The unforgettable scent of the night

I parked on the dirt track behind the shed and made my way down to the beach. The last few sunbathers were gathering up bags and towels and umbrellas and folding chairs, either getting ready for afternoon coffee at the little beachside spot, or heading home.

The owner was bent over the flower pots at the edge of the building, murmuring softly to his flowers, which carried a genuinely beautiful scent. He told me they were night-blooming flowers, and that they only release their fragrance late...