Rhododendron periclymenoides 2, Pinxter Azalea, Howard County, Md, Helen Lowe Metzman
Here is one of the native azaleas...with the lovely name Pinxter (Rhododendron periclymenoides). Note that most of the planted azaleas these days are not native and while they may or may not attract a few bumble bees and other species they are not nearly as excellent a species of plant to use as the Pinxter which has its own specialist bee, Andrena cornelli and is integrated into the surrounding natural world supporting many other insects and life forms that non-native azaleas do not, so, your choice, save the bees or not. Picture and specimen by Helen Lowe Metzman.
We Are Made One with What We Touch and See
We are resolved into the supreme air,
We are made one with what we touch and see,
With our heart's blood each crimson sun is fair,
With our young lives each spring impassioned tree
Flames into green, the wildest beasts that range
The moor our kinsmen are, all life is one, and all is change.
- Oscar Wilde. Original public domain image from Flickr