Rhododendrons and citrus were my favorites of all the horticultural crops that I have been involved with. Like bamboo, Japanese maples, bare-root fruit trees and most roses, rhodies and citrus are best grown by specialty growers who can accommodate their cultural preferences. Large ‘factory’ growers efficiently grow most of the common and less demanding species, but cannot match the quality of specialty crops produced by specialty growers. For example, factory growers market rhododendrons that were either imported from the Northwest or that were grown too quickly to establish a strong root system. Because of the many cultural differences between the Northwest and the Santa Clara Valley, northwestern rhodies do not easily become established here.
Rhododendrons at Bay Laurel Nursery in Scott’s Valley are grown locally and slowly. They have plenty of time to become strongly rooted and do so in a climate that is similar to those of the Santa Clara Valley. Most importantly, Bay Laurel Nursery primarily grows cultivars that have been developed for California instead of cultivars that are popular in the Northwest. Bay Laurel Nursery’s rhodies have been available at various retail establishments throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, and are also available at the source for a brief time each spring during their annual Open House.
The Open House is the most impressive display of blooming rhododendrons that I am aware of and includes azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas and pieris. I recommend it to any garden enthusiast, regardless of prior experience with rhodies.
Bay Laurel Nursery is located at 1554 Bean Creek Road in Scott’s Valley, California.
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