Today smells of linden blossom.

Today smells of linden blossom.

Sweet waves of perfume stop you in your tracks. It is like following a mysterious woman trailing an irresistible memory of gorgeousness: just out of sight.

For a moment the whole world is bathed in this smell of summer and champagne and it seems inconceivable that this should be cascading from the little flowers hidden amongst the leaves of a tree.

Modest pale green flowers shake the loveliest of perfumes in clouds above our heads and the bees are noisy collecting nectar.

Linden is the German name for Tilea cordata. The English name is Lime, but I prefer the German name as it has no possibility of confusion with the citrus. I also learnt the word early from hearing this lovely song : https://youtu.be/lncPMZz5lxc?si=6r6PQz1VNjZwI3qq

It makes a wonderful tree, that is famous for the deep shade that it casts in the summer. It is also famously long lived and there are ancient individuals of hundreds of years old and some may have been growing for a thousand years, which puts our fretful human span into perspective!

When the tree is cut, the wood is greatly prized by craftsmen and it has been worked into intricate altar pieces, statuary and ornate flourishes of all descriptions across the world.

The pale honey made by the pollinating bees is also much sort after and the dried flowers are used for a calming tea across the world.

Lime tree hawk moth feeds on the leaves and I used to always find one in my moth trap each summer until my neighbour cut down his ancient linden tree.

Luckily there are plenty more about; and they are much needed in our over heated world for the cool shade that they give in summer and the delicious perfume of their delicate, sweet flowers.