspot is funny. I am glad that you found your way to here, the blog that I constantly update now.
DeleteThose are some luxurious blooms! They remind me of where I grew up on Long Island where my parents had some big rhododendrums in their yard.
ReplyDeleteHey Jason, you are from LI :-)? I spent 8 years there and love every part of LI though it is losing its beauty, becoming congested and also lots of crime :-(. But, still I love it. My hubby goes there everyday to work.
DeleteYou must have a wonderful home. I once lived in an old home like that - well over 100 years old. It had such character and charm, and was solidly built. I love your rhododendrons. I understand you being captivated by their beauty. How wonderful to have a landscape that works well with the house, and that works with the site and conditions, too. And I bet the bees have grown to expect those big, numerous blooms every spring.
ReplyDeleteHolleyGarden, thank you :-). I think it has nice charm; for example, the porch is that from 1910. I can sit there and imagine the world around it in 1910, old grandmas rocking there with grandchildren around them and talking to neighbors. I hope the bees have grown to expect such but these year, there are so few bees :-(. I am worried.
DeleteYou are so fortunate to live in an old house with a ditto old garden. My house is from around 1880, but these London Victorian houses didn’t have gardens originally, the back of the house was where the outdoor toilet was and where they washed and hung their washing. The gardens came late 1950s to mid 1960, so did indoor toilet and plumbing. I think my big camellia is as old as the garden is, but I don’t know, it’s hard to tell, it just looks very old, but it can’t be older than when they installed plumbing so late 1950.
ReplyDeleteYour rhododendrons are lovely, I have two in my garden and one azalea, but they are all much smaller size of course, to fit my tiny garden :-)
Helene..Uh Hu..a victorian house, eh? You are so lucky :-) as I was brought up reading so much about all these (you know India was under British rule; so I think we know more about old Britain than even Britain does ;-) ), that I am fascinated by all these.
DeleteI hope one day to have such beautiful flowering trees around the property and maybe see them in all their glory...your house and garden sound fabulous.
ReplyDeleteDonna, actually it looks pretty wild. I don't like killing any living creature unless absolutely required. Thus, now and then, the place gets run down by weeds and all beauties get lost :-).
DeleteThose Rhododendrons are gorgeous. Still waiting for them to flower here. No sign of Summer yet.
ReplyDelete"Where ever you might be on this earth or mixed in air"....KL, I'm not sure I've ever read such a beautiful description of the gratitude you feel for the people long gone who provided you with such beauty. People say that about trees too-- that we don't plant them for ourselves, but for the generations that will follow us. Anyway, thank you for suggesting this Rhodie. It is absolutely beautiful! I love everything about it. I don't know if you know, this, but Portland, Oregon is thought to be where Rhodies grow at their best. Rhodies and Roses....a pretty nice claim to fame for a city. But I'd have to say that yours is as pretty as any I've seen anywhere!
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