Stuff you probably don't need to know, but here it is anyway.

Our house is surrounded by rhododendrons, so I have the opportunity to observe them a lot. As in no matter where you look out of a window, there they are.
Most of the time, they are unremarkable. They put out a few pretty white blossoms in June, then in the fall a few leaves yellow up and drop off. That's pretty much it until the temperature gets down to freezing or below, that is. Then they do this:



Isn't that pathetic? I know that these are Southern Rhodos, but really, they are mountain plants and should be tough. When they do this, you can practically see them shivering.

Here's what they look like when it warms up to 32+ degrees.