Beautiful Plants For Your Interior
Every year the New York Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society holds two shows at Planting Fields Arboretum, one in April for early blooming rhododendrons and one in May for later blooming plants.
For rhododendrons, only the truss is exhibited, the flowers which bloom as a group and the collar of leaves immediately surrounding the truss. Azaleas are exhibited as a spray or branch.
The show allows one to see the whole range of colors available in these plants. Most gardeners think that rhododendrons only have mauve, pink, red or white flowers. That is not the case and by visiting the show one can see the enormous variety available, basically every color in the rainbow except green.
One of the features of the show is the exhibit of new hybrid rhododendrons and azaleas exhibited by hybridizers. This is the only place where you can see these new hybrids.
There are always members at the show to answer any questions a visitor might have. We offer free collector rhododendrons to visitors who join the Society at the show. Rhododendron culture is VERY important and the show gives visitors an opportunity to get culture questions answered by the members. Visitors can also find out when the Society will have garden tours in the spring on Long Island. Visiting existing rhododendron gardens is a wonderful way to see the entire plant, not only the truss and again a way to see proper rhododendron culture.