Agreed! I like the blood reds ones too. I tried Taurus here but it's pretty finicky, and not as red as I was hoping after the flowers have aged a few days.

Pretty sure the reds at my old place were Vulcan. Or Vulcan Flame.

It's OK, but I prefer ones where you don't have to get on your knees to see the blooms.

The huge 'Medusa' at Sonoma Horticultural Nursery (now called something else) was absolutely stunning. I'm so glad I got out there that last time in 2016, I was too early on my 2011 trip to see the main collection of rhodies in flower.

I have a grafted one, but the top branch (but not the entire scion, thank goodness!) died in this coldest-in-10-years winter, so I'm very close to digging it back up and keeping it in a huge pot as plant for breeding purposes.

It won't survive on its own roots around here.

More pictures of nearly peak bloom. I can't take credit for the ridiculous bud count on this specimen, it came from the grower this way. I can only hope to do half as well once it's established in the new garden!