This glorious weather has brought on the flowering of several species
of Pittospum with a rare vengeance. The most commonly planted is P.
tenuifolium, which forms small trees to about 20ft. here and these are
massed with chocolate-coloured flowers pouring out their intense
perfume in early evening. On the sea front and around town, huge
trees of P. dallii, eugenioides and undulatum are also in full flower
and everywhere smells of honey at the moment. Even with the windows
closed at home, it has permeated the entire house and is mixed with
the banana-like fragrance of Jasminum polyanthum that has erupted into
a blizzard of white over the past few days. Last summer's magnificent
weather combined with a virtually frost-free winter has ensured that
this season's flowering is not only slightly earlier than normal, but
also more prolific than for many years.