Until July 2017, documenting the seasons of coastal Dorset. I'm a complete amateur so don't trust I'm always right. If ever you see I'm wrong - whether with identifications or in anything else - do say! Meanwhile . . . I've now moved to Halifax in West Yorkshire. Click on the link below to collect the new URL. Don't forget to follow there!

Tuesday 3 March 2015

YOU'VE GOT TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT

Path between Chesil Beach and the causeway to Portland. March 1st 2015.
Note the path. Important.
(The white line along the top of Chesil Beach is spray from the sea low down on the other side.)
This photo was taken March 1st 2015.
If you look into the sun you won't see anything. And if it's a hazy day and you look behind you, you won't see your shadow. And if the sun is in an inconvenient place - you won't be able to move it.

Such is life.

Path between Chesil Beach and the causeway to Portland. May 6th 2014
The path! See the path?
This is how it was on May 6th 2014
BUT. If you don't know what something is like now you may fail to realise how much it has changed when you reach the future. By then, you'll either have forgotten what was or be so overwhelmed by the present that you won't care any more.

I'm not being philosophical. It's a fact.

Last year I showed what the foot of Chesil Beach is like when thrift is in flower. I was also able to show you the context, how there are plants on the landward side of this huge, huge, long, long mound of pebbles, even though they fade out as you walk up and up till you see the sea down, down, down on the other side.

It was sunny on Sunday. But it was hazy too. And spray from the sea was misting the air where Chesil Beach meets land at Portland.

People walking up Chesil Beach from the Nature Centre. March 1st 2015.
March 1st 2015
So even though masses of people had come out walking in this suddenly pleasant weather, it wasn't a good day for photographs. Which is a bit of a daft thing to say beside a picture dominated by a deep blue sky. But that's because I was looking in the other direction when I took it - away from the sun. A good principle! And at considerable distance from the cold sea spray. Another good idea when carrying a camera!

BUT (the point of the first BUT) if you don't see it now, you won't be as surprised as you will be when the thrift is out in May.

People walking up Chesil Beach from the Nature Centre. June 1st 2014.
June 1st 2014.
I found it hard to decide. Should I provide you with an exceptionally boring post . . . ? Or shall I show you what will happen . . . ?  I was going to go with boring - but by the time the time the flowers come out you may have forgotten what it's like now. So . . . here we are with a now, compared with a then, which by previous years' experience will be what it will be in a couple of months' time. Miracles!

Here's another miracle. It's cold. It's not summer. But looking straight into the sky - larks would you say? (They kept flying overhead - except they stopped when I pointed the camera into the air and came back when I pressed the 'end of video' button. Never mind. You can hear them. Promises of summer.)



(I don't know how YouTube works but when I listened to this the larks suddenly gave way to a woman explaining how to make Christmas cake - which was a bit abrupt and disconcerting. So beware of seasonal and contributor muddle!)

Then we turn round and cross the road. Portland Harbour (over the bank) is a great place for sailing and kite surfing. Here it is now.

The Ham between Weymouth and Portland. Looking towards sea. March 1st 2015
The grass is a bit drier than it looks in this picture.
March 1st 2014



Here is the 'now' 

The Ham between Weymouth and Portland. Looking towards sea. May 14th 2014
May 14th 2014

















and here is the 'will be'.











Shall we make a date for May?

(All 'then' pictures are taken from the post 'Thrift on Chesil Beach' from June 2nd 2014.)

* * *

But first: The Tree Following Link box opens at 7am on 7th March and closes on the 14th. (UK time.) See you there!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love to look at last year's spring & summer photos and dream of the what's to come! Looking forward to seeing your "what's to come" photos for May!

The Furry Gnome said...

Good point you're making. So many things in nature call for familiarity with a place over the seasons to fully appreciate them. And it's the change itself as much as the actual plants or birds that is the miracle.

Anonymous said...

Lovely, lovely.

Amanda Peters said...

I think recording the now, makes us appreciate the then...
Looks such a beautiful place even without the flowers, and it was lovely to hear the Lark's singing.
Amanda xx

Down by the sea said...

How lovely to see a familiar sight used to be over on Portland once a week at one time! We too heard some larks in the field behind us a few weeks ago. i though Spring had arrived early until I discovered that they are around all winter! Sarah x

LensAndPen said...

I also look forward to your "will be" pictures Lucy. The path looks nice to walk in any season though.
~Trella

Lowcarb team member said...

Looks lovely - haven't been to Chesil Beach Area for a while MUST do something about that.

All the best Jan

Anonymous said...

It's a frustrating time of year because with the better light and the better temperatures it feels like it should be Spring but it isn't. I keep expecting to see more flowers but they aren't there .....

Anonymous said...

I fell in love with your thrift pictures when I first saw them last year. Wonderful landscape! And interesting to see the scene before/after. I wonder how confident we are that the flowers will always bloom again?
I used to think books should be read in the right order, too, but now can happily read a sequel before a prequel.
All the best - happy spring :)

Diana Studer said...

going to plant some thrift in my garden. Not one of ours but we are nearish to the sea.