珍稀山茶花百年一放

    Last week, in a welcome sign that spring is just around the corner -- the “Middlemist’s Red” put on its most spectacular display in years at Chiswick House, west London. Brought from China to England more than 200 years ago, it is thought to be one of only two examples of the variety in the world. The plant was collected in 1804 by London gardener John Middlemist and given to Kew Gardens. It was moved to its present home some time after 1823.