Rhododendron In Bloom - Backyard Shade - May 2026

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Back in 2023, I (finally) was fed-up with the pair of rhododendrons that were planted on either side of our back stoop and dug them up and transplanted them back into the far-reaches of the garden and replaced them with some dwarf Spring Grove Ginkgo trees.  I've never looked back and have been very happy with that change.  

The rhododendrons were planted in the shadow of the Dawn Redwood and (honestly...) mostly forgotten.  

Part of my frustration with these shrubs were the lack of blooms and the leggy-nature of the form.  

Imagine my surprise when I was in the backyard and caught some purple blooms out of the corner of my eye.  There, under the canopy of the Dawn Redwood was one of the rhododendrons with ten-or-so purple blooms.  Here is a look at the shrub: 

Rhododendron evergreen shrub in bloom in deep shade

Pretty, pretty, pretty nice, right? 

Location: Downers Grove, IL, USA

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