Inspecting the Spindle
This photo was not taken on an amble around the gardens but, in fact, on a hike down to the Ings woodland plantation. Interspersed around the edges, with the usual hawthorns and blackthorns, we have planted about 30 spindle plants which are at their spectacular best at this time of year. Strangely, the flowers in spring are quite inconspicuous but, in autumn, the fruit provide this fanfare of colour when the pink lobes open up to reveal the orange seeds. Perhaps we should plant a couple in the garden!