Thread by @Hal_Duncan

Today in #Rakesden...

The astilbe is getting intense.

So is the hydrangea.

The hollyhocks are profuse this year.

Japanese anemones in Smolsneuk and Undercherry adding to the range of pinks and purply pinks.

The pigeons are getting a bit gallus.

They were virtually begging. One came up while I was topping a pot with grit and stared at me, clearly convinced it was seed, like a pet dug waiting for its tea.

Heh, seems I'm not the only one being tempted by plants. I'm guessing the neighbours from the next door close have plans for these.

The hydrangea is well out of shape from its battering but its flowering

Lastly, a new find in Undercherry. App suggests a couple of sorbus matches, but I can't tell.

It's directly under the rowan, but it's clearly not *that* kinda sorbus. Sorbus intermedia, Swedish whitebeam, looks the closest match to me. Wikipedia says hybrids are common in the genus, so I'm wondering if it's possible the rowan's been crossed with some other sorbus.

Damn though! It kinda looks like an Arran whitebeam. Which is incredibly rare, it seems, only found on Arran. Which makes it seem hugely unlikely it actually *is* that, of course but we're close enough to Arran, it's a tantalising fancy: woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-an…

The Arran whitebeam is a hybrid of rowan and rock whitebeam, so I'm gonna guess this is a happenstance hybrid that's hit on a similar look due to similar parentage.

Until such time as I am sadly disillusioned by someone with actual expertise, I am referring to it as a Rakesden whitebeam and regarding it as a precious hybrid that's not just rare but, nay, veritably *unique*.

Wait, wait, WTF?!? They do have some Arran whitebeams on the mainland, specifically in North Ayrshire, specifically in Ardrossan and Eglinton Park. The latter being in Kilwinning.

MUM! MUM! KILWINNING IS CHASING ME AGAIN WITH WEIRD COINCIDENCES! TELL IT TO STOP!