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.
As the garden needed to expand to be in scale with the park, we were pleased when Dr. Gustav Mehlquist offered us additional rhododendrons. Many of the plants Dr. Mehlquist donated were his new cultivars such as 'Firestorm,' 'Today & Tomorrow,' 'Connecticut Yankee,' 'Scarlet Romance' and 'Dorothy Swift.'
Plants for the garden were purchased with many donations. In addition, St. Aubin's Nursery donated three Betula nigra 'Heritage' trees and Weston Nurseries donated deciduous azaleas. Companion plants and groundcovers have been added regularly and four Katsura trees have been planted on the hill. The peak blooming period is from mid-April until mid-June.
In April of 1996 the Cape Cod Chapter dedicated a park bench in the garden with a plaque inscribed: "To honor Dr. Gustav A. L. Mehlquist, world renowned hybridizer for his contribution to this garden." A Shumard Oak was planted in memory of Roy Lane, a former member and the Chapter has recently begun a Memorial Path on the back hill to honor long time members by installing a stepping stone each year.
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.
Site Design by Duck Web Design.