Days and days of mostly warm sun and balmy evenings by the sea this month. Hardly any rain or wind resulting in much growth and colour as summer has arrived a bit early. Forget the Chelsea Flower Show and its fancy show gardens, it’s all happening here at my seaside garden. Some days, it’s too hot to do anything but stroll along the beach and take in the briny atmosphere. And we’re about to be famous as the medieval chapel on the bay’s eastern peninsula features in a new movie called ‘The Salt Path’.

May’s garden panorama is a meditation on pink. The show includes the early roses, especially my favourite, the ever-fragrant Rosa Ragusa; and the statuesque foxgloves set off by the gentle tamarix.

The self-seeded poppies have burst out and they give glorious pops of colour, but sadly, they are so short lived they need to be enjoyed in the moment as they open.

After a long winter’s rest, some intense blues have arrived. Old stalwarts like campanula and aquilegia never let you down.

And an unwanted guest has taken up residence on the roof for the next three months, a nesting gull. When the chicks pop out and start learning to walk, this site and its surrounds, including our balcony, will be a right mess.

Book work has been slow as there is too much to do with mucking about in the garden and down on the beach, but I’ll try to catch up through June.

Come back next time to find out what’s happening to the gull and as summer gets underway, I promise you a fabulous Rose Garden.