In the past 10 or so days the AZALEAS in my gardens have absolutely EXPLODED w/ color. One of only several shrubs I grow they are the earliest to blossom and I spend hours each spring photographing them....thoroughly enjoying the first signs of color in my gardens after a long white winter.

Known as the 'Royalty of the Garden' ....this seems to be such a fitting name for the beautifully colorful and very fragrant AZALEA. They belong to the genus RHODODENDRON which includes more than 800 species and 10,000 named varieties. Interestingly, in addition to being renowned for its beauty, the AZALEA is also highly toxic and were once so infamous for their toxicity that to receive a bouquet of their flowers in a black vase was a well-known death threat.

Had a hard time deciding which of my little beauties to post this morning but decided on this one as it is really my favorite....and the only two-toned variety I grow. Taken early on a clear cool morning I couldn't help but thinking of these two blossoms as the 'King' and 'Queen' of my mid-spring gardens.