Every day this week I have seen new things burst into bloom. Some things I planted two or three years ago are becoming special plants. I planted quite a lot of irises and they are getting bigger and more spectacular.

The irises I’ve chosen are largely dark blue almost black. This contrasts with the pinks purples and oranges I’ve dotted about. Californian poppies are vivid orange and before blooming they are peculiar beige green funnels. I often think a poppy plant has disappeared but there are lots about to bloom.

Salvia is appearing, with its signature smell of ‘Herb de Provence’. They are currently behind the trampoline so I can’t get close to crush them. These ones are deepest purple but I have ‘Hot Lips’ which are white and red else where that was really decimated by the droughts in 2022/3. I’m really hoping it might make a reappearance.

We also have some saplings trying to take hold in the back garden. I really need to cut them out of the area we originally designated a herb garden area. This was an area my mum helped me with but it has too many invaders to still think of it as a herb garden.