12th April 2001

Flowers are at a premium at this time of year. It's interesting that most of these plants are members of the borage family.

Green alkanet. Very pretty flowers, just like those of the forget-me-not.

Trachystemon orientalis. Also known as Abraham-Isaac-Jacob apparently. A similar plant to borage, although rather smaller, and perhaps more suitable for a small London garden.

Pulmonaria. Common name lungwort, because the leaves are supposed to look like lungs. Another common name is soldiers and sailors, because the flowers change colour from pink to blue as they age. This plant is very popular with early bees.

This pear is probably between 80 and 100 years old, and for about 10 glorious days in early spring is covered in blossom.

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