Hey flowers - it's a hail storm!

Wisteria

Peony

Peony

Wisteria

We British have always been able to rely on the changing seasons. The relief when warm spring arrives, the hot days of summer, the falling leaves of autumn and the damp chill of winter. 

When we lived in France the standard reaction to hearing we were British was: 'Oh where it rains every day.' 

But now we can't rely on the weather to do anything in particular. This year the seasons seem to have all fused into one. Which is why it was no surprise to see hail in one of the last days of May, or to be forced to turn on the heating last night because it was too cold not to.

But I took these pictures yesterday and it's reassuring to see the flowers blooming, a little late perhaps but as beautiful as always.