by hankinslawrenceimages | Jun 2, 2010 | Ericaceae Family, Flowers
This spring, I have photographed some incredible azaleas. The challenge has been figured out what types of azaleas I’ve been photographing. There are seventeen species of azaleas that are native to the Southeastern United States – plus countless hybrid varieties. Add to this the fact that just about any orange azalea is referred to as a flame azalea – and you can see where it begins to get complicated.
While I was photographing in Tennessee and North Carolina in late April and early May, I photographed several sets of azaleas that were referred to as Flame Azaleas. It turns out they are actually Oconee or Piedmont Azalaes (Rhododendron flammeum). The true Flame Azaleas (rhododendron calendulaceum) bloom much later in the year.
Oconee Azaleas (Rhododendron flammeum) are known for their bright colors – ranging from yellow to orange to deep reds. They depend on their colorful blossoms to attract pollinators since they are non-fragrant azalea. The Oconee Azaleas bloom in late April through early May – after the Florida Azaleas (Rhododendron austrinum) and before the Flame Azaleas (Rhododendron calendulaceum). The Oconee Azaleas were first discovered along the Oconee River in Georgia in 1787. The botanical name – flammeum – refers to the flame colored veil (flammeum) that Roman brides wore over their white dresses to protect themselves from evil.
I photographed two wonderful sets of Oconee Azaleas at Reflection Riding Arboretum in Chattanooga, Tennessee in late April.
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
At the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, I photographed two additional varieties of Oconee Azaleas. The first “Salmon Form” had incredible red flowers.
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
The final Oconee Azalea I photographed was the Flint River Azaleas – a cross between Rhododendron flammeum and Rhododendron canescens
(c) 2010 Patty Hankins
I really like the bright colors that I was photographing in the Oconee Azaleas. I’m looking forward to finding more of them to photograph next spring.
by hankinslawrenceimages | Mar 9, 2010 | Ericaceae Family, Flowers, New Photos
Pink and White Azaleas (c) 2010 Patty Hankins
I’ve just added a new photo – Pink and White Azaleas – to my BeautifulFlowerPictures.com website. I photographed these wonderful azalea blossoms last May at the Azalea Garden at Brighton Dam in Brookville, Maryland. Maintained by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, the Azalea Garden was established in 1942 and currently has over 20,000 Azalea bushes. In the spring it is one of the most beautiful spots in the Washington DC area. I photographed my Azaleas in the Woods photograph at the same garden last year.
This photograph is available as a 12 X 15″ and 20X26″ gallery-wrapped canvases. You can order Pink and White Azaleas from my website and I will have it available at shows this year.
by hankinslawrenceimages | Jun 9, 2009 | Ericaceae Family, Flowers, Photo Locations
Last month, Bill and I had a chance to do some photography at the Brighton Dam Azalea Garden in Brookville, Maryland. Located on 5 acres of land on the banks of the Patuxent River, the garden contains over 20,000 azalea bushes. The garden is on land owned by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and is open to the public.
Bill and I were absolutely amazed by what we found at the Azalea Garden. 20,000 azaleas in bloom have to be seen to be believed.
Here are a few of my photos from the Brighton Dam Azalea Garden.
The azalea bushes surround the bases of some large trees near the bank of the reservoir.
Azaleas in the Woods (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Here the azaleas surround trees on a hillside.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
One of the most interesting parts of the Azalea Garden was the variety of colors of azaleas growing there. Here are some pastel pink blossoms
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
And some bright pink ones – the color of these blossoms reminded me of watermelons
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
I really liked how the branches of these two colors of azaleas came together to create the shapes of color.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
And finally, a few bright pink blossoms on a sea of white blossoms.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
The Brighton Dam Azalea Garden is a place we’ll definitely be returning to next spring. I’ve already got some ideas on how to photograph it a little differently next year.
The Brighton Dam Azalea Garden is located on Brighton Dam Road, just a little ways off of New Hampshire Avenue in Brookville.
by hankinslawrenceimages | Apr 12, 2009 | Ericaceae Family, Flowers
Not long ago, Bill and I spent a morning at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC. I’d been there a few days earlier photographing some of the cherry trees and magnolias. On this visit, I photographed some of the early blooming Azaleas and Rhododendrons in the Azelea Collection.
The first plant I photographed was a Llenroc Azelea. It is a Weston Azalea.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
As I headed deeper into the Azalea Collection, I found another bush in bloom. It was a PJM Elite Rhododendron.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
The Azalea Collection at the National Arboretum should have plants in bloom for the next several weeks. Last year, the Arboretum published an Azalea Blossom watch. Peak bloom is usually in late April, with some plants blooming into late May. I’ll definitly be heading back to the Azalea Collection a few more times this spring.
