Encore Please!

When we first looked at our house, the description read that there were Encore Azaleas. I lived in Central Texas most of my life and wanted azaleas (red ones) in my gardens. I think they are beautiful. The soil in central Texas is not acidic and contains a lot of limestone, rock and clay.

To properly grow azaleas, you have to have acid in the soil. It can be done in central Texas, but it is not easy. I had every "Texas Gardening" book known to man and I followed the directions. I had to dig 5 feet down and 4 feet around the area and completely replace the soil and treat it with acidic plant food. So I did all of this and planted red azaleas that turned out to be pink. Augh! Not that I don't like pink, I just wanted red ones.

If you know me, the sun is not my friend and I tend to get hot, turn red, not sweat and pass out. A hit with the water hose and a splash brings me back, but with a headache that is unimaginable. You know, the kind where no one can even walk on the carpet in the room you are resting in to recover. Lights out!

After several attempts at Central Texas Azaleas, I gave up. I even talked to my favorite flower market and questioned why they even sold them. I'm a determined woman, so me giving up on this was a big deal! My brother lives in, Texarkana, and he always has the most beautiful azaleas. (Secretly aggravated me to death!)

After reading about the Encore Azaleas, I searched my gardening books and the internet and could not find what the Encore was all about. Deep inside, I wished it meant that they would bloom more than once a year. I was afraid to let myself get overly excited about this wish. It would be a big disappointment...like the "Pink" azaleas that Pooped out. Poopie Pink is all I think when I recall the hard work, passing out and the headaches. I had to train my daughter, Katie to splash me with the hose. She was a real trooper about it...I can't believe it never scared her. That poor child must have thought it was all part of gardening. LOL!

I'm happy to report that hard work and perseverance do not go unnoticed. I now have beautiful red azaleas that grow all around the front of our home. And, the Encore...well Hello, August...they bloom again! ParTay in the garden!