Some flowers defy description

There are some flowers that I find impossible to describe. When I added Grevillea ‘Canberra Gem’ to my list of garden plants I ended up writing “exotic small red flowers” as I couldn’t think of anything better. Well just you look at this example. If one of those little periscopes swivelled round to look at me I’d hardly be surprised. Even odder the diminutive flowers are scattered over a great hulking bush whose soft, needle like leaves have very sharp points. Brush against it and you feel lots of tiny little stings.

I know this because I spent part of today pruning the branches so that I could reach some hardy geraniums that I needed to divide and replant. Last year I narrowly missed damaging my eye so I was very careful this time. I think this shrub is well worth growing if you can keep it away from pathways. The flowers are very pretty and are very attractive to bees. Even better it flowers off and on from January to early October.

Today, on a sunny February afternoon it was a real pleasure to watch the bees buzzing around, and the rich red flowers are a welcome change from the usual yellows and whites of spring.