Rhododendron stenophyllum ssp. angustifolia

Ok....I'm settled in on this cold raining typical November evening with Thievery Corporation droning in the background, a blazing fire in the stove and a Ranger IPA in the cradle.  What could be better?

For some time now I have been considering writing about the work that I do, if it can be called that, and the pure joy with which I am overcome on a regular basis as a result of said work especially if a couple of Ranger IPA's are involved.  You see, I consider my job to be one of the best jobs in the world and though often it is hard physical work, it is also intellectually stimulating, creative, and interactive with people and the natural world.  I am a nursery manager....there, I said it, really, I just wanted to tell someone!

My nursery is owned by a non-profit foundation and I manage it in support of a Botanical Garden and I feel like both the garden and nursery are mine and I treat them with the care I would if I did own them.  That being said, I have the privilege of working with all kinds of exotic plants (mostly ericacious and mostly rhododendrons) and I have the opportunity to grow and learn about plants which few people ever get to see, so why not share some of these things and my observations about them?

Here is my first favorite plant, a favorite for the last twenty years, Rhododendron stenophyllum.  This plant is very unlike rhododendrons you see outdoors in the Pacific Northwest as it is native to Mt. Kinabalu on the island of Borneo and in our area (Seattle) must be grown indoors as even a light frost will kill it.  The foliage looks almost pine-like and the flowers are an amazing orange color with red bud scales and stamens.  When I show this plant to people, most have a difficult time believing it is a rhododendron but it is.  I have 29 of these plants growing together in the conservatory which might make it the largest artificial planting of this species in the world.  I've yet to have anyone dispute it.

I can't find my drink!