15th May from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth

The paths are drying out after overnight rain. The wind is strong and chilly althoough the sea is quite calm and continues its work on the beach with little complaint. Out in the bay three ships lie at anchor off Hengistbury Head. Hartland Point, Nelli and Fehn. Not the usual anchorage as ships usually anchor closer to Poole. Slabs and streaks of charcoal cloud mask the sun which only manages faint shadows. An early walker plods the paths with little apparent enthusiasm but one or two bathers stroll casually up from the beach as it it was midsummer. All things green continue to scramble upwards and the bracken is now shoulder high.

From 15th May 2022

The rain came down in torrents overnight. Some say there was thunder. And so it continues through the morning. Brief , heavy showers from a leaden grey sky. Puddles come and go quickly showing concentric rings of pollen in isographic contours. The wind whips back and forth anxiously and the waves hurry up and down the beach. Children playing on the sand are oblivious to the weather constructing architectural features or concentrating on shovelling the sea back whence it came with pink plastic shovels. On the cliff top, those who choose to enjoy sitting on the benches do so in waterproofs with hoods up staring at the row of pigeons on the rails who stare back at them morosely. Tendrils of fumitory climb the fence bringing with them little pink and magenta, trumpet shaped flowers and the mass of inticate greyish, filigree leaves which gives the plant its name - Smoke of the earth. #bournemouth #westcliffgreen #may #spring

From 15th May 2021

This tentative spring continues in fits and starts. When the sun bursts through the mountains of dark cloud it is quite warm, yet a stiff breeze continues to cool the air. Distant squalls chase across the bay and the hills and Island are cloaked with more persistent downpours. At least the grass is beginning to green up with the rain showers. The paths are lined with the bright yellow green tide edges where the pollen from the pine trees have been washed by the showers.