Magical for May

A shelf of gardening books is like an attic of memories and forgotten stories.

I wanted to look up ‘lilac trees’ now that we have entered May but could not find a single tome which could name a few modern varieties.

My search was prompted by the arrival of the ‘May gap’, a period between the spring bulbs — which have pretty much done their stuff by now — and the arrival of the herbaceous heavies. My favourite heavies include lupins, delphiniums, alstromeria, and early clematis, along with a trinity of May delights; columbine, peony and lily of the valley.