Rhododendrons not on schedule

Bill Jackson, of East Taieri, takes a close look at rhododendrons in the upper section of the Dunedin Botanic Garden yesterday.

Dunedin Rhododendron Group member Tony Fitchett, who is a former president of the New Zealand Rhododendron Association, said the city was experiencing an unusual flowering season, and some rhododendron species had flowered unusually early, some had flowered late, and some not at all.

One species, Augustinia, had provided ''a real burst of flowering'' much earlier than usual this year, and was now already flowering again, Mr Fitchett said.