There is a huge plant of Rhododendron sinogrande growing not far from the house near the dog statue. Unfortunately this tree doesn’t have any background as to where it came from originally, but it is all of 10 metres plus which must make it a fair age, certainly pre war. The flowers are still the largest of any in the garden which is remarkable on such an elderly tree.

A result of the spread of the canopy is that there is quite an area of shady mossy ground underneath where occasional seedlings emerge. There was one such plant about 15 years ago which I left as there was enough space for it to develop and not interfere with the parent. I was in the garden with a friend last year and noticed these interesting pink buds opening on the top half of the bush and was passing yesterday when I spotted these blooms much lower down at eye level. It is quite a sight and colour shade for this species. I’m guessing that it has played away with something nearby with some pink in its parentage. Maybe even Rh. Elsae which is nearby and was bred in the garden by Jovey Carlyon in the late 19th Century. This hybrid was supposedly half hodgsonii making it a possible candidate for imparting the colour into this seedling. It is well worth its place and also layering several of its lower branches to eventually move into more open situations.