As the days of our first summer here at Castle Farm are coming to an end, I was feeling more than a little sad at the demise of the sweetpeas and the other glories that have filled my garden.  That was until the marvellous myrtles that ring the house started to come into bloom and what a show they’re putting on. Delicate, white, fluffy flowers have emerged like pom-poms lending their delicate scent to the first days of autumn.  

The myrtles here have been trained to trees and we have lines marking the edge of the main boarders in the cottage garden as well as a couple of stunners either side of the main entrance to the house.    I’m utterly converted to this bushy evergreen and hardy shrub.  Their glossy pointed leaves give off the most amazing rosemary like fragrance when you brush against them and they are just so damn pretty!

They first arrived in Britain from Spain in 1585, imported by Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Carew and the across the years the leaves have most commonly been dried and used for potpourris.  I’ve also read that you can use them to flavour pork and game dishes, as you would bay.

These shrubs need to be protected from very cold weather but other than that are pretty hardy little things.

If you’d like a little more information on how to grow and care for this shrub then please click here.

If you fancy a few of these stunners for yourself you can hop on over to Crocus.