A case of accidental survival . . .
He called a local rhododendron expert, who was astonished to discover the plants were Rhododendron Macrophyllum! No one had been aware there were any of these lovely plants in existence in our area
A bit of history . . .
Even though its name of Macrophyllum indicates it has super large leaves, that isn’t really the case. In fact there are rhododendrons with much larger leaves! So, the name doesn’t really make note of the rare beauty of this particular rhodo.
The logging was stopped. A protective rope enclosure was installed right round this area, huge by our standards, small by logging standards. Now there is an island of untouched green surrounded by the clear cut.
It is way up one of the mountains. We made a pact not to advertise where it is, because of fears that the treasure might be disrupted by those who would not care about its preservation.
But my goodness, it was beautiful. The moss was several inches deep, cushioning your careful footsteps along the way. Everywhere around was green, overwhelming in its fresh lush beauty.
There was an awed silence, broken occasionally by the muffled sounds of our progress, and an occasional bird call. I have never seen so much salal and sphagnum moss, ever. They are both sought after by florists, the salal for its longevity; the sphagnum for its beauty and water retention properties.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, there was a glimpse of pink! The another, and another! My eyes adjusted with amazement. These plants ranged from small seedlings among the moss to enormous plants rising up, sheltered by filtered sunlight coming through the trees. We carefully walked on, following the perimeter of the wired off area where they grew in secret and wild abandon.
Other treasures could be seen along the path we forged. Beautiful tree fungi, and large woodpecker holes in ancient trees. It was just nature's splendor at its best. A treasured memory of our fortune in choosing the short time, when the rhododendrons bloom. One week earlier or later and we might not have seen them in their astonishing beauty. When you think about it, it must have been the anniversary of when they were first noticed and recognized by that logger! And who knows, if it hadn't been that exact week, maybe they would all be gone!
Thanks for coming on my trip!
Wishing you a beautiful weekend!
Vicki