Roses are beautiful but are dreadful, spiky things and require attention in the garden. For this reason I am delighted that my neighbours grow roses on the fence line that I get to enjoy. All care, no responsibility! At the moment they are prolific and gorgeous – clouds of bright white, peach with wobbly edges, dark red bordering on purple – and when I step out of my front door the air is perfumed with their scent. On windy days they scatter their beauty in my driveway, little jewels of colour on the gravel.

red rose petals on gravel