A journey to the mid-west

Wales that is, mid west Wales.  I had reason to be in Aberystwyth recently and as you would expect I wondered if I could find a garden to visit whilst I was there.  My time was short so I planned I would visit somewhere on the way home.  Of course this time of year not all gardens are open so my choices were limited.  A couple of places I wanted to go were not open yet so I was a bit stumped.

Then I discovered that Aberystwyth University teaches botany and they had glasshouses that were possible to visit.  Well that was decided then, a brisk walk up the hill (and it is a proper hill, not one of the wimpy Midlands hills that I am used to where I live), on quite a rainy morning and I had found the Botany Gardens.   

I made sure I had permission to go in and that there was no problem with me being able to wander around.  There are several glasshouses on site whose purpose is for research and teaching.

I could see that there were things happening.

and lots of fabulously healthy looking plants.

Even on this grey day the plants stretched themselves to make the most of the light.  Now the days are getting longer they will soon be growing even more strongly.

Then as I was walking around campus I found the community gardens.  They looked a little chilly on this cold wet day, but they were very well looked after.

Something tells me that they have an issue with coffee cups being composted!

I loved this communal space, perfect for resting inbetween gardening moments.

I nodded 'bore da' to Mr Football Head as I went by and continued on to where I needed to be that day.

I wandered back to my hotel room in sunlight and made my way for a late -afternoon walk along the prom.  In sight of the castle ruins is the war memorial, which is a dramatic and poignant reminder looking out to sea.

I spent a lot of time looking out to sea, I live about as far away from the sea as you can get here in the middle.  As ever I started pondering moving to live by the coast, but as ever I know this is just a dream.  One day, the sea continues to whisper to me, one day.....

Take care and be kind.

For more from the Blackberry Garden follow me on Bluesky Twitter X  Facebook Instagram and Substack