Another wet day

Another morning spent on shrub tags and labels - got very wet - before being taken out to lunch as a farewell from my manager; this doesn't happen every day! But then I don't retire every day!

At least the rain brings out the colour of bark - this is Rhododendron 'Cornubia', a hybrid of Rhododendron arboreum and Rh 'Shilsonii', which latter is a hybrid of Rh barbatum and Rh thomsonii. All three parents have good red flowers and interesting foliage, so 'Cornubia' is definitely a winner! This specimen is one of Arduaine's oldest plants.

Raised by Mr R B Fox at Penjerrick, Cornwall, in 1912.