With a mystery that even today bedevils understanding, good and evil continue to try and score off each other. On the one hand we have the effects of a worldwide procession of natural disasters that, unfortunately, visit us on a regular basis, there is the human weakness of conflict on our doorstep and to crown it all illness and oblivion are never far away.

On the other hand, amongst all of this, we still have the virtues of life that challenge every torment. For instance we have the annual rebirth of Spring and Summer that provides us with all the beautiful flowers and the complimentary greenery. Southport is indeed blessed with an abundance of such beauty which is tended annually by our frontline gardening staff and the planners such as Alan Foxall, manager of the Botanic Gardens, who has never failed to impress us with delightful floral displays which are both stunning and breathtaking. Indeed one of the supreme joys of living here is to witness each Summer what man and nature can do together in the wonderful world of horticulture.

Our party’s feeling at this time is to once again enjoy this annual goodness amidst all the current turmoil. Yes, life is indeed a mystery, but if we didn’t have the trying moments we would be less able to appreciate the good days. Pursuit of all the nice things is about the best we can hope for, so let us stop and admire the beautiful floral displays that, like magic, come to visit us each year when they give us all pleasure and renew our hope for a better future – for:

WHAT is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?—

No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows:

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

W.H.Davies