Columbia Road Market 7

It was just spitting with rain as I set out for the market under a gloomy occluded sky this morning, and it lifted my spirits to hear the cockerell crow at the Spitalfields City Farm as I passed. My first task on arrival in Columbia Road was to buy some Polyanthus (six for a fiver) because I know my neighbour likes them and I am going to replant the box under his kitchen window before his return from hospital. You have to be careful with polyanthus and look out for the richer, more natural colours because there are some varieties in harsh unnatural shades – the blue hybrids are especially vile I think.

Once I had bought the polyanthus, I cast my eye around for something else and was delighted to discover a variety of Japanese Anemone that I haven’t seen before, Whirlwind. It has a pleasant double flower with white petals in a subtle spiral as if they had been blown. This is an ideal shade plant for my garden and I snapped it up for a mere £3. Then I ran home again in the rain to rescue my dry washing from the line before it was too late.