Grand Lake Ok NEWS: Spring Blooms Bring Riot of Color at Lendonwood Gardens
Azaleas and rhododendrons are offering a splash of spring color right now at Lendonwood Gardens. Visitors are encouraged to come explore the eight-acre botanical garden in April and early May to enjoy the colorful shrubs and flowering trees.
Located at 1308 Har-Ber Road in Grove, Oklahoma, Lendonwood contains large collections of azaleas, rhododendrons, dogwoods, hostas, Japanese maples, and ornamental cherry trees – springtime all-stars at the botanical garden.
Admission to Lendonwood is $5 per adult and $3 for students. All children under 12 and Lendonwood members are admitted free of charge. Lendonwood is open year-round from dawn to dusk. A non-profit organization, the botanical garden is supported with gate receipts, donations, memberships and volunteer labor.
“People really shouldn’t miss this time of the year at Lendonwood,” said Jim Corbridge, president of the garden’s Board of Directors.
“We’ve enhanced the Azalea Garden just west of the garden fence, making that area more accessible to visitors. Of course, it won’t be long before the rhododendrons begin to show their colors throughout the garden.”
Rhododendrons have broad, leathery persistent leaves, while most azaleas have smaller and thinner leaves. However, rhododendrons and azaleas are related plants and share many of the same characteristics. Both like acidic soil and have shallow roots.
Plants range from low-growing to tall, treelike shrubs. Azalea and rhododendron flowers are generally cup- or funnel-shaped and appear singly or in clusters at the end of branches. Bloom colors include white, pink, orange, red, mauve, and purple, among many others.
In the Grove area, rhododendrons and azaleas can prosper if they are planted in rich, organic, well-drained soil protected by mulch. Pine-needle mulch is especially helpful both for protection and acidic content.
Lendonwood Gardens is operated by a 16-member Board of Directors from the Grove area. Board members include Corbridge, Gary Daniels, Mardee Dodge, Roger Endo, Ray Geis, Pauline Hale, Rick Miller, Jane Montgomery, Marge Murphy, Michele Norwood, Cindy Reynolds, Jim Reynolds, Judy Scarriot, Ken Spragins, Larry Toigo and Dave Torline.