Rhododendron

We had a lot of rain overnight, and it was still raining heavily when we got up to milk this morning. It did ease off during the day, with periods of fine weather.

This lovely rhododendron is just starting to bloom, and I love the colour of this flower. If you enlarge the photo, you will see the droplets of rain on the petals.

Rhododendron's are poisonous if eaten by cattle. Within a few hours of eating it they will be in pain with colic and they may be trembling and distressed - it will then be necessary to have the animal seen by a vet for treatment. We therefore have to ensure that any of the plants in our garden aren't on the boundary of the grazing paddocks so the cows can't reach over the fence and eat them.