Standing in the middle of a border, which is lacking colour, as a year of heavy rain, wind, and roasting temperatures, has put paid to most plants aside – including the Sweet Peas, a lone Gladiolus (apparently Gladioli is plural) stands tall – a bright beacon of colour.

I’ve had to stake it up, as no sooner had it reached up and bloomed, then the winds returned and flattened it.

I planted about six Gladioli bulbs in 2011, and this is the first time a flower has risen. The rest have previously produced leaves, but not even a sign of anything more.