Boulderwoods: A Celebration of Rhododendrons

Boulderwoods in its spring glory. All photos by Joe Bruso.

Joe Bruso picked up a brochure from the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society (ARS) at the Boston Flower Show 30 years ago. Rhodies were plants that he knew very little about. Today his rhododendron collection exceeds 1,500 plants. He is president of the Massachusetts Chapter, develops his own hybrids, lectures about rhododendrons, and sells plants from his home nursery.

When Joe first saw the three-acre building lot in Hopkinton, Mass., that would become his current home and garden, he realized that it would be the perfect setting for his gardening hobby. Glaciers had carved hillocks and valleys and deposited huge boulders throughout three acres of woodlands. After building their house, Joe and his wife set about clearing the lot in small chunks—digging out understory shrubs and saplings and culling trees that were diseased, short-lived, or tough competitors for other plants. The remaining red and white oaks, hickories, and white pines provide a perfect canopy for Joe’s collections of rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, and other ornamental trees that flourish in groves among the boulders. They are underplanted with drifts of trilliums, Jeffersonia, bloodroot, epimediums, jack-in-the-pulpits, and other shade lovers.

Joe’s interest in hybridizing rhododendrons grew out of his lifelong curiosity about the natural world and his education in biology and genetics. It was fueled by the American Rhododendron Society where kindred spirits engage in learning and experimentation. He joined the Species Study Group, which focuses on the 800+ rhododendron species that have been discovered worldwide. Thanks to rapid infrastructure development in Asia and advancements in genetics, new species of rhododendrons continue to be identified and added to the genera. 

Emerging rhododendron foliage in all of its variety

Joe’s particular hybridizing interest lies in big-leaf rhodies with unusual foliage—bright red leaf bracts, pigmented leaves, silvery tomentum (wooly fuzz on top of leaves), and cinnamon-colored indumentum (velvety underside). You will see hundreds of these plants throughout the garden, some as full-grown specimens, others as year-old shrublets in nursery beds. His collection also includes more than 100 straight species, with some blooming as early as March and others as late as August.

Joe Bruso, hybridizing in his garden.

Boulderwoods is open for visiting by appointment (see information below.) Large-leaf rhododendrons are always available for sale as well as a smaller selection of deciduous and evergreen azaleas, magnolias, and other woody ornamentals. I have visited many times and purchased more than a dozen of Joe’s hybrids that are thriving in my garden. This spring I also joined the Mass. Rhododendron Society to learn more about these wonderful shrubs. Why not join us? You can find more information about the Massachusetts Chapter of ARS at MassRhododendron.org.

A cross of Janet Blair x Sappho Kalmia Hill

Boulderwoods is located in Hopkinton, Mass., and open by appointment only. Contact Joe at (508) 435-8217, jpbruso@aol.com