61 years ago, George Dobson, who was then Market Lavington’s oldest inhabitant, planted a tree to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. We have featured this before on the blog and you can click here to see the occasion.

It flowered for the first time in 1976 and it is now a handsome and well grown tree.

The Coronation Tree in Market Lavington. This catalpa or Indian bean tree was planted in 1953.

There is the tree which is close to The Old School as well as our museum building and the church. This photo, taken earlier this month doesn’t show the flowers, but the tree is well covered with the delicate and beautiful blooms.

Here’s a little collection of them.

And here’s a close up on a single flower.

Later, the tree will have the big purple bean like pods which give it the alternative name of Indian bean tree.

The Catalpa is not native to the UK but it seems to adapt well to our climate and growing conditions.