Sweetpea

My poor little garden is mostly quite sad, a combination of my inexpertise and the chilly spring we've had that's extending into summertime. But tonight I got home to a beautiful golden evening after a cloudy day, and when I stepped onto the balcony suddenly there was an explosion of colour. Out of nowhere, from shy green tendrils, the first sweetpea flower! All summer in a blossom.

Apian Haven

I'm not the only one who enjoys the purple flowers erupting all over the sage, thyme, and lavender. The bumblebees buzz back and worth all day, wriggling their little bottoms in sheer nectar ecstasy.

Springtime in purple and green

It may officially be summer, but with all the cold grey weather we've been having, the garden is just starting to wake up. Suddenly the herb garden is awash in purple flowers, and seeing those little buds of lavender makes it easy to hope that we'll have warmth again here, soon, too.

Peonies

Sunset

The same field outside of Mae Sot, Thailand.

Colonial legacies

Rose and building.

Coffee and frangipani

Here photographed in Cambodia, and everywhere else I've been in South-East Asia.

I'm now in Laos where the flower is proudly emblazoned everywhere as a national symbol - and where the coffee is completely delicious.