
Soon there will be tulips
Now there are snowdrops,
Daffodils emerge
Life comes back
Despite the winter
Earth renews
The circle of life rotates
Finds new ways to escape
From the grim greys
The dark days
The light plays
And lifts my spirits.
New paintings and regular art updates.

Soon there will be tulips
Now there are snowdrops,
Daffodils emerge
Life comes back
Despite the winter
Earth renews
The circle of life rotates
Finds new ways to escape
From the grim greys
The dark days
The light plays
And lifts my spirits.

My Christmas cactuses have finally bloomed in February. The could almost be described as Easter Cactii. The whole windowsill is covered with the. Probably not the best idea if I over water them. I also have orchids. On another sill, but they afe going brown and crispy. I nerd to remember to water them.

Already missing Autumn
Colour fades in Winter
Llke a Bruegel painting
Colour slipping off the branches
Like skin falling
Leaving black bones.
The hounds swallow vermillion
Grind umber
Sup on the remains.
Bring Spring soon.

One of my favourite flowers is the poppy, Papa er.
Different shapes, sizes, and colours.
Oriental poppies (large reds and pinks), californian poppies (small and orange) , Welsh (yellows), Himalayan (largish, pale blue) wild British poppies (reds, pinks and white), some are called Shirley’s mixed or ladybird with black splodge.
Their petals are enclosed in bulbous green capsules until they open to display paper petals that unfurl into lovely flowers. A central large seed head like a pepper shaker is left to dry and mature after the petals fall.
Poppy juice is collected and has been used in medicine over the ages, but this can be dangerous. Don’t do anything but admire the flowers beauty.

Flowers in a pot decorated with music. I went to the singathon at eccleshall yesterday and all the tables in the cafe had these lovely posies on them. You can’t see the black musical notes that were placed in the pots because I cropped the photo.
I loved the combination of colours and shapes. So delicate and intricate. I hope you like them too.

He looks like a kitten
Out in the sunshine
Flowers surround him
Lion hearted kitty
So full of life
But now in shadow.
Cats should be infinite
Beings of magic
Limitless
But as they say
*all good cats must come to an end”
Nine lives almost used up.
I can’t believe he will be gone.

Most of my hanging baskets have survived a very dry summer as I watered them every few days. But I made the mistake of thinking the rain that has been falling heavily for the last few days would suffice. And because I have trouble negotiating around the yard I haven’t done any watering! Big mistake. Because I had two hanging baskets hung underneath another two baskets. Usually when I water the top ones the water runs into the bottom ones, but then I also do the lower ones to make sure they are thoroughly wet. The rain just didn’t penetrate and the two lower baskets are now badly wilted. I doubt they will be able to recover as the nights are getting cooler and the growing season is almost over. They have also gone to seed. Drat!
But the photo shows one of the healthy ones…. If only I’d done the watering!

Into autumn
Hanging baskets wilting
Blue skies
Turn grey
Night comes sooner
Each day
Life persists
Autumn gives some gifts
Fruit so mellow
Mists and fungi
Changing seasons
All below
A stormy sky!

I have to say I’m amazed at how the back garden plants are growing. There have been some casualties from the heat, some plants have wilted while others have thrived. My photos are all a bit blurry, I need to clean my phone lens, but it gives you an idea of how well it’s done. But I’m praying for rain. X

I didn’t notice but one of my orchids has flowered. Not a good photo, lots of camera shake. You can just see there are a few lower buds yet to open.
Today I got soaked walking 100 yards to choir practice. I can’t drive and I struggle to manage with a walking stick and a brolly, so I left it behind It was drizzling when I went out but it came down heavy as I walked along. So much so it was raining into my eyes. I was told not to get water in my eye that had been operated on. I avoided doing it in the shower but unfortunately the weather got the better of me. Still I have antibiotic eye drops to put in.
Which reminds me I’d better water the orchids.