Being snowed in has lost its allure.
In late January, loony Mother Nature sent nor’easter Juno to wreak her snowy havoc upon us: Ornamental trees were buried by half, outdoor benches largely disappeared, and doors of our home were blocked by over 2 feet of packed snow, cutting off all access to the world outside.
copyright 2015 – Lois Sheinfeld
copyright 2015 – Lois Sheinfeld
To add insult to injury, even if we managed to escape, our extremely long driveway was impassable. No possible ingress or egress by car or foot. Scary. So, after careful consideration, I took the only reasonable course of action left to me: I’m in denial.
It’s not a bad place to be. I can ignore all the above and lose myself in dreams of Spring. In May, snowy white is a good thing, especially when it is produced by two accomplished Long Island, New York, plantsmen/breeders: the late Jim Cross with Rhododendron ‘Jolly Jim’ and Werner Brack with Rhododendron ‘White Elegance’. (Photos below in order of mention.)
copyright 2013 – Lois Sheinfeld
copyright 2014 – Lois Sheinfeld
Both plants are rarely available in the trade. For an opportunity to purchase these and other unique beauties, mark your calendars for the 2015 October 16-18 American Rhododendron Society Regional Conference on Long Island.
Much to look forward to.
UPDATE ALERT: You don’t have to wait until October to acquire the fabulous Rhododendron ‘White Elegance’; a limited number of plants will be available at the May 16, 2015 Plant Sale of The New York Chapter, American Rhododendron Society, to be held at Planting Fields, Long Island. Chapter website: nyrhododendron.org .