Showy spring flowers

Rhododendrons are grown for their spectacular flowers, usually borne in spring. These were bringing some fantastic seasonal colour to my friend's driveway as we left Malvern earlier today.

Not a native plant of the UK, nevertheless they are a key spring feature of many gardens and woodlands.

(Although keen gardeners beware! You could find yourselves on the wrong side of the law because of rhododendrons or other "invasive" species in their garden, under possible new European laws.)