A PASSION FOR RHODODENDRONS

Filmed at Northern California's Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and other outstanding coastal gardens “A Passion For Rhododendrons” is a delightfully intimate film which highlights the magnificence of rhododendrons on California's Mendocino Coast.

This one hour DVD beautifully illustrates the broad diversity of rhododendrons as both hybrids and species.

Viewers will meet renowned gardeners who have devoted their lives to cultivating and hybridizing these remarkable plants and will learn secrets from these experts for producing award-winning blooms.

Reviews

“This fine film will spark your passion for rhododendrons. Watch it. Enjoy it. Be inspired by it.”

-Richard G. Turner Jr., Editor ­ Pacific Horticulture

“I loved this film!”

- Laura Grant, Executive Director - The American Rhododendron Society

A Passion for Rhododendrons - Three Stars - Recommended for Libraries

(2008) 50 min. DVD $24.95 Mendocino Coast Films ISBN: 0-9762658-3-4

Abundant in the Himalayas, Nepal, and China, rhododendrons flourish in few places in the United States except for the Pacific Northwest. A well-organized, expertly photographed film, A Passion for Rhododendrons provides an overview of these plants as both hybrid and species, and features a variety of experts from the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, the Noyo Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, and various plant nurseries, as well as individual rhododendron collectors. Starting with “A Closer Look” at the anatomy of the bud, the documentary follows the progress of propagation, planting, and pruning to full flower at the 31st Annual John Druecker Memorial Rhododendron and Plant Sale, where viewers witness the subjective nuances that go into judging the winners. Featuring numerous photos of a variety of rhododendrons, backed by Joel Hoestra's appealing acoustic music, DVD extras include a featurette on rhododendron identification.

Recommended ( Note: also available is the companion title In Praise of Dahlias.) Audience: Public Libraries - Jane Reed, Librarian, University Club Library, New York, NY

A Passion for Rhododendrons - DVD - Review from American Rhododendron Society Journal - Vol. 63 Number 2 - Spring 2009.

A 50 minute DVD by Mendocino Coast Films and Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens that can be purchased for $24.95 from either at the Garden's Store or securely online from Mendocino Coast Films website.

This video was filmed at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and other nearby coastal gardens by filmmakers Laurie York and Carmen Goodyear, who have created a beautiful film surrounding the passion, characteristics, history, and magic of rhododendrons. The trailer states, “A Passion for Rhododendrons is a delightfully intimate film which highlights the magnificence of rhododendrons on California’s Mendocino Coast. It beautifully illustrates the broad diversity of rhododendrons as both hybrids and species, and viewers are introduced to renowned gardeners who have devoted their lives to cultivating and hybridizing these remarkable plants.”

I wholly agree! Before I saw the film, I expected to see some beautiful flowers, plants, and gardens, and these images are indeed there. However, many gardens and locations have such attributes, so I was really pleased to see that the DVD is actually much more than that. In addition to showing the above, it’s a mixture of themes that brings together the characteristics of flower structure; how pollination occurs; how to propagate cuttings; how to plant, fertilize, prune and pinch back rhododendron plants; what's behind the scenes in a rhododendron flower show and plant sale; and how rhododendron judging and shows are done. All this is very tastefully presented in relatively short segments that are just detailed enough to provide the information without being boring. It’s a wealth of information for the beginner and intermediate rhododendron grower, and a pleasure to view.

- Glen Jamieson, Ph.D., Editor, Journal of the American Rhododendron Society

“A Passion For Rhododendrons is a beautifully executed film that offers the viewer an in depth look at the mystery and magnificence of these wonderful plants.”

Fran Sorin - Nationally known gardening expert and designer, CBS Radio News Contributor, USA Weekend GardenSmart contributor and guest on national TV shows such as 'Live With Regis and Kelly' and NBC's 'Today Show'.