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.