Sunday morning 8am

We woke to sunshine and headed to the beach for a morning walk. The Bournemouth half marathon was due to start at 10am and parking restrictions were in place for where we usually leave the car by the tropical garden. We drove on a little and easily found some street parking. A calm and lovely day.

The lifeguard lookout posts are now in place ready for the start of the season next weekend. There were several groups of women swimming and the usual motley collection of dogs - and owners - relishing the open sandy space.

Clouds were already starting to gather as we turned round to go home.

We took a different route back, going over the bridge. A collection of memory locks are slowly accruing, a pattern that I think started on the bridges in Paris.

Below us we could see the route where the half marathon runners would soon be travelling.

But we were safely home by then!

Flowers in the garden in March.

You can see from the photos that we've had a LOT of rain. The good news is that the garden has loved it and everything is bursting with promise. There is plenty to look at when I venture out between the showers. I am wanting to move a number of plants and bushes into different positions but every time I go outside in my boots and look out my spade and fork the weather takes a turn for the worse. My phone has nothing better to tell me than, "drizzle for the next hour" or 'intermittent rain." Here are some photos of what the garden has to offer today.

The maple trees are just starting to colour up while the camellia bushes have been flowering steadily now for several weeks. I've treated myself to a new camellia, white with a pale pink edge. It is un-named, indeed mislabeled as it had a bright red label attached when we went to B&Q to buy some cement to patch the crazy paving. (It's always dangerous when I'm "just having a look."I invariably find a plant that has to be bought.)

The first of the tree peonies, in pots under the veranda, is flowering.

The hellebores are still going strong.

And everything, as they say, in the garden is lovely. (I'm not mentioning what is happening elsewhere in the world because the shame of it is beyond me.)

I hope, dear bloggers, that you are well and that whatever makes you happy is happening for you.

Windows!

After several months absence our landing windows are now back in place, releaded and sandwiched between two sheets of plain glass. The workmen took two days to fit them, needing to alter the framework to accomodate the slightly thicker units. We are delighted with the result and it is surely going to give us a much warmer house!

The workmen had finished by mid-afternoon and since the weather was dry we took ourselves off for a walk by the sea. Our nearest access point is by walking through the tropical garden.

If we walk in the direction of Poole there is a glimpse of an interesting-looking house, just a partial view to be seen on the clifftop above the beach huts. I see some fascinating period properties when I drive around the area, I would love to be nosey and have the chance to explore them!

There are always some dog walkers on the beach, whatever the weather, not to mention a small boy digging holes or guddling in a pool of water!

The light was already fading as we returned to the car.

(Apologies to those who have commented on my blog. I love to read what you say but am currently experiencing problems in replying and also in commenting on your sites.)

Compost and other delights.

I've been in bed, only my nose visible above the bedding. It's a good place to be in February, but only if you are feeling well! Some bug or other has traveled through the family. I was the last to succumb and it really wasn't pleasant. But now I'm up and about and greatly cheered by the arrival of a jumbo bag of garden compost. It is glorious stuff. One thousand litres and I've used it up already. I'm resisting the urge to order a repeat delivery but shall wait and see how beneficial this load is when used as a top dressing on acid soil. The garden is made up of a series of narrow gravel pathways and is a good place to meander, especially in spring as shoots start to appear and buds form. I'm delighted with the camellia bushes that last year had no buds but this years are a joy to behold. A combination of creating a bit more light and a good scattering of fish, blood and bone.

The emerging plants look good set against the dark compost.

Yes, it's still soggy and damp out, but gardeners look forward and all around me the garden is saying, 'look, just wait, just wait!'