Everything's in Bloom

When the grape hyacinths are in bloom, you can be sure it's spring. Our front flower bed has quite a display of the purple flowers, looking like upside-down clusters of grapes. The flowers won't last long but the green leaves will soak up the sun for a month or more. What a lot of work for such a short display.


Beside the kitchen is a maple tree which is now in full flower. In the late evening sunlight, they shine like golden silk. Soon the winged seeds will form and the dark green leaves will offer us shade throughout the summer.

Upon a closer look, the flowers hang in clusters on long, slender tendrils. With the sun shining, the tree looks awash in shimmering gold.