.jpg)
Rhododendron Ponticum. A recent photo when Bronte, J and yours truly went for a saunter around Muckross House estate and gardens.
There are some magnificent cultivars like this specimen:
.jpg)
I read online yesterday that the Irish government have spent 2.7 million controlling Rhododendrons in the Killarney national park in the last five years. You wouldn't think such a beautiful shrub from Asia could become such a pernicious weed and nuisance would you?
Rather like Japanese knotweed which was introduced into our islands for a game cover and ornamental. Now it's a pernicious weed and costs millions to eradicate if at all. The London Olympics organizers spent 70 million clearing the ten acre site of knotweed.
You can hate Rhododendrons and call them weeds but I adore them.
How can anyone hate rhododendrons? They are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThe wild purple flowered rhodies are very invasive JayCee and took over large areas of Killarney National Park.
ReplyDeleteIn their place they are beautiful...out of place they strangle, shade and poison anything else.
ReplyDeleteYes they do exactly that GZ.
ReplyDeleteMankind moved flora and fauna to places where they did not belong without considering the consequences. I wish that this had never happened.
ReplyDeleteSo true YP. European Gorse to New Zealand is a classic example of that.
ReplyDeleteAnd rabbits to Australia.
DeleteYep. The Roman's introduced Ground Elder to the British Isles. They ate it for a vegetable and now it is a pernicious garden weed. A nuisance like the Tory Party which is going into extinction in a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteA football crowd might sing to The Tories..."Mauled by The Labour! You're getting mauled by The Labour! Mauled by The Labour! You're getting mauled by The Labour!"... And then the hard work begins - to repair, realign, recharge. It will not be easy given what The Tories will be leaving behind.
DeleteWell, I never knew that! They are beautiful, though.
ReplyDeleteI only know it because we are always in Kerry Jules. Thanks and I agree they are beautiful.
DeleteNo YP they have took the great out of Britain. Brexit divided them and Covid showed them to be the Number 10 party people. I think I will come up with a fitting Labour song post Keir and Angela in the few days. A Saga song Prog Rock song comes to mind. Hmmm... 🤔 Perhaps they will give me a smallholding and allotments Cabinet post?
ReplyDeleteNo way a rhododrendron can be called a weed! It's gorgeous
ReplyDeleteI agree Linda. There a lot of wild flowers called weeds. Who would think that the beautiful Acer is related to the Sycamore?
ReplyDelete