For much of the year it is quietly lovely, especially in spring time. There are five dwarf rhododendrons which grow only 12 to 18 in. high – Rhododendron sargentianum with yellow flowers, R. pemakoense, lilac pink, R. keleticum, purple-crimson, and two blue- flowered R. fastigiatum which have in addition grey leaves.

As a contrast I included a Berberis gracilis nana which for two years sat like a vegetable owl, but now has taken a fresh interest producing each April a most creditable crop of yellow flowers. Another berberis, verruculosa, is 30 in. high, a dome of hard green leaves which are silvered beneath.

Wandering amongst them all is a yellow-flowered Clematis tangutica which is better used as ground cover than grown in the traditional way over a trellis.

Gradually over the years the picture was filled in first by adding Chamaecyparis lawsoniana wisselii which forms a narrow dark green column and then by planting, just to one side, a maple with its intricate twig pattern.

Conifers play a dominant role in the second group which began with a specimen of Juniperus x media pfitzeriana and then had a Chamaecyparis pisifera plumosa aurea added for contrast with its yellow cone outline showing up well against the tiered grey-green of the juniper.

In the winter hornbeam recovers individuality after spending the summer looking like a poor relation of the beech. Once the leaves go, all the masculine beauty of fluted stems and downward arching branches stands revealed. Strange that a tree such as this should give rise to Carpinus betulus fastigiata which makes a symmetrical pyramid, ideal for the small garden. Indeed, I use it to hide telegraph poles and similar ugly objects.