A Passion for Rhododendrons

Abundant in the Himalayas, Nepal, and China, rhododendrons flourish in few places in the United States except for the Pacific Northwest. A well-organized, expertly photographed film, A Passion for Rhododendrons provides an overview of these plants as both hybrid and species, and features a variety of experts from the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, the Noyo Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, and various plant nurseries, as well as individual rhododendron collectors. Starting with “A Closer Look” at the anatomy of the bud, the documentary follows the progress of propagation, planting, and pruning to full flower at the 31st Annual John Druecker Memorial Rhododendron and Plant Sale, where viewers witness the subjective nuances that go into judging the winners. Featuring numerous photos of a variety of rhododendrons, backed by Joel Hoestra's appealing acoustic music, DVD extras include a featurette on rhododendron identification. Recommended. [Note: also newly available is the companion title In Praise of Dahlias.] Aud: P. (J. Reed)