A Devon Flowering

During the Second World War, my mum Iris was evacuated to Ilfracombe in Devon. Once there, officials walked her round the streets knocking on doors to find a place for her. Eventually, at a big house on Torrs Park towards the edge of town, a forbidding-looking lady named Mrs Isaacs was forced to take her. Happily though, Mrs Isaacs proved full of love and became one of the most influential figures in Mum’s early life – and when they finally parted, there were many tears.

But perhaps one of the quirkiest legacies of

Mum’s time in Devon was a lifelong love of hardy geraniums – after she helped plant them in the garden there. I think they inspired many happy memories. Discover why these useful plants deserve such loyalty on page 38.