Nearing the end of the middle of Spring, the jasmine is finally fading from the front verandah, having given us a beautiful display over the past few weeks. The aroma of jasmine in the night is overpowering - it hits you like a freshly opened bottle of cologne - and lingers long if the evening is warm.

Thinking of fading flowers in the garden today, this wonderful haiku sprang to mind, by Moritake (1452- 1540).

Those falling blossoms

all return to the branch when

I watch butterflies 

I think that there are fewer butterflies about than when I was young. I'm told its because of pesticides. They will never return to the branch, alas.