Rhododendron in bloom above Walnut Creek

White rhododendron, also known as Great Laurel, Rhododendron Maximum, or Rosebay, is a large evergreen shrub that is native to the Appalachian Mountains. With white to pinkish flower clusters against a background of large, leathery, dark green leaves, Rosebay blooms in Western North Carolina from mid June through mid July.

White Rhododendron thrives in cool, moist, and well-drained soils. Because it requires consistent moisture and prefers partial to full shade, this rhododendron species is typically found in forest areas with dappled light, and often along stream banks.

That describes the conditions behind the studio where these photographs were taken at the end of June. These rhododendrons were growing along Walnut Creek well before I arrived on the scene, and might have been here longer than I've been alive.

White Rhododendron typically lives for 100 to 150 years, and under ideal conditions they can form large, dense, nearly impenetrable stands. That's not the case here, but there are a number of large clusters, and of the two hundred yards of creek frontage that borders the property, all are located right behind the studio where the conditions are obviously right.