Pretty Weed

This is one of the few rhododendron plants left in the Castle Grounds. A weed that has taken over and yet at this time of the year, grand flowers burst open from huge buds. Once banks of these purple flowers blazed out from their dark green foliage. Now burnt out barren slopes lie waiting for the indigenous plants to back what is rightly theirs. Perhaps less dramatic, but birch and beech will hopefully take over.