Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, set deep in downtown Portland, Oregon, neighboring Reed College, executed it’s amazing Spring showcase of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Mariesii Viburnums and the likes in spectacular fashion this week. I feel incredibly lucky to have caught things in this state – as one can see, the thrills just never stop. Well, yes, I AM somewhat easy to please, but just the same, it’s looking spectacular by any criterion.

A big theme at this early Spring blooming period is the color Blue:

(Click any image to enlarge)

Blue, blue and more blue, these gorgeous Rhodies deliver with some impact.

They play well with others…………

 

 

And they stand alone quite nicely as well!

And now for the Meat and Potatoes, a minimum of writing today, just pretty pictures of real plants, doing real things, for which we should all be grateful.

Here’s some stunning Spring color:

And more………….

 

Just keep scrolling……………..  😉

Mixes well with Gunnera…………..

🙂

and cherry blossoms…………………….

These segmented blooms may be my favorite.

I have often felt the reddest reds in Nature are rhododendrons…………see what you think –

 

 

Heck, even hillbillies like Chris and Bob like these Rhodies!  Yeeee Hawwww!!

Honestly, the day has been so great, you could talk with a post. Everyone was boucy and gregarious, talking with new friends and “Ooohing” and “Ahhhing” together over such splendid stuff. I met some truly wonderful people, talked long and hard about Louisville, Portland and plants, plants, plants. There was pretty much nothing not to like.

Less than nothing, actually.

I mean, how on Earth can one complain while in the middle of all this?

And such an amazing canopy.

3-4 great little creeks and waterfalls……………quieting things and producing that famously peace-making trickle that water uses to sooth the troubled mind.

You can take stuff less seriously with your soul filled up with natural beauty.

Even the Mollis Azaleas, those pedestrian suckers, get a nice long look for being so darn pretty.

Hanging around is also popular…….

 

 

 

I’m wrapping this one up. I’ll gladly continue it in a day or two.