Kalmia latifolia

Today's the day ...................... for an old favourite

First of all, can I say a big thank you to all you lovely people - for all your kind messages wishing us well in our current state of ill-health.  So far, at least, it hasn't seemed any worse than a bad cold (although it's so long since I had one of those that I've more or less forgotten what that is like?!)  We'll just carry on taking it easy - and hope that we're in the clear and able to attend some important engagements over the weekend.

As to the above, I know I always blip this shrub around this time of year - but that's because it's one of my favourites.  It is actually native to North America - named by the Swedish botanist, Linnaeus, to honour his friend the Finnish botanist Pehr Kalm.  

It was introduced into Britain in the mid-1700s by the Quaker merchant, Peter Collinson. Although Collinson was a cloth merchant by vocation, largely trading with North America, his real love was gardening. Through his business contacts he obtained samples of seeds and plants from around the world - and sold them on to fellow horticulturalists.

I'm always so pleased to see that it has made it through another winter to produce these very characteristic flowers ..............................