Columbia Road Market 37

May 30, 2010

by the gentle author

This week I accompanied my neighbour to the market early to buy plants for his garden and help him carry them back to Spitalfields, but although we were laden with Lupins, Poppies, Pelargoniums and Clematis, I could not resist buying something for myself. So I acquired these two Alpine curiosities for just £3,Dianthus (Squarrosus Nanus) and Viola (Molly Sanderson).

My garden is full of colourful flowers now, but I chose this monochrome combination of a tiny white Carnation and black Viola to place on my kitchen window sill next to Mr Pussy’s drinking dish, where I can admire them at close quarters each day. When the temperature rises, it suits my cat to sit here on the sill, enjoying the cool breeze through the old house and lapping up fresh water. The white Carnation makes a fine contrast with his black hair while the black Viola almost matches the sable tones of his silky coat.

Meanwhile in my garden, the Foxgloves I planted last Autumn create a fine parade up my path, while the Aquilegias I bought earlier this year have turned out to be an unusual double variety, of magnificently layered spiky petals in deep purple, violet and blue tones. Finally, one of several varieties of Astrantia, that I planted over the Winter, has come into bloom. It is a favourite plant in my garden, at this favoured time of the year, when all is fresh and green, with flowers opening and the promise of many more blooms to come throughout the long Summer ahead.