In the evening garden

A cat who is sure that ~ some day his mouse will come along

a soft, warm fading light 

and Down in the Dell, yes a badger really does dwell

fossicking about, snuffling up goodies

Then the following day, lady fox, snooping about beneath the bird tree for tasty morsels

before scooting up the big yew for a quick check for birds eggs or baby squirrels - can you see the tip of her brush as she jumps back down?

such treasures

Scent and yellow

 I wish I could bring you the scent of this, I hadn't realised it was so full of flower this year, it's relatively young and in previous years, only had a few yellow tassels, but this year; a taste of things to come. It is still quite small, but the scent permeates the garden in little pockets of deliciousness

Further down, in the less picturesque, but more productive space, the greenhouse really could do with a washdown, but the canes are ready for beans. They are part useful harvest, part desperate attempt to keep the bamboo under control, because the thought of having it removed is a little anxious making!

Down in the Dell, the really wild space is also beginning to come alive. Green shoots of daffodil leaves, barely visible, line the left side of the path; last year's hazel poles await use on the right; the bare limbs of two fruit trees dance in the quiet. This is where the badgers have their home, and the foxes too, and in summer it is full of butterflies, the scent of the rambling rose and a riot of native umbellifers which feed the buzzies.

At the moment, the hazel is festooned in yellow catkins; in certain lights, a gentle blaze at the bottom of the garden; today a quiet dropping of colour

Down in the Dell - an update

The Dell is at the very bottom of the garden, it is where the badgers dwell, and where the butterflies and buzzies dance in the summer. it is semi wild, very untamed, but we try and keep that wildness under a little bit of control, otherwise there is the chance that a Sleeping Beauty level climbing rose will take over the greenhouse.

so I expedited with tools of a cutting variety this morning, and was faced with this,

I had desultory companions, who quickly vanished once the serious stuff started to happen

and had to remember that, as this is where the badgers dwell, I'd better keep an eye on my ankles

I toiled and toiled in the morning sunlight in this tucked away little corner

can you see the difference below?

Of course the light has changed, but the barrow has filled to a towering pile and a great deal of deadwood and tall arching rose stems have been reduced to a tidy pile. Just above the wheelbarrow, looking like frail little sticks in the air, is a rather lovely lilac tree, suddenly able to breathe and full of blossom buds, which I was very careful not to disturb. Just beside the wheelbarrow is a plum in delicate blossom

We hope for more fruit this year. We also know that, despite my effort this morning, we will still find the Dell full of the soft scent of roses once the season is upon us.

At the top of the garden, the pond is practicing catching sunlight

Enjoy this lovely spring weather while it lasts

Evening sun and shadow

Evening light in the front garden, where the lovely sinuous brick bed contains

a weeping birch,

glowing tulips

wisteria brought from our previous garden, just coming into flower

and pasque flower, just beginning to set seed, named for the Passion,

while down in the Dell there is a great old silver birch netting shadows amongst its branches

dandelion clocks and bluebells amongst the wild plants

a planter and next year's winter warmth, not yet cut to size,

plantain,

apple blossom

and playful cats.

Further up the garden sunlight bathes the shed in warmth,

seagulls chat beneath the moon

and away above the trees, piled clouds are catching the evening light

Studio 11 year three

But first, a pile of sketchbooks for Gina. These in preparation for my first Studio 11 workshop of the new year. A selection of the ones I've used in between times doing other things, like moving. Cecil here, and clearing her place - several more visits to go, but she really is worth it.

These sketchbooks come along with this untidy assortment of half thought out bits of fabric, and my feather from last year, which I want to talk about with Christine, who is a treasure :-)

 Oh, the pleasure, a whole day just to be creative. 

And then it was today, and I went to Eastbourne and had a delightful day with Christine, our first workshop of the year. 

Lots of good talk, lots of good advice, lots of fun. I'd had no time to do much preparation, for obvious reasons, but I did have a bit of time yesterday evening sketching and thinking Down in the Dell

so today had focus, and I have a bit of a plan (my dear heart says you have to have one of them, so you can change it).

And here is where I got to today, with my sketchbooks; imagine a whole day in the company of good people, sketching with intent, what delight! 

(with apologies for poor quality pictures)

Remember the dragonfly?

Worked on anew

Elements extracted,

when I was reminded of this, another image of dragonfly downs

which was part of where I got to with my designing last year

I'm intrigued by how often the Downs find their way into my design process. I've lived one end or the other all my life.

And to add to today's pleasure, we had friends from Gina's way with us today. It was a lovely day .... thank you :-)

evening garden dwellers

We have always loved the way the light cuts across the garden, and the little tender things that catch the eye in the quiet evening