June 2024

Irises seem to be gaining in popularity and I noticed several were featured again this year in the Chelsea Flower Show gardens. A relative has childhood memories of visiting the artist and Iris breeder Cedric Morris at Benton End in Suffolk many years ago. Cedric’s Irises are now much sought-after for their beautifully subtle colours and forms and we have a small collection here. We particularly love this one called ‘Benton Deidre’. The iris season is fleeting; all too soon the glorious blooms are spent, but they bring much joy whilst they last.

The rain continues here, and the lawn is once again too wet to mow, although it is keenly nibbled at by numerous rabbits this year. They are very sweet, but terribly destructive, demolishing stems in the borders in order to eat the flowers!

I am putting together a new collection of cards for the shop at Kelmscott Manor  (William Morris’s wonderful old home in Lechlade, well worth a visit if you are in the area). I have been designing ‘naïve-style’ trees inspired by wall paintings in a 17th Century church in Norway; I will be adding these cards to my shop here this month. Hopefully there will be some June sunshine to brighten things up a bit after all the rain! 

May 2024

At last some warmer weather! May is such a beautiful month here when the garden really wakes up, the unkempt wisteria bursting forth, just overlapping with the fading cherry blossom. I grow plants from seed, many saved from last year’s flowers and vegetables, and they are nearly ready to plant out now, although I shall await a benign spell of weather.

The birds are very hungry these days; my tame robin takes food from my hand each morning as I prepare their breakfast bird table mix. It is wonderful to hear their songs, and yesterday I heard the cuckoo for the first time this year, always a moment of joy for me.

I am hoping for a spell of calm weather so I can photograph some more new work; I have pegged my prices despite the latest rise in postage – all cards are still post free.

Thank you for visiting my website, your interest in my work is much appreciated.

I wish you a warm and sunny May, full of the joys of Spring!

April 2024

When the ‘clocks change’ other things change too. The longer days bring with them an awareness of the accelerating Spring growth all around us, the mower comes out of the shed and once again the noisy rooks in the churchyard sit atop their swaying twiggy nests high up in the sycamore trees. Indoors we change the full-length heavy curtain hung across an old door in winter, for a light cotton flowery one just covering the glass panes in the top half of the door. The washing line is re-attached to the willow tree and the clothes prop is found and repaired, again!

It has been difficult photographing my work, which I do outside for light quality, due to the many days of rain and wind throughout the winter and early Spring. It should become easier now with the longer hours of stronger sunshine and hopefully calmer weather, which will brighten our days in every way! I add new work to my shop here every few days, and you can click the ‘notify when available’ button to be advised when an out of stock item becomes available again.