Mahonia beaten by the storms

I much preferred the old name of berberis beleae - it rolls off the tongue so easily.  I hurried in to get my camera when I saw a large bumble bee visiting but of course I was too late...

The storms have been incredible and the garden is a bog - had a long drive on the M5 in the storm last night with lightning adding to the terror.  Not nice.

I have more paperwork for the holly tree in the background than I have for the house - the entire estate has a tree preservation order since it was built  - it should be 50 years old or more by now but has had a chequered history.  One occupant cut it down and got fined £6000 and had to replace it.  Happily they put it to the end of the garden instead of in the middle as the old one had been.