Washington State Flower: Coastal Rhododendron

State Flowers 1 Minute

Names: The Pacific Rhododendron is also known as the Coast Rhododendron, California Rhododendron, or California Rosebay.  Rhododendron macrophyllum literally means, “Rose tree with big leaves.”  It is the state flower of Washington State.

Distribution: The Pacific Rhododendron is found west of the Cascades from southern British Columbia to Northern California.

Growth:  It reaches to about 24 feet; taller in the shade than in the sun.

Habitat: It grows in in fairly dry open forests and edges. It commonly grows along roadsides in the rainshadow of the Olympic Mountains.

Diagnostic characters: The thick, leathery leaves of Pacific Rhododendron are oblong, 3-8 inches long.  The pink, sometimes white, bell-shaped flowers are borne in showy clusters called trusses.  Each flower has 5 lobes with wavy edges.  Seeds are produced in woody capsules.

In the Landscape: Rhododendrons have long been a favorite of landscapers in the Pacific Northwest.  Although many may prefer the variety of flower colors, and forms in cultivated varieties, our native Rhododendron with its bold green leaves and spectacular pink flower clusters can find a place in both wild settings and more traditional landscapes.  Even those that steer away from rhodies due to the fact that they are so common in northwest gardens may be convinced to include this native species in their yard!  Pacific Rhododendron is also useful for erosion control on steep watersheds.

Unknown's avatar

Published by pat frederick

Published

89 thoughts on “Washington State Flower: Coastal Rhododendron”

    1. Morning, Pat! Nipply @ 31 here this morning but at least we didn’t get any more snow and the wind has dropped substantially. I’ve put the tuna out for Wheezer – no sign of him yet.

      I’ll be doing more cooking tomorrow than I had originally planned. Mom has another blood clot in her leg – a small one – so she needs to keep her feet up as much as possible. I can deal w/tossing a Cornish hen in the oven – she will make the stuffing, which she can do sitting down. I’ll buy some prepared mashed potatoes and make my usual sweet potatoes. I’ve also got a Marie Callender’s Peach Cobbler that I’ll bake today. That will be quite sufficient for the two of us.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning Filly!

        how much snow did you get?

        awesome!

        I have a turkey breast defrosting in the fridge. that’s enough for the 2 of us to have a meal and enough leftovers for another meal and sandwiches if we want. I don’t have to make the entire meal on Friday again, because my son has to work tomorrow evening, so they’re not coming this year.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Troublemaker10

    November 26, 2025 1:42 am

    Eric Swalwell says military can be a ‘check’ on Donald Trump to ‘save us’

    Excerpt:

    “What gives me hope, and I talk to service members all the time. They tell me that I don’t appreciate enough and the public doesn’t appreciate enough that while Congress is not a check on the president anymore, and the judiciary at the Supreme Court is hardly a check, military members have told me, ‘We can be a check,’” Swalwell said….

    ….Swalwell’s comments came the same day Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., warned military members on CNN that there would be consequences for them if they went after Kelly.

    https://www.foxnews.com/media/eric-swalwell-says-military-can-check-donald-trump-save-us

    Liked by 1 person

  4. repeat sex offender and illegal exploited loopholes to stay here AND build an academic career!

    FTA

    Despite these convictions, Gunasekera managed to enter the U.S. in February 1998, briefly left for Canada, and returned on a student visa later that year. Federal authorities only learned of his Canadian crimes in 2012 when he applied to change his immigration status, yet he continued to evade deportation through a series of applications, denials, and appeals that exploited gaps in the system.

    For 27 years, this allowed him to build a career in academia, including stints at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Ferris State, where he taught vulnerable young adults.

    “It’s sickening that a sex offender was working as a professor on an American college campus and was given access to vulnerable students to potentially victimize them,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Thanks to the brave ICE law enforcement officers, this sicko is behind bars and no longer able to prey on Americans. His days of exploiting the immigration system are OVER. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, criminals are not welcome in the U.S.”

    The arrest comes amid a renewed push by the Trump administration to prioritize the removal of criminal aliens, a stark contrast to the previous years when porous borders and lenient policies let individuals like Gunasekera slip through and embed themselves in communities. Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers called the case a prime example of why stronger enforcement is needed, stating it “should never have been allowed to happen” and blaming “failed Democrat policies” for endangering citizens.

    https://truthbasedmedia.com/ice-detroit-arrests-criminal-illegal-alien-with-history-of-sex-crimes-working-as-college-professor/

    Liked by 1 person

  7. EXCERPT: “To get to peace, warring countries need to know what the other wants, expects and will resist. For the first 11 years of the Ukraine-Russia conflict and three U.S. presidencies, neither side got to such granular detail as they traded barbs, bombs and propaganda.

    But that all changed Wednesday after a whirlwind week of shuttle diplomacy by President Donald Trump and his team. For the first time, Kiev and Moscow articulated specific visions this week for a peace deal. And while they remain apart on big issues like land borders and NATO membership, the two sides have a meaningful framework that eluded past negotiations and presidents.

    “I think it’s a defining moment, and actually ratchets up the heat on both sides now to come to the table, now that they’ve basically put their cards on the table,” Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., a co-founder of the War Powers Caucus in Congress, told the Just the the News, No Noise television show Wednesday evening.

    He added: “If you’ve ever negotiated anything, and virtually everybody has, if you don’t understand what you want and what the other side wants, you can never get to yes. It’s always going to be a no. And so to see that, that now both sides have defined their interests and their goals, it allows President Trump to come in and set additional parameters time wise.”

    For those who know Trump, the relentless effort to get Ukraine and Russia to brush aside past failures and focus on the details is ripped right from his trademark book “The Art of the Deal.”

    “After this very strong first ten months in office, he [Trump] is seen as a credible broker by each side. They may not like him, but they respect him, and that’s the important thing in this sort of process,” former Deputy National Security Adviser Victoria Coates told Just The News on Wednesday.

    Even the legacy media — often the critics of Trump policy — marveled at the breakthrough. “The level of optimism projected by both the U.S. and Ukraine is staggering,” Axios crowed hours after Ukraine agreed to its version of the framework.

    Still, much difficult work remains, and all sides are realistic. But Trump willed the United States to this point by flashing a willingness to consider any idea that would jumpstart fresh talks…..”

    https://justthenews.com/government/white-house/russia-ukraine-need-js-top

    Liked by 1 person

  8. EXCERPT: “Texas state Rep. Jay Dean, R-Longview, is calling on President Donald Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn and others to demand that Mexican authorities release an East Texan languishing in a Mexican prison.

    One of Dean’s constituents, 23-year-old Caden Hawkins of Hallsville, was arrested by Mexican authorities after getting lost and crossing into Mexico just south of the New Mexico border. He is currently “being held as a cash asset for a corrupt federal judge in Juarez, Mexico,” Dean told The Center Square in an exclusive interview.

    Caden’s family members are “true salt of the earth conservatives. They thought they could follow a legal process and relied on crooked attorneys they hired in Mexico to help Caden and have been milked ever since,” Dean said. “We’re at a point in time where it’s going to take the highest level of government to make the Mexican government do the right thing and release this young man.

    “I want this kid home by Christmastime to be home with his family,” he said.

    Caden’s family initially paid Mexican attorneys $25,000 to represent him and in April they didn’t show up to his hearing, Dean told The Center Square. “His family has been extorted for months, forced to pay more than $1,000 a week just for Caden to have hot water, toilet paper and 15-minute phone call home,” he said. “Crooked Mexican authorities are in no hurry to have a hearing scheduled,” he said. A new attorney the family hired from Houston hasn’t been effective, he added.

    On March 2, Caden was driving 17 hours from a job site in Tempe, Arizona, to east Texas when his GPS redirected him south off of I-10 to Columbus, New Mexico. If he had kept going straight through Deming, he would have arrived in El Paso in an hour and a half. Instead, he drove south into Puerto Palomas de Villa, Mexico. The area is famous because of a 1916 attack by Mexican general Francisco Pancho Villa, which prompted the U.S. to send 10,000 troops there during the Mexican Expedition.

    It’s also famous because Mexican cartels control an illicit human and drug smuggling operation in the region where illegal entries increased after Texas border security efforts ramped up under Abbott, The Center Square reported.

    Caden has overcome much in his life, including a traumatic brain injury from working in the oil fields, his family says. He chose to reenter the workforce rather than live off of government benefits, Dean explained. Extremely confused, disoriented and afraid, he found himself surrounded by seven Mexican Federales. They searched his truck, found 10 .308 cartridges he and his dad use for hog hunting and a loaded pistol, Dean said. He was arrested and remains in a prison in Juarez…..”

    https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/exclusive-texas-rep-calls-trump-get-texan-released-mexican-prison

    Liked by 1 person

  11. “The shit they worry about – Jeez. Pennsyltucky has now banned “hair racism” by making a new “protected class” for hairstyles such as dreadlocks. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission came out with a ruling now that ‘hair discrimination’ is part of the protected class of race, which is in the PA Human Relations Act. 

    On the other end of the spectrum, they also voted that you cannot make fun of bald women – only bald men and dogs who’ve had their asses shaved…” 

    “We were different kids, that’s for certain…”

    Liked by 1 person

  14. i found this comment at tcth concerning the dreadlocks law…

    GB Bari

    November 26, 2025 9:27 am

    Reply to  Edink

    That’ll lose in courts when they find that dreadlocks are justifiably banned by food handling service employers and patient direct healthcare services employers for 100% valid hygienic reasons.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Tom Hennessy
    @Tomhennessey69
    The U.S. Somali refugee program did not begin with a vote, a referendum, or even a dedicated bill in Congress. Most Americans have no idea how it actually started.

    Here’s the real story:

    Under the Refugee Act of 1980 (passed by Congress and signed by Jimmy Carter), the president alone gets to decide every year how many refugees America takes and from which countries. No new law required, no public vote, no ballot measure.

    George H.W. Bush used that authority in Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to open a small Priority-2 category for Somalis “of special humanitarian concern.” The first arrivals (a few hundred) came in 1992–1993, right at the tail end of his presidency. Almost nobody in America noticed.

    Then the numbers grew quietly under Clinton, Bush Jr., Obama, Trump (who slowed but never stopped it), and Biden:

    • 1990–1994: ~4,000
    • 1995–2005: ~45,000
    • 2006–2016: ~70,000
    • 2017–2024: another ~60,000+

    Official refugee total since 1990: ≈ 180,000+

    But that’s only the beginning.

    Chain migration (family reunification) exploded the real number.

    Once a refugee is resettled, they can petition for:

    • Spouses & minor children (immediate family – no numerical limit)
    • Parents (again, no numerical limit)
    • Adult sons/daughters, siblings (subject to quotas but still massive over time)

    Because Somali families are large and the 1980 Act + later laws (IMMACT 90, etc.) are extremely generous with derivative family, the actual ethnic Somali population in the United States is now estimated between 450,000 and 700,000 (State Department, Census ACS, Migration Policy Institute, and Somali community estimates all put it in that range).

    The most commonly cited academic/community figure today is ≈ 500,000–550,000 Somali-Americans, meaning chain migration multiplied the original refugee number by roughly 3×.

    Largest concentrations:

    • Minneapolis–St. Paul: 100,000–150,000
    • Columbus, Ohio: 70,000–100,000
    • Seattle area: 40,000–60,000
    • San Diego, Nashville, Lewiston (ME), and dozens of other cities now have five- and six-figure Somali neighborhoods.

    All of this happened without a single national vote, referendum, or specific congressional act aimed at Somalis. Congress handed the keys to the executive branch in 1980, and every administration since — Republican and Democrat — has kept the door open and the chain-migration pipeline flowing.

    That’s how half a million people from one of the most clan-divided, war-torn nations on earth ended up reshaping entire American cities — quietly, legally, and with essentially zero direct democratic input.

    Like

  17. Byron York
    @ByronYork
    The road to the Chicago train fire attack. Suspect set fire to a government building in 2020 when he was on probation for two convictions, nearly 20 other cases, plus awaiting trial for punching two women at random. Fast forward to this year. He hit a woman in a hospital so hard she suffered concussion and eye damage. Prosecutors begged for him to be jailed. Judge said no. And then 90 days later, he set fire to Bethany McGee on the L train.

    Like

  20. Cold and Quiet

    Meanwhile, in Palm Springs….

    The Fairey Rotodyne, an early VTOL design. The rotor was driven by simple jets at the blade tips, and overall the Rotodyne was a lot less complicated than a tilt-rotor.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. “A Republic Worthy of Thanks: A Thanksgiving Reflection on the Trials, Faith, and Resolve That Gave Birth to American Freedom”

    Michael T. Flynn LTG USA (RET), Nov 26, 2025

    “In this season of remembrance, as Americans gather in gratitude, it is fitting to reflect upon the origins of Thanksgiving and upon the noble trials through which our forefathers labored to secure a free Republic. The history of this day does not arise from ease or comfort. It springs from hardship endured with faith, courage, and unwavering trust in Providence.

    When the Pilgrims observed one of the earliest Thanksgivings in the year 1621, they did so after grievous loss and severe winter privations. Nearly half their number had perished. The land before them was uncertain, and the future unknown. Yet they chose to set aside a day for humble thanks, believing that all blessings flow from the hand of Almighty God. Their example planted in American soil a tradition of gratitude that would endure through every age of the Nation.

    More than a century later, the spirit of thanksgiving strengthened the resolve of the Founding Fathers as they stood against the weight of imperial authority. Their circumstances were uncertain and often perilous. Supplies were scarce, the enemy well supplied, and the outcome of the struggle far from assured. Yet they held firm to the belief, expressed by Thomas Jefferson, that the God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time. They regarded liberty as a sacred trust, inseparable from the divine order, and worthy of every sacrifice.

    During the bitter winter encampment at Valley Forge, the army suffered cold, hunger, and disease. Men marched with bleeding feet upon frozen ground. In that season of trial, General Washington called for a day of thanksgiving and prayer, reminding his soldiers that no adversity could extinguish the cause of freedom. Later, as President, he proclaimed that it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and to humbly implore His protection. His words form the spiritual foundation of our national observance.

    When independence had been secured, the Founders faced a new challenge equal in weight to war. They were tasked with designing a system of government capable of preserving liberty while guarding against the dangers of tyranny. The debates in Philadelphia were solemn and intense. The future of the continent rested upon their work.

    James Madison warned that the entire future of American civilization had been staked upon the capacity of the people to govern themselves according to the Ten Commandments. Such a warning was not lightly given, nor should it be lightly regarded by any generation that seeks to preserve the Republic.

    Upon the completion of the Constitution, Benjamin Franklin famously observed that the Framers had produced a Republic if you can keep it. His words were not merely a remark. They were a charge to every future American. A Republic survives only when its citizens remain vigilant, virtuous, and steadfast in the defense of the liberties entrusted to them.

    Thanksgiving, therefore, calls the Nation to more than remembrance. It calls us to renewal. It invites us to measure ourselves against the faith and fortitude of those who built this Nation amidst hardship, uncertainty, and sacrifice. John Adams declared that liberty must be supported at all hazards, for we have a right to it derived from our Maker. His admonition stands as firmly today as when it was first written.

    As families gather throughout the land, may we pause to honor the generations who walked through fire so that we might live free. May we give thanks not only for the blessings that surround us, but for the principles that sustain the Republic. May we, in our own time, prove ourselves worthy of the mighty inheritance placed in our keeping.

    May our gratitude rise to Heaven with the sincerity of those who founded this Nation. May our conduct strengthen the liberty they secured, and may the Almighty continue to favor the United States with His protection and guidance.

    May God bless you, your families, and these United States of America.“

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Just The News: “The Georgia prosecutor who took over the alleged 2020 election interference case after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was disqualified said Wednesday he’s dropping the criminal charges against President Donald Trump and his co-defendants.

    The prosecutor who is ending the case is Pete Skandalakis, according to NBC News.”

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Liked by 1 person

  29. got my pumpkin pie in the oven and figured since the oven is already on, I’ll bake a couple batches of cookies and freeze them.

    seeing 13-18 turkeys wandering up and down the driveway. must be something in the woods they don’t like.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Bet the house smells good! I just baked the peach cobbler and put it into a covered container. I went to the store here and grabbed 2 single-serve containers of Bob Evans mashed potatoes, a package of McCormick’s Turkey Gravy mix, and Extra Creamy Cool Whip; I already had the Sweet Potatoes and dark brown sugar. I don’t have to worry about taking butter – with all Mom’s baking, she buys it by the case! I’m all set to go for tomorrow.

      Liked by 1 person

  32. The National Pulse has confirmed through White House sources that two National Guard members have been shot outside the White House. The conditions of those shot is currently unknown.

    Kellie Meyer of NewsNation reported significant police and Secret Service activity in the vicinity, noting that sidewalks were entirely blocked off to both foot traffic and vehicles.

    The press has been relocated to the briefing room inside the White House as authorities continue to gather more information on the situation. There is a massive police presence downtown in Washington, D.C., as well as on Capitol Hill this afternoon as a result of the incident.

    Liked by 1 person

    2. According to Just The News, both of them died: “Two West Virginia National Guard members shot outside of the White House have died, the state’s governor told the Associated Press.”

      Liked by 1 person

  39. H/T M

    Liked by 1 person

  40. Liked by 1 person

  42. A few more details….

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Two West Virginia National Guard members shot Wednesday near the White House have died, the state’s governor said.
    “We are in ongoing contact with federal officials as the investigation continues,” he said.

    A suspect who was in custody also was shot and has injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, according to a law enforcement official not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. One National Guard member was shot in the head, according to a person familiar with the details of the incident who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

    The shooting happened at the corner of 17th and H Streets in the northwest quadrant of the city, roughly two blocks northwest of the White House.
    Emergency medical responders transported all three victims to a hospital, according to Vito Maggiolo, the public information officer for the DC Fire and Emergency Services. The Joint DC Task Force confirmed they responded to the incident after reports of the shooting. The Metropolitan Police Department also said they were on-scene.

    Police tape cordoned off the scene where emergency fire and police vehicles’ lights flashed and helicopter blades thudded overhead. Agents from the U.S. Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on scene, as National Guard troops stood sentry nearby. At least one helicopter landed on the National Mall.

    President Donald Trump, who is in Florida celebrating Thanksgiving, warned in a statement on social media that the “animal” who shot the guardsmen “will pay a very steep price.”

    Liked by 1 person

  43. I’m half-way there…..”At this point, thinking anyone with a Democrat or liberal point of view is going to jail for crimes they committed in the government realm, is just deluded.

    Liked by 1 person

  46. Breitbart Update: The New York Times reported that the two National Guard members were shot “at the entrance to the Farragut West Metro Station.” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described the shooting as “cowardly” and said, “[It will] only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington D.C. safe and beautiful.”

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.