Last Chance Rhododendron

Rhododendron Before Shave

    I have a Rhododendron Bush/Shrub on the North side of my house, and it's been there since we moved in 12 years ago.  It's right off the front porch on the side of the house that I have not landscaped yet.  This thing was taking up a LOT of space BUT it was in a great spot that I'd rather put some real showy plants. And it blooms ONLY for 1-2 weeks a year.
I decided last year I was going to take it

   

Rhododendron After Shave

out, my husband refused to help because he liked it there and he knew I had nothing yet to replace it (which made sense, but I had a vision and my creativity could not wait for logical reasoning). I ascended on the healthy unsuspecting shrub with a very large pair of gardening sheers. I started at the bottom and started hacking and cutting. I was working my way up the trunk to make enough room for me to be able to get at the root system. I stood back to clean up my mess and noticed I'd shaped it into an ice-cream cone....which wasn't bad. Maybe I can still get my purple blooms, use it's height and NOT have to dig the giant root ball out of it's home. I made a deal with the shrub. I'd leave it there if I could keep shape that makes me think of Baskin Robbins, and as long as it continued to produce it's blooms. This way I can plant around it's trunk!! So...here we are, waiting to see how this razzy thing will do. So far, so good.

Rhododendron Bloom

Rhododendron Bloom

Rhododendron Bloom

Rhododendron Bloom

Rhododendron Flower