Storm season is upon us, and it’s fierce this year. We’ve had storms Ciara and Dennis which have caused widespread wind and flood damage across the country. Born in the north Atlantic, they intensified as they rode on the back of the high westerly winds known as the jet stream, and then slammed into our land mass with great force.

With the winds barrelling in at 75-80 mph, there is coastal flooding, storm debris and damage everywhere. But the oystercatchers are out and about!

They say you can have four seasons in a day on our part of the coast but at the moment, we’ve got the lot hour by hour. Wind, hail, rain and sunshine! On the plus side, it’s been very mild – no frosts yet.

As a result, the garden has already sprung into action and we still have four weeks to go before the clocks change to Summer Time.

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Camelias, heathers and hellebores are on show at the moment, and pale lemon primroses are starting to show their heads in Campanula Corner. And the daffodils have arrived in force just in time for St. David’s Day.

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On some days, between storms, shafts of bright sunshine flood the secret garden so we can sit out and enjoy a few rays of the sun’s warmth with our afternoon tea.

On others, the rolling fogs obliterate the horizon and cast a damp gloomy blanket over everything. Like nature, life has its familiar cycle. We’ve had our Valentine’s chocolates and celebration meals, and our Shrove Tuesday pancakes. Now it’s Lent and all is spare. But the spring is coming…..

If you need a zen moment and want to see a little more, click on the picture below and catch up on February in the seaside garden.