River of Stones XIII

INSIDE

In the hearth I have a terracotta pot, resting on a gold-coloured plate. The pure white flowers stand tall inside their green sheath of strappy leaves which have pushed themselves up strongly, through the gritted surface of the compost over the last few weeks.
I planted this pot in late October, with some bulbs which came in the post, bought at the Chelsea flower show. And now when I come in the scent and their whiteness greets me and reminds me of a lovely day out with a precious friend.

white hyacinth  bulbs
to remind me of Chelsea
friendship and flowers

OUTSIDE

Underneath the viburnum in the front garden a single deep crimson cyclamen hides, surrounded by its patterned leaves, a shy sign of the season’s shift: in the back garden the first crocus alone in the winter grass. Despite the cold I could smell spring on the wind this afternoon.