Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Forums · CANP

Rhododendron blossom in redwoods

Discussion

6 replies
Posted by Harley Goldman on January 21, 2011 at 1:38 PM
Does anyone know when the rhododendrons typically bloom up in the north coast redwoods?

Posted by Floris van Breugel on January 21, 2011 at 4:30 PM
End May / early June. Depends on the rain and sun.
Posted by Sandy Steinman on January 21, 2011 at 9:30 PM
Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve (Sonoma County) would likely be good in early May according to the state park information. To play it safe call the park at (707) 847-3221. I have heard varied reports depending on the year.

Sandy
Berkeley, CA
Natural History Wanderings
http://picasaweb.google.com/sandysteinman
Posted by Mat Malone on January 22, 2011 at 12:21 AM
Normally, what Floris said. In 2010 it never really materialized. Too cold was the explanation I heard. Hopefully 2011 is better!
Posted by Tony Siciliano on January 23, 2011 at 6:40 PM
I spent the second week in June photographing at the various locations around Crescent City in 2009, and I was at the tail end of the azalea bloom. I spent five days there hoping for some shots in the fog to no avail. No fog in Crescent City environs. Unheard of the locals said. On my way home (south), the fog came in for about 45 minutes and I managed to get some decent but not great shots. I'm planning on going up again, hopefully first week in June if things are still happening and would love to meet up with other NPNers. By the way, Crescent City is a great base. Cheap motels, lots of different groves nearby to visit. A bit farther than Kruse from the Bay Area, but more to choose from, including old growth groves.
Posted by Robert Dayton on January 24, 2011 at 9:22 AM
Thanks for information everbody. I probably will make a trip to the
Redwoods this year also.
Posted by John W. Wall on January 24, 2011 at 4:02 PM
I have rhodie pix from mid-May 2009 at Kruse. I remember feeling like I was maybe a week or two late, though there still were flowers. The point of going all that way, imo, isn't to shoot close-ups of rhodies since you can do that in Golden Gate Park. I'm thinking you'll get better opportunities to shoot them in more interesting surroundings if you go all the way up to Humboldt and Del Norte counties, which is what I'm hoping to do this year.