
The copse on the hill.
High Trees
An ancient site.
Clouds scud – fly by
A Storm will blow,
And rouse the world.
Sleepy valleys,
Shaded by darkening clouds, ~
Let it rain, wind blow
Bring relief
From drought.
CMB© 2026
New paintings and regular art updates.

The copse on the hill.
High Trees
An ancient site.
Clouds scud – fly by
A Storm will blow,
And rouse the world.
Sleepy valleys,
Shaded by darkening clouds, ~
Let it rain, wind blow
Bring relief
From drought.
CMB© 2026

These are props we have previously made and used. These are bamboo and papier mache trees. We are going to repair them as they have been in storage for a few years. Part of the Penkhull Mystery Play this year is about two woodsmen who have been turned into trees by an evil witch. They want to be turned back after 20 years and need to get help from another witch to stop the first witch casting another spell on them. More to come….

I know they are from the Gallanthus group of plants but I think these might be snowbells not snowdrops. They have bigger flowers than usual and more prominent markings. But there are many variations of these lovely little friendly flowers, and they look great spread in carpets under the bare canopy of winter trees. They only have a short flowering period before they go over and that’s the best time to split their clumps of roots “in the green” so that they become less congested and flower more freely.
Where would you go on a shopping spree?
I’d buy more flowers
Bushes or trees
Filling the borders
Cheering for me!
I’d fill up my car
With baskets of bulbs
Glorious fruits
Perennials and shrubs
With a few new tools.
To complete the spree!


It’s been a few months since the sun shone for any length of time. The colours of the trees was glorious in places, others blew away in strong winds.
Winter has been mostly grey and overcast, interspersed with storms that have swept across the country blowing over trees, damaging buildings, flooding farmland and towns and villages. We have had snow, hail and rain and dark days as well as nights. Spring won’t be here till March. So I think I’ll hibernate again

Dawns coming a little earlier everyday. It’s almost a month since the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere (getting dark slightly earlier in the South).
I only really feel the year has turned when there’s still a bit of light in the sky at 5pm. I remember work days when I would go to the work in the dark and home in the dark. I’m just waiting, hoping for sunlight and warmth.

I miss the green
The growing leaves
The water and the trees
The bright light
A gentle heat
And birdsong
Give me ease.
I know that when
After the dark
Will come the waited spring
I just wish
At times like this
It would arrive
……
Soon..

My pear tree didn’t set any pears this year. I think it was in a sulk because my hubby passed away and I think I neglected it. He used to water the garden for hours but I can’t get the hose pipe round into the main garden.
Moving forward, I’ve been getting help trying to trim back the overgrowth. I still have tall trees but some of the lower branches have been cut to allow more light in. How will it progress? I’m hoping for a wildlife garden but with a few brighter plants to cheer it up, (and plenty of pears again)

Commissioned acrylic on canvas. A surreal abstracted spirit : Green woman. With antlers adoring her head. It’s taken months to finish because I shake even though it’s only about A4 size. I imagine her standing in a grotto of trees, hidden from mortal view. She is nature, watching carefully as the land changes through time. She fights for the natural world and environment.

The trees are full of leaves, bulky and heavy laden. They clean the air, drawing in carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. I hate to think of when these trees will be gone. They may become aged and diseased. I think of them 50 years ago, how big were they then? Saplings or bigger? How old are they. What is their life expectancy? I hope they see the next century safely. Their dark green canopies giving continued shelter even as the climate heats up.