Five days ago I photographed the first apple blossom. Before that I was pleased to see evidence of buds. I’d been worried that the tree might be dead. A couple of trees – shrubs really – have died along the driveway: a hebe, a honeysuckle and there’s a rhododendron which is looking sick. While the apple tree is on the other side of the garden, it didn’t look as if it was going to bloom at all.

Today, it’s hard to believe that I could have been worried.

A couple of people – including the nice young man who washed the roof some time ago – hinted that I might weed the paving stones nearby but, looking at the paved area this afternoon, those ‘weeds’ are flowering, and I’m glad I didn’t.

It takes a while to get over the tidy, everything-in-a-neat-line sort of gardening. So far, I’m holding out.