Viewed as a menace nowadays.

Rhododendron means Scotland to me, and particularly the west coast and long lochs in Spring. I’ve always liked it. I’ve great memories of work and pleasure trips where it formed part of the backdrop. It’s a non-native species and it thrives here in our climate. For a while it’s been viewed as Scotland’s most threatening invasive plant, and so is under concerted attack - in this area the Local Authority and Forestry and Land Scotland are working to eradicate it, and larger parks have been cleared. They’ve not reached the smaller parks yet - this specimen is in the wee park near our Doctors’ Surgery. We’d a walk here after an early morning appointment.

Rhododendron ponticum was first introduced into Britain in the 1700s as an ornamental plant. It’s dense thickets shade out native plants. If left uncontrolled it will eventually dominate the habitat to the virtual exclusion of all other plant life. It has an extensive root system and the leaf litter is toxic to many other plants. And it harbours a fungus-like pathogen that affects many other trees and plants; that’s been an issue locally in one of the big estates.

I’d a short FaceTime this morning with a friend from University; he’s writing a book. It was pleasant. We both have grey beards now. A lifetime ago his was black, mine red/brown. We discussed the prevailing pandemic situation and surrounding politics.

We did some gardening after our walk this afternoon. We stayed mainly urban and nearby, as rain threatened.

Late short family chat after a quiz. All well.