Orleans Rhododendron Display Garden
The Orleans Rhododendron Display Garden is a cooperative project of the the Cape Cod Chapter and the Parks Department of the Town of Orleans. Connie LeClair, a local Landscape Designer and member of A.R.S. designed the garden. The first section was planted in the fall of l989 and spring of 1990, and subsequent sections in 1992, 1994 and 1995.
The garden has now matured and contains a broad range of rhododendron and azalea species and hybrids. The peak blooming period is from mid-April to mid-June. April features the small-leaved lepidotes and the garden continues with large-leaved elepidotes, evergreen azaleas and deciduous azaleas. Evergreen helleborus foetidus is a mass of bloom under the deciduous azaleas all winter. There are companion plants as well.
Many people enjoy the garden regularly as there are benches and picnic tables and a large grass area for lawn games. Snow Library is next door so a book and a shady or sunny bench according to the weather are available along with the beautiful garden.
The Chapter has begun an Appreciation Path on the back hill to honor long time members by installing a stepping stone each year.
Along with maintaining the rhododendrons, the long-term goal for the garden is to replace the Sycamore maples that throw thousands of seedlings every year that need to be weeded out with preferable trees. We have so far planted four Katsura trees, a Shumard Oak, three Betula “Nigra” and a Prunus Maackii, along with the dogwoods and cherries in the park.
For more information regarding the Display Garden, call Connie LeClair at 508-255-2009.
Directions: Rt. 6 from bridges to Exit 12, turn right to center of town, turn right at Mobil station onto Main Street. Garden is on the Village Green before the next light adjacent to Snow Library.
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