El Dorado

The garden is bursting with flowers at the moment, especially the row of five metre high Rhododendrons at the front, but I'm more impressed by the Ceanothus or California lilac. This is a variegated variety called 'El Dorado' which I planted as a 30cm shrub five years ago. Now its over three metres tall and is a magnet for bees and hoverflies. I took this photo very early this morning, its been downhill ever since with rain and blustery winds.