Rhododendron moupinense

I caught this picture of Rhododendron Moupinense during a rain break this morning. Right now, it looks like wet tissues, scraggly and pathetic. If the rain abates, it will look preened again. Usually this rhododendron (native to Western China, at the Tibetan border) blooms so early that the flowers are blasted by frost, even in its sheltered position by the front door. A deluge of rain is tolerated much better. This plant was grown from a cutting taken from friend’s garden. Barbara is gone now, but I have her lovely early rhododendron by which to remember her.