Garden
Birds in my Garden
It seemed very quiet during my Big Garden Birdwatch, the Great Tit and Blue Tit were most numerous. A few of my regular visitors didn’t show at all. When making a concentrated effort to watch wildlife, I always think something incredible or unusual will occur – perhaps I will encounter something never before witnessed, or discover a new […]
Big Garden Birdwatch
I love to join in with the Big Garden Birdwatch (in my little garden), and yes, I’m all ready to list my visiting birds on the 24th and 25th January, 2015. Actually there isn’t really much to do in preparation – I do anyway keep my feeders regularly topped up, particularly at this time of year, and […]
A Frost Feathered Happy New Year
I’m so delighted to see this lovely picture! I received it this morning from a customer, who bought my Fledglings sculpture, and this is a view of it in their beautiful garden- with all the little birds ‘frost feathered’. Looks as if we will see out the year all icy and frozen – but a […]
A Big Birdbath
I’ve been making a big Birdbath – certainly big for me, in fact I think it is the largest one I’ve ever carved. At just over 4 feet square, the top took quite a lot of chiseling out. Here I’m making the bowl shape which will be filled with water for the birds to splosh around in and […]
Holly Sprig
There’s a holly growing in the hedgerow at my workshop, it is where the blackbird nested this year and it is usually busy with birds flitting to and fro and disappearing into its thick mass of prickles. A sprig was plucked from it for this scraperboard drawing – and made into a Christmas card (available now in […]
Misty Morning
It is the time of year for these bewitching views. The day began with a blanket of thick fog and damp air. It created quietness and glistening dew drops from every stem. Fungus flourishes.
Raking leaves
I’ve been raking up fallen leaves this weekend. It’s a task I like doing – partly because of the leaves themselves, but also I know what good compost they make. Often in collecting them up I find a worm family already there, enjoying the damp decomposition. It was a job given to us as […]
Pink and burnt brown sugar
Without doubt this is the most vibrantly coloured and autumnal show in the garden at the moment. Things suddenly seem to be taking on the hues of the season. Autumn has its smells too, and this tree excels in a tempting and unusual way. It is a Katsura tree – an Asian hardwood – […]
Bombylius Major (Bee Fly)
I was at supper with a friend the other evening and was fascinated by this insect they found. Though they are common in Britain, I’ve never seen one before – or if I have I didn’t recognise it as a Bee Fly. They are so called because of their furry appearance, and presumably for […]
Writ in stone
All around me just now there’s a frenzy of clanging and growling machinery cutting meadows, turning hay, baling and bringing in. While the sun shines. It is a good feeling to reap and stock the rewards of sowing and nurturing crops – I know from my own vegetable plot. Recently I came across this […]