By Gary Randall For The Mountain Times
Each spring, as the Mount Hood National Forest shakes off the last chill of winter, one of my favorite wildflowers quietly announces the changing season — the Pacific rhododendron.
I’m always a little surprised when someone is surprised that these rhododendrons grow wild. I’ve had more than a few people ask if they were planted along the trails or part of a restoration effort. I suppose they look too perfect to be wild. But Rhododendron macrophyllum, our native Pacific rhody, has always called this region home. These vibrant pink blooms emerge naturally in open clearings, along old roads, and at the forest’s edge — just where the light filters in and the view opens up.
To me, they’re more than just flowers. As a photographer, they’re a seasonal gift.
Photographing wild rhododendrons takes timing and patience. At lower elevations, they bloom in late May and early June. As the snow melts off the higher ridgelines, the bloom follows the retreating snowpack uphill. By mid to late summer, you might find yourself standing in a mountain clearing surrounded by blooming rhodies with a crystal-clear view of Mount Hood rising in the distance — a classic Oregon scene that never gets old.
What makes them such a joy to photograph isn’t just their color — it’s where they grow. They thrive in transitional spaces: at the edge of the forest, where light breaks through the canopy and the background opens up to sweeping views. These are the kinds of conditions photographers dream about. The flowers offer a vibrant foreground, the trees add texture and mood, and the mountain gives the scene its anchor.
Darlene and I have spent many sunsets out there, with our cameras, watching the sun paint the upper ridges with a beautiful floral display in front of us. Our little dog Hazel loves to come along, always happy to be part of the adventure. She has become as enthusiastic about rhododendron season as we are. She gets to roam free among the flowers.
The Pacific rhododendron is the state flower of Washington, but I’d argue it’s just as emblematic of the Oregon Cascades. Our own town of Rhododendron was named after the very blooms that still thrive in the surrounding forests each spring and summer.
If you’ve never gone looking for wild rhodies, this might be the perfect season to start. Head out to a favorite forest trail or scenic pull-off and keep your eyes open at the forest’s edge. You might just find yourself standing in one of Oregon’s most photogenic spring moments — and maybe, like me, you’ll fall in love with these wildflowers all over again.