Fresh Love On A White Plate

While the fish cooks in the oven, the apple tree blooms

like a white cloud waiting for bees and

the honeysuckle horns in the hedge think about bursting open.

Wild garlic, fresh oregano and thyme, avocado and lime

 get blitzed into fragrant green gloop

to dress the red sea bream for lunch today.

Back from the farmers’ market with a tray of little red geraniums in my basket, four sea bream fillets - their rough skin the colour of coral -  and a bag of soft stemmed herbs -  fresh thyme and oregano.

Half an hour to make lunch before husband leaves for his ceramics class.....what to eat?

Halve baby new potatoes and shove in oven with olive oil and salt.

For a mayo substitute : whizz up avocado and the herbs with juice of half a lime, more olive oil, sea salt and black pepper, and loads of wild garlic which husband brings back from  walk at Killerton.

Cut up radishes and orange peppers, tomatoes and cucumber  - spray with white balsamic vinegar and more of the tiny leaved fresh thyme - leaving a sweet, sharp fragrance on fingers.

Lay two of the sea bream in the hot pan with the nearly roasted potatoes.

Take five minutes in the garden under the canopy of the apple tree -  its blossom thick and white and pink sprayed against a blue sky.

Squeeze lime juice on the fish and call husband down to lunch....

 for fresh love on a white plate.