October 21, 2014 - Tannock Glen and the Dunedin Botanic Garden

The first full day of the International Rhododendron Conference. We listened to 2 excellent speakers in the morning - Hartwig Schepker: The Mysteries of Arunchal Pradesh - exploring unknown rhododendron territories in North-Eastern India and Steve Hootman: Rhododendrons in the wild - highlights of twenty years in the field. After their talks, we set out to view Tannock Glen (built up and maintained by the Dunedin Rhododendron Group) and Dunedin Botanic Garden

Charlie and Garth - two plant experts at work!

Charlie, Margaret, and Garth enjoying the wealth of blooms

Rhodo-licious!

Walking back to the buses - Elaine is always smiling!

David Viburnum

At the Botanic Garden

In focus!

The rhodos are packed with trusses

Contemplating thomsonii in the Botanic Garden

Margaret chronicling the flora - no wonder she is so knowledgeable! 

The colours are stunning!

Bluebells and candelabra primulas 

Three schoolgirls drew our attention to this pigeon.

Not sure what I like best - the foliage or the flower!

 About to listen to Hartwig Schepker from the Bremen Botanical Gardens

 Hartwig and Herbert - countrymen

 Elaine - our travelling/smiling companion

 Rhododendron 'Lollipop Time'

 The handkerchief tree

 Rhododendron  kesangiae

Rhododendron davidsonianum

 Ali, Rex, and Jeanine

 In the 'Knot Garden' at the Dunedin Botanic Garden

The winter garden greenhouse at the Botanic Garden

 Lots of places to sit and contemplate

 Steve Hootman, Executive Director/Curator - Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden

Calyx of rhododendron thomsonii

 These rhodos are uber tall

 I love the twisty trunks of these rhodos

 Azalea colour display

 Lone azalea

 Such an array of colour

 My favourite in the garden? You guessed it - I mean, you guessed him!!

 The blue is such a great foil for the yellow and peach

 Drunk on beauty

 It just goes on and on and on!

 Such superbly kept grounds!

Clianthus puniceus - logo for the Dunedin Botanic Garden.