Botanic magic

Sunday, R and I had a slow tour of the Botanic Gdns, while she listed Latin names to me. We were too late for the full splendour of the rhododendron display (although it blooms later further north). However the Mecanopsis (blue Himalayan poppies) were out. The Chinese Garden has filled out beautifully since last year, with flags and irises encroaching the water-run to the lily pond and pagoda. The vines are now coiling round the trees, both species hanging lantern blossoms.







It was a 'monkey's birthday' that day, so we were sheltering under trees one minute, and basking in full sun the next. At the cafe, we occupied the seat rejected by others because of its overhanging sycamore's high transpiration rate; spraying on customers a fine shower of viscous, sugary rain. It didn't bother us, but both our sunspecs were later gunked.

* Expression from ex-mother-in-law, raised in Edinburgh. Means four seasons in one day.