The Rhodora
On being asked, whence is the flower.

In May, when sea-winds pierced our solitudes, I found the fresh
Rhodora in the woods, Spreading its leafless blooms in a damp nook,
To please the desert and the sluggish brook.
The purple petals fallen in the pool
Made the black water with their beauty gay;
Here might the red-bird come his plumes to cool,
And court the flower that cheapens his array.
Rhodora! if the sages ask thee why
This charm is wasted on the earth and sky,
Tell them, dear, that, if eyes were made for seeing,
Then beauty is its own excuse for Being;
Why thou wert there, O rival of the rose! I never thought to ask; I never knew;
But in my simple ignorance suppose
The self-same power that brought me there, brought you.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson


Went for a quick walk on Comstock Knoll here at Cornell Plantations to admire the Rhododendron in flower. Sure was an impressive sight to see, with a great deal of diversity.

Some of the ones above are Rhododendron yakushimanum. This species makes an impressive specimen, and is easily recognized by the very downy, thick fuzz on the undersides of the leaves.

Another show-stopper is a selection known as 'Lodestar.' It has light pinkish white flowers with golden/bronze throats. The bees were working these flowers like they were crack cocaine!