Columbia Road Market 40

In the unseasonable shivering temperature of the market early this morning, I realised that now is the time for Bellflowers. From tall Canterbury Bells to low ground cover varieties, there are so many options with these (mostly blue) Campanulas, that I did not know which to choose. After careful consideration of proportion and colour, I bought this Campanula pulla for £1.50, an alpine variety no more than three inches high. As regular readers will know, my garden is so tiny that I am always searching for plants to bring detail, and this plant rewards close examination handsomely. I love the deep (almost Bluebell) tone, the elongated flowers and glossy texture which make the flowers a close match for those glass lampshades of a century ago. The trend is to breed larger plants but I prefer these tiny varieties, with finer proportions and details that are even more beautiful seen in miniature.

From my bathroom, I heard my neighbour shriek in his garden, and leaned out of the window to discover the joyous news that his white Passionflower, which he planted two years ago, has flowered at last. Let me admit, I was fearful that this plant, more exotic and fleshy than the more commonplace variety I have, would survive last Winter. But it did and now it is flowering. I ran round with my camera to photograph the first cool white (almost pale green) flower for you, so you can admire this otherworldly bloom that glows in the sunlight and turns flourescent in the dusk, before closing up each night.