Rhodora

I never heard of rhodora before we moved to Maine. I learned about it from an article that made it sound amazing and mystical and very rare. I had the impression it was a plant only to be seen on nearly inaccessible mountaintops, and resigned myself to maybe never seeing any in bloom.

So it came as quite a shock when I saw pink blooms in my own yard at camp. This happened last year, 2021, and I really wanted to see it again this year. Camp is not so pleasant in May because the black flies are fierce. I don’t like to be swarmed by black flies, but I didn’t want to miss the rhodora’s blossoms. I went today with Sam who was checking the prime on the water pump next door. It was so rewarding. Not only is the rhodora I remember in spectacular bloom, but there seem to be a lot of them! I only remember one plant, but there are two closer to the building and a whole bogful closer to the lake. Mission accomplished. And I checked the bush honeysuckle I planted last year – it has leafed out and is doing well.