Life must be filled up

I didn't know you could grow mimosa in this country. I have a sneaking liking for grape hyacinths, even though they are so invasive.

Mimosa is certainly hardy in Dorset, you see quite a lot of it. TBH it's not what I would plant in a country garden on a field boundary but it *is* pretty. As for grape hyacinths, if they were rare and hard to grow, we'd all want them.

My brother in law and sister in law recently had a friendly argument. He said his acacia was in bloom. She said, no, his mimosa was in bloom. I said their wattle was in bloom. They hadn't realized that acacia and mimosa (and wattle for that matter) are one and the same. But yes, it will grow in the UK; I saw some in bloom in a garden centre on the banks of the River Teign only yesterday.
As for muscari (grape hyacinths), I love the little perishers! They are such a vibrant colour of blue and look wonderful when planted near white (not yellow) daffs.
Margaret Powling

Ha, yes, wattle. I have so many pretty Australian stamps with it on!

My mother's mimosa (in Devon) dies over the winter and she is heartbroken. It was huge, and has left a considerable gap, especially now when it should be in full flower.

What a shame! We've had the coldest winter here for years with days of sub-zero temperatures yet this one has come through.