Sunshine and showers

Rhododendron vaseyi (Harry White's form) in Ray Wood - a very beautiful azalea from the Carolinas.

The past few days have been busy in various ways, giving just a few chances to take a few snaps in the sunny intervals between regular heavy showers. Most notable was the Rhododendron show and display at Harlow Carr on Saturday, with the fun of collecting the flowers and the stress of getting them safe to Harrogate before hand. But five first prizes and a series of seconds, thirds, fourths and highly commendeds made it very worthwhile - and the prize money will just about cover the refreshments from Bettys...

Ivor Stokes expounds the fine points of judging at the Harlow Carr Rhododendron Competition on Saturday.

Our first-prize winning arrangement of Rhododendron foliage - a first was also awarded to the other exhibit in the class from the Himalayan Garden. They won the competition on aggregate points, a whisker ahead of our entries from Ray Wood... It was a nice opportunity to celebrate the foliar beauties in the genus.

We also put on a display about the garden in Ray Wood, seen here with Jonathan Watkinson and volunteers Gill and Vic, who with the rest of the volunteering team have brought it back to its present resurgent state.

Between the heavy showers RHS Harlow Carr was looking good, with many big pots crammed with tulips and other bulbs making a great display - here a selection of Viridifloras.

Camassia leichtlinii 'Caerulea', a signature plant at the Yorkshire Arboretum, catching the evening sunshine on Friday.

Euphorbia x pasteurii after a shower; it is remarkably successful here at Settrington, growing well in the open border.

Narcissus poeticus subsp. radiiflorus - the last daffodil of the season here. A squinny thing, but bringing back nice memories of the meadows of Epirus.

The purple-leaved prostrate dandelion, Taraxacum faeroense in the gravel bed here. Yes, I even grow dandelions!

Polystichum setiferum 'Iveryanum' at its perfect moment.