the companion plantings of raspberries and rhododendruns
A hedgerow of rhododendruns stand between my parent’s driveway and the lawn. This Summer I noticed a few stalks of raspberry bushes growing amongst the rhodo’s producing unusually large raspberries; and each small section of what makes up the entire whole of the berry were perfectly shaped. The last harvest of raspberries from my father’s garden was a month ago; the bushes are turning yellow and are losing their leaves, all except these guys amongst the rhodo’s. The rapsberry stalks amongst these rhodos show no sign of it being Fall and the plants are still producing these large, unusually perfect fruit, I kid you not! It’s obvious the two are companion plantings. Has anyone else discovered this? If so, let me know. This is just way too cool.
Raspberries and Rhododendruns - who woulda thought what the mix would create?
And too, the rhodo’s, who generally bloom around the first week in Juneau, are wanting to bloom a second time around – in fact, they probably would open up their new buds if the weather were not so rainy; just a day of sun would encourage the second bloom. Below is a photo of a few blossoms modestly opening.
This rhododendrun wants to bloom again, yet this is October...
Raspberry harvest and rhododendruns blooming in October…This is what happens when you put two beings together that are definitely companions – they make each other bloom and/or produce fruit like nobody’s business – do you know any couples who are like this?
A few more days and these raspberries will be ripe for the pickin'!