Rhododendron Cosmopolitan

[whis4ey]

Rhoddies always look stunning in close up

[ideasguy]

Nice photo Billy
Found a little bit of info here:
http://www.brae.co.uk/Cosmopolitan/details.html

Where have you it planted? Near the fancy gate to the Japanese garden?

[whis4ey]

Looks very like my own pic George
I had to move this plant two years ago as it was in a windy position just as one entered the Japanese Garden.  It has recovered pretty well, although it still has some way to go to be considered as 'thriving'

[ideasguy]

I think this photo (on your web site) is taken near the gate I was thinking about in your Japanese Garden
http://www.fujiyamagarden.com/Rhododendron.html

Lovely photos!

[Kew]

Now, if I had such a wonderful bush....how would I cut it back to keep it small enough for a small garden? Dead heading, ok, but should I winter prune it?

[whis4ey]

My understanding is that Rhoddies take pruning very well
Just keep it to the size you like
I haven't tried myself though

[ideasguy]

Heres a photo of a young lady who can answer that question with more experience than most.
Having moved into a house with an overgrown garden, she hired a chainsaw, and cut everything off at ground level, including evergreen Rhodos and deciduous azaleas.

http://www.ideasforgardens.net/forumpics/RIMG0030.JPG

The Evergreen Rhodos recovered, and when I took this photo in Sept 03, it had buds forming - so no doubt was going to flower next spring. I believe it was cut down very early in the same year!!

I asked her to pose "looking guilty - I done it" beside a survivor of the massacre 

Alas, the deciduous azaleas didnt reshoot. I had a photo of one of the plants from the time of the previous occupant.
Thise things take YEARS to grow to any significant size. Do not cut to ground level!

[greenfinger]

Remake of the "Chainsaw Massacres"?
Cover for Ten Thousand Maniacs? 

[ideasguy]

I didnt ask for an action shot