Volume 37:7

October - the month of vivid colours and significant transitions

Editor: Verna Buhler
Contributors: Alan Campbell, Carrie Nelson, Joanne Meredith, Tricia Guiguet, Verna Buhler
Technical Support: Joanne Meredith

There is much to look forward to, including an engaging lineup of speakers and a proposed round-table discussion where we can learn from the experience of our own members.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 7:00pm
at THE HUB, Cowichan Station

LLOYD GILMORE
of the Victoria Rhododendron Society

Presents
An Introduction to Hybridizing and Propagating Rhododendrons

It is renewal season for the CVRS. Money collected between now and the end of November will be credited to 2027.

Here are the 2 membership options that are available to us:

1. Receive the JARS via an email link for $40 CAD.

2. Receive the JARS by mail to your mailbox 3 times a year (and have digital access) for $65 CAD.

Article by Alan Campbell

What is the purpose of the rhododendron flower? Fundamentally, attraction is the basis of its design. The rhododendron flower is the allure which alters the path of a passing insect.  Mother Nature’s improbable flyer, the Bumble Bee, unwittingly becomes an instrument of conception for the perpetuation of the species rhododendron.

We often trailed behind our new friends because we were squatting down identifying, photographing, and closely examining details of the horticultural treasures we found. I was immediately drawn to trees and shrubs, and my sister was noting the tiniest alpine plants. We discovered, shared, and discussed plants on every hike.

Therefore, I thought that I would focus October’s feature plants on several surprises we found growing in their natural habitats in the Alps of Switzerland.

On our first hike in Switzerland, not far above Kandersteg, I unexpectedly noticed a pink flowered shrub — a dwarf rhododendron in bloom. I had not even considered seeing rhododendrons, so this delightful sighting nudged my interest.

The subalpine and alpine slopes of Switzerland feature a mixture of coniferous trees, the most common being Pinus cembra (Arolla or Swiss stone pine), Picea abies (Norway spruce), Abies alba (Silver fir), and Larix decidua (European larch).

High up,where the air becomes thinner and only a few plants can withstand the harsh climate, grows a flower that has fascinated people for centuries: the edelweiss.

By helping pollinators make it through the colder months, you’re also supporting the population that will return to your garden in spring, just as your rhododendrons begin to bloom.

One of the best mediums for seeding rhododendrons is sphagnum moss.

You can easily grow sphagnum moss at home by placing live sphagnum strands on a damp, acidic base inside a clear, covered container with bright, indirect light. 

I planted my first rhododendron 46 years ago, when we got almost an inch of rain a week throughout the summer, keeping all plants and lawns healthy. Now, with drought conditions and water restrictions, what can we do in October to ensure these beautiful plants live on?