Bay blossom

It was such a glorious day today that we had our first barbecue in the garden at lunchtime. The garden is very neglected over the winter, and the frost in February had left swathes of damage, including 80% of the broad bean crop. I think the peach tree's had it, and the lovely fragile looking shrub with splendid tasselled pink and yellow flowers (no idea what it's called).

However, the bay tree seems to have thrived on the cold. This is the first time I've ever seen blossom on it. The little flowers are so pretty, and there are masses of them. Like the laurier rose (oleander) it survives happily in our ultra-dry garden without ever being watered or indeed having any attention paid to it other than me cutting off branches for kitchen use.

By the way, did you know that festooning your pantry and kitchen cupboards with branches of bay keeps the dreaded food mites at, er, bay?