Great Laurel

Now more commonly called rhododendron, there are more than 1,000 species of the family Ericaceae. The western side of Pacific Northwest is famous for its wide variety of rhododendrons that bloom from early to late spring. 

Rhododendron is the state flowers of both Washington and West Virginia and it is also the national flower of Nepal.

Featured in the extra is a damselfly. While sitting on the deck of our new house which overlooks a wetland, it landed on a teacup.