Hey folks-
Welcome to the 2016 series of bloom reports from Rhododendron State Park.
A new posting should be published for this “blog” each Friday until the bloom is over for this season (perhaps mid-August or so).
As usual for this species of rhododendron (Rhododendron maximus – a native North American species), the actual bloom time is still 2-3 weeks out-the middle of July is the typical “peak” bloom for the rhododendron grove in Fitzwilliam, NH. During the next week or 2, I will do my best to fine tune any prediction I make about this year’s blooms, but please bear with me as the time goes on. Between the weather and the mysterious world of plants, predictions are often wrong. That being said, my current prediction for this season’s “peak bloom” is that it may happen a few days to a week early.
At this point, it does not look like a very “full” amount of blooms, judging by the amount of viable flower buds that I saw when I was there on this last Monday. Maybe the blooms will be a bit more numerous than they were last season, but not much.
Regretfully I have no fresh photos to show this week. Next week, however, my plan is to have a new camera with me. We’ll see. Anyway – here is a photo from last year’s report from around the same time which is more or less the same as how the buds currently look:
The rhododendron grove in Fitzwilliam, NH is a wonderful place to visit whether in bloom or not. The natural history and human history that has resulted in shaping and preserving the grove, as well as what can be found there whenever you can get there is fascinating (at least to me). The moquitoes are almost always pretty thick all summer, so come prepared.
If you have any questions for me, I can usually be reached at the Gilson Pond Campground which is a different location and telephone number (603-532-2416) from Monadnock State Park Headquarters (603-532-8862), although still part of Monadnock State Park. I will not be there on Tuesdays or Wednesdays – that is my “weekend”.
Until next week,
Ted Lenk
