Also I planted some other interesting plants in the last 20 years. Here is Daphniphyllum macropodum growing at my parents house. Can't remember exactly what year I planted it, but I would have to go around 1998 or later. What's wrong with this plant? Why is it uncommon to rare? No one can claim this is 'half hardy' and 'not hardy in our area' stuff. What do you think?

Here is a link that might be useful: Other pics from today

Have seen it attacked by honey fungus in Loderi Valley at the Seattle arboretum. Maybe it is a magnet for that. Otherwise a sort of Rhododendron decorum or R. fortunei without large and fragrant flowers.

Most people do assume it's a Rhododendron. I get questions like "what kind of Rhody is that?" from my parents neighbors. I would say it's probably a lot easier and faster than most large leaf Rhododendrons, but like you said, all you really get is foliage with Daphnophyllum.

That's an impressively healthy-looking abutilon. I'll have to try some with vitifolium blood...

Hummingbirds maybe they will do some hybridizing with your flowers. But it is mainly visited by bees in my area. The originally come from Chile. There are no hummingbird around.

fengshui05 - Do you mean there are no hummingbirds in Chile? Or maybe you just mean in your garden? I can assure you that there are many, many species of hummingbirds in Chile - even all the way up into the alpine zone.