Going back twenty-five years ago, I recall happily jerking out the last of the lacebug infested azaleas by the house, vowing never to plant another. But, gardeners are rarely set in their ways, and when offered a trial of reblooming azaleas that flowered in spring and again in autumn, I said “sounds like a good idea”. I had known that there were a few azaleas that flowered sporadically in autumn, but these were touted for an autumn bloom to match the spring’s.

One grouping of Delaware Valley, white flowered azaleas (above) remained just off the property line under the canopy of the forest that borders the garden. These were never, and have never been infested significantly, and of course I have nothing against azaleas that perform beautifully without care. The large Delaware Valleys now mingle with sprawling purple flowered rhododendrons, and never mind that both reside outside our property, they require no attention but to admire their splendid blooms.

While I had more or less given up on evergreen azaleas, I began to plant deciduous types that grew taller, faster, and with deliciously fragrant flowers (above). Decades later, I still plug another in wherever I can find a spot, and several have grown to the height of small trees where their yellow, orange, and glowing red blooms make a splendid show in mid spring.

I suppose that many are now familiar with the Encore brand of reblooming azaleas, but a few years before their introduction, when offered to test a few, I was curious to see if an azalea bred to flower in spring and autumn in Louisiana would do the same more towards the northern edge of their hardiness.

Several varieties were planted in the shaded, side garden that borders the forest, and in the first year, nothing. Yes, there were spring flowers, but nothing in autumn. A conversation with the breeder informed me that a part sun location would be most likely to encourage the autumn bloom, so when a few more azaleas were added to the collection these were planted in morning sun. And, they flowered, at least most did.

Part of the reason for planting a few of each of the more cold hardy varieties was to see which ones rebloomed dependably, and ones that didn’t. Of course, this took a few years to figure out, and after a while several that failed to flower in autumn were pulled out. By then, the first Encore azaleas planted were now flowering regularly, spring and autumn, and given my previous aversion to lacebug ridden azaleas, infestations were minor if there were any at all.

No doubt, the autumn flowers add to the garden, though I still make no claim to be a lover of azaleas. Several will flower until frost, and ‘Autumn Amethyst’ will occasionally show scattered flowers into early December. Good enough for me.