Monday 8 June 2009

Pure Gold

Azalea 'Klondyke' - pure gold outside my window.

Purchased around 12 years ago from Thorp Perrow Arboretum, this lovely Azalea has been potted on and on into bigger tubs.

The corner of the garden is in shadow most of the day. Here basking in the evening sunshine with 'Klondyke' are hostas, ferns, skimmia and the little mauve Cymbelaria muralis.


Earlier flowers still in bud - and the beginning of the perfume of paradise.

A last lingering golden gaze before sundown.

14 comments:

Diane AZ said...

What a treat, I haven't seen Azaleas for many years, and I never saw them in a gold color. Your glowing Klondyke looks beautiful next to the fern.

Prospero said...

What a joyous color. Your evenings must be suffused with the gold drenched allure of this grand azalea. A true gem of a plant.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Wow, that's a beautiful azalea. I haven't seen many azaleas in the yellow family before. I like how it looks in the grouping of pots.

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Diane. The gold and yellow ones seem to have the best fragrances, which is why I went for that colour. It was only after buying it I realized what a wonderful glow it has!

Phoenix C. said...

Prospero, thank you. Our evenings are indeed enchanted by the azalea's allure!

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Catherine. I like to have lots of tubs, so I can change plants round as they bloom.

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

I didn't realize azaleas could be gold--that's a big shrub of sunshine and it sounds like you have it in the perfect location!

Phoenix C. said...

It does seem to like it's shady corner, Monica.

The first time I became aware of the existence of azaleas was in a wood in Cleveland. I could smell the most heavenly perfume, and as I rounded a corner of the path, there were two large sprawling azalea bushes in yellow and orange. That was when I decided I wanted one and a few years later I found mine!

Rob (ourfrenchgarden) said...

That is so gold.

Some Azalea can look almost unreal to me. This however is really something.

It looks incredible in that light.

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Rob. It does seem to have an incandescent light of its own!

I'm trying to propagate it - have one little plantlet so far!

Barbara Martin said...

I have never seen Azaleas this colour before...wonderful. Nor did I realize you can repot the plant into larger pots.

Phoenix C. said...

Barbara, I always know when the Azalea is ready for potting on when it has just a few blooms! The prolific display this year is a result of the nice big tub I moved it to last year!

Anna said...

Now that looks a gem. I have a friend who is into azaleas in a big way and does a lot of propagating. I wonder if she has this one and possibly one to spare :)

Phoenix C. said...

I'd be interested to know how your friend does her propagating of Azaleas, Anna - I've not had very much success!