Out of breath…

October 2022

As I write this in the first week of November it seems that October rushed by so quickly that I almost feel out of breath thinking about it.

Work and days away filled the month and apart from one weekend spent weeding and cutting back there was little time for the garden. Unopened bags of compost for autumn mulching are still waiting for me - a good enough reason not to use photos of the garden for once.

It was during an afternoon walk in Arger Fen nature reserve that we found the fungi I’ve pictured here instead. Managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust its woodland contains rare wild cherry (Prunus avium) and in spring it is carpeted with native bluebells and wild garlic. The sketch pictured above right is a detail from a painting I’ve started working on inspired by our visit on that tranquil autumn day..

In the studio

With the annual Artworks exhibition over I’ve been back at my computer working on 2024 calendars and diaries and introducing fresh imagery. As usual it is things that interest me that I tend to choose as subject matter which is how I came to paint my ‘flapjack plant’ (Kalanchoe luciae) shown in the photo above.

Like a lot of people I’ve amassed quite a collection of indoor plants. This one is rather a favourite and it’s been growing happily on a sunny window-sill since I aquired it.

Care is quite straightforward. As with all succulents, flapjacks are drought-tolerant, in fact overwating must be avoided at all costs. In summer the soil should be allowed to fully dry out between watering and during the winter they need minimal watering (or none at all).

So far it’s been easier for me to look after than it was to paint it!

Thank you

A big thank you to all returning customers for 2023 ‘Garden Days’ Calendars Diaries and Greetings cards. We’re aiming to post out all orders received by 2.00pm on the same day and as always they are packed in sturdy card mailing envelopes for their protection.

Thank you for your kind messages too - I can’t tell you how happy it makes me feel that my work is appreciated and I love hearing from you. My first Garden Days calendars were published in 1996 so they have become a part of my life as well as yours and are very close to my heart.

And a final thank you for takeing the time to read this. Social media can make me feel pressurized and I like the idea that this journal is almost private and you’ve come here specially and not because you’ve been hooked in.

Happy gardening, stay positive and stay safe all :-)