On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 19:06:55 +0100, Jaques d'Alltrades
wrote:

The message
from "Mike Lyle" contains these words:

Better rhodo growers than I may suggest otherwise, but I wouldn't do
anything. I used to have a huge old Ponticum and its offspring very
much exposed to the north in open country, and I never noticed it
taking any harm. It had grown to form a very big natural play-house
inside, and flowered very well. This was in relatively warm West
Wales, though, and I must stress that it was a plain Ponticum, not a
choice variety.

The grounds of Stornoway Castle used to be (maybe still is) a jungle of
rhododendron - and I mean jungle - the canopy was fifteen feet or more,
and while the Outer Hebrides has a generally mild climate, really cold
snaps are not unknown when the wind comes off the polar regions.

I'd go along with Mike, in every detail.


I didn't see the OP's message, but very few rhodies need protection in
the UK. The few that are tender are generally the highly scented
types, usually flowering in early to mid summer.


--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net