Rhododendron strigillosum

Rhododendron strigillosum is just starting to bloom. It’s one of the very earliest of reds and a magnificent bloom it is. During this week of relentless rain, flood alerts and storm warnings, these beauties brighten the garden and certainly stir the soul. They open, one blossom at a time, so the trusses take a while to reach magnificence and the leisurely unfurling provides a longer show. Of my three plants, this one is already fully open while the other two are just tantalizing with a single open flower here and there.