THE WESTERN AZALEA 



By S. L. Watkins. 



THE Western azalea {Azalea occidentalis) is a native 

 deciduous azalea found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains 

 of California, at altitudes of from 3000 to 5000 feet above sea 

 level. In its native home it grows along the margins of 

 streams and in wet, moist lands partially shaded. It is 

 easily transplanted and will give a big display of blooms the 

 first season. I have transplanted specimens that I know were 

 ten or twelve years of age with no great apparent set-back. 



When transplanting I dig a hole three feet square and 

 about 3 feet deep and fill in with well rotted leaves and vege- 

 table mold; if this is not handy we use old straw. We fill 

 the hole about half full then set the bush and fill in alternately 

 with good soil and sand. I have in many cases transplanted 

 these out to the open sunlight and by giving them a good irri- 

 gating occasionally, they thrive and do well. Quite large 

 bushes can be transplanted in tubs and half barrels and smal- 

 ler bushes set in pots. Azaleas are easily transplanted in 

 early spring and autumn when the years growth has ripened. 

 The abundance and brilliancy of the blooms of many of 

 the forms of this plant is remarkable. Occasionally in their 

 wild state a large patch is discovered with many color forms. 

 Near my home is a rich moist meadow of 10 or 15 acres in 

 extent and I have observed more color forms in this one par- 

 ticular locality than anywhere else. In this mountain meadow 

 there are large dazzling snow white blossoms and other types 

 range through the most intense shades of reddish orange to 

 cream color and sulphur yellow. All the blossoms are tipped 

 with pretty stamens, some of which are pink, others golden 

 yellow and cobalt blue. 



