June 13th – Flamingo’s in Somerset?

I am no gardener, and quite un-observant normally, but I did notice lovely little flowers on a small tree we have on the front lawn.

Apparently it’s common name is a Flamingo willow, but the proper name is Salix integra ‘Hakuro-nishiki’. It is a is a deciduous shrub or small tree, with branches that droop slightly at the tips, reaching a height and spread of 2.5m. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves, to 10cm long, emerge pink in spring, maturing to variegated shades of pink, creamy-white and green before turning predominantly green as the summer progresses. Yellow catkins are borne on bare stems in spring and the stems, particularly of the new growth, turn an orange-red colour in the autumn. You can read more about it here

Here is a photo of one of the flowers, with the overall plant in the inset.