Making plans. Worcestershire.

I love this time of the year. My garden looks a little scruffy in places as things start to die back. Tidying up in the garden is so satisfying as you know it will stay looking great for months.

On top of that the spring bulbs and winter bedding are in the shops. Lidl is particularly brilliant for bulbs this week. A very satisfactory morning spent planting bargain bulbs means I am looking forward to more hyacinths, tulips, crocus, and allium next spring. Deep joy.

Hyacinths

Hyacinths 

The hyacinth looks so close to ready.

Two days later

Another two days

Hyacinths are quite an old fashioned flower, which have been out of fashion since forever. I love them. They may look rather odd, like maybe your Grandmother crocheted them. I grow them in my gardens, all the different colours. They look a little odd and out of place but the scent is just so beautifully delicious. As delightful as bluebells, just a stronger version.

Finally ready and smelling great

Originally from the Mediterranean and named after Hyakinthos, a young boy accidentally killed by the god Apollo in a discuss throwing competition. Apollo would not allow Hades to claim Hyakinthos's body, and instead Apollo used his remains to create the flower from.

Smelling so delicious

In the 18th century in the Netherlands new colours of denser flower spikes with more deeply fragrant scent were developed. Before then they were all a turquoise blue colour.

Even my cat loves them