Sir,

I write to express the great pleasure the floral displays in Tenby's public gardens are giving me this year.

The town gardeners, plus whoever has planned and designed the plantings, have excelled themselves.

Dahlias are amongst my favourite cultivated flowers. I also like the narrow strip of Mesembryanthemums in the Paragon Gardens, but, like Oliver Twist would put in a plea for more! A broader bed of Mesembryanthemums, that is.

I first became aware of these 'ice plants' as they're popularly called in Blackpool in the 1960s when Blackpool's public gardens were stunning (which is sadly no longer the case).

My father then planted a wide border of them in our Cheshire garden; when they are fully opened to the sun they looked spectacular with their vibrant colours.

I'm glad that, in regard to public gardens, Tenby is taking the opposite tack to the Lancashire resort and investing in plantings which will hopefully have a spin-off for tourism, since colourful displays like this attract visitors.

While I'm being 'cheeky' or 'suggestive digestive' as John Cleese used to say in the TV advert, how about a 'floral clock' again, perhaps in the War Memorial garden, next year?

Ruthie

(formerly Anne-Ruth) Alton,

3 Islay Court,

Victoria Street,

Tenby.