From an early spring period during which, despite the appearance of bright little spring bulbs flowering bravely, when the garden looked as though it was still struggling to recover from the depredations of snow and ice and deep freezes, it has now recovered into the season, as though miraculously, giving full promise of what is yet to come.

The perennials have sprung to life, seemingly overnight.  Warm temperatures and a spate of truly heat-crazed days, interspersed with generous rain has awakened even the most reluctant of plants to display themselves in their full springtime glory.  And more, much more to appear given the fullness of the season unfolding.

The gardens have sprung to life in many other ways, as well.  As the architecture of the growing perennials begin to achieve their heights and form, there is the addition of the fragrance that envelopes the area accompanying the blossoming bodies of colour and luscious presence.

And there is movement, as well, not only the breezes that waft the perfume of lilac, flowering crabs and lily-of-the-valley abroad, but the flight of a multitudinous fleet of bees and moths, butterflies and birds.  Their whirring wings and delightful songs enliven the atmosphere to arouse all of our senses and emotions to the season of recovery and brilliant beauty.

And we are so besotted with our little slice of Eden, that we have once again resumed an old ritual, of perambulating about the gardens as a post-breakfast morning treat.