Is there anything that sparks off memories of spring and early summer for you?

There is for me but it is probably not what you might think. It could be bird song with our feathered friends beginning to claim their territories. Or it could be the perfume of hyacinth, the first crocus or a drift of bluebells.

But no, it is the smell of creosote or freshly opened lawn feed. Not very romantic is it when I could have chosen so many more beautiful flowers or scents. The truth is that my first garden was surrounded with fencing and early spring before any perennials started to grow or annuals planted the fence panels had to be treated. Back then there was little choice of colour and creosote did the job. I can remember my neighbour splashing it on later in the season and of course it drifted through in a drift and burnt tiny holes in the plant leaves. Even now if I catch something that smells similar on the breeze it lifts my spirit, perhaps fooling my brain into thinking warm, bright sunny days filled with flowers and perfume are not too far away.

Lawn feed has the same effect. Not everyone likes the smell but when I open my shed door and the smell hits my nostrils from a freshly opened bag I know the days are getting longer.

When my children were little they used to disappear to the side garden to play in the “little wood”. Sounds grand doesn’t it but it was just a small are with a few closely planted trees that gave them a bit of privacy from grown ups and shade on a hot day. Unfortunately eventually three trees were lost to old age or disease.

Replanting followed and now the “little wood” is back. Laurel, Rhododendron, Azalea, Hawthorne, Ornamental Pear and variegated Elder have matured to get the area back to its former self if not better. At the moment the star has to be Rhododendron Pink Pearl which is the best it has been since I planted it. This is a Rhododendron that I used to admire in someone else’s garden and always promised that I would plant one in my garden if I ever had the space and aspect to suit it.

Perfume is provided by Rhododendron Lutea, to be followed by an Azalea that was here before us and not labelled and finally by the perfume from the Laurel. Although I say finally, later in the season as I walk through the arch formed by the Laurel and a large Rhododendron I will be hit by the sweet smell of Clematis Rubromarginata. The flowers may be small but it makes up for it with number of flowers and perfume that fills the air.

• My Garden is My Space
• Garden Diary
• Gardening and Wildlife