Getting Green Fingers This Summer!

This summer I have been very busy in my garden. Last year, it was my first year practicing and finding out about my new home. I have a number of trees but last year only saw a plum or two.     This year the tree has blossomed and I have mountains of plums. Which my lovely nan has been busy making them into jam!

We have also found out we have an apple and pear tree. There is quite a few pears but only a
couple of apples. At the weekend I also discovered there caterpillars amongst my willow tree. First I found one, then I discovered 5, all eating away at the leaves. After researching I do believe it is a hawk eye moth. I will keep an eye out incase they change. I was surprised how huge they was.
I also felt lucky when I discovered this clover hiding behind my herbs!

I absolutely love my garden, it is definitely a new hobby I love. Its such a shame summer is coming to an end but I will still continue to spend time tidying when I can. This year I have managed a crop of blackcurrants, potatoes, peas, runner beans, onions, and some raspberries and strawberries. We have just planted a blue berry bush so hopefully this will be growing and produce a few in the future :)

Summer is on it's way I think!

It's actually getting warmer now which means I can get outside in my studio! I have been busy also getting the veg in my allotment area! Let's hope everything grows well like last year! 

I am hoping to use my garden as a focus point for photographing my work. I love flowers and nature. The garden is changing daily! 

Here is the early developments with the veggie patch :)

Dylan is also ready and waiting for the sun! He is very good at understanding when I'm working in my studio and normally sunbathes outside :) 

More posts on the developments on the veg soon! 

Robert E Fuller Exhibition @ Burton Agnes Hall.

Today I went to visit Burton Agnes Hall and its latest exhibition, the work of local artist Robert E Fuller. I have never seen his work before but knew his interests were similar to mine. Well, it was truly inspiring. His work is so details. I was fascinated by how he had captured each piece of wildlife.

This little hedgehog was my favourite, he certainly puts my little drawings to shame. Isn't he adorable! 

He has a fab selection of his work for sale including originals. His work fills the long gallery at the top of the hall. You certainly miss whats around you when your busy looking at these pieces. They are amazing!

http://www.robertefuller.com/acatalog/The_Gallery.html

Robert also has his own gallery, located in Thixendale near Malton and also organises fantastic trips where you can join him and his passion for wildlife abroad. You can certainly see his love for animals by how he talks about them on his blog:

 http://www.robertefuller.com/blog/

His work is available to view at the Hall until the 5th of October, get yourselves there! 

Feeling inspired, I went to visit the local pond to see if I could capture some nature to draw myself. I was greeted by these ginormous geese! 

Bridlington's Secret Gardens. 2014.

After a fab time at Glastonbury, I am now spending the next few days updating you with news on my blog! I hope my blog has missed me! Many of my blog posts do include lots of floral pictures! But why not! We are all embracing summer so let enjoy what nature gives us. A couple of weeks a go with some friends we went to visit the Bridlington Old Town's Secret Gardens. It has been on every year but due to work commitments I have never been to visit boo. But this year I was in luck.....

It was lovely for the home owners to let us into their gorgeous homes for this event. The event is held at numerous houses around Bridlington, but due to time I only managed exploring the Old Town. First up was the gardens behind the Georgian Tearooms. Along with enjoying cakes and a cup of tea, the tea rooms also hold a fantastic variety of antiques and vintage finds! I did make a purchase of some rustic metal flowers for my gardens! You may see a pic on my Instagram. 

After the tearooms we visited some gorgeous houses! When walking down the High Street you would not image what beauty would be behind those walls! I was in shock. The size of the garden's alone were amazing! 

It was also lovely to see so many people interested in the garden's and enjoying the beautiful flowers. 

Lots of my favourite flowers about, including the foxglove! So many of them popping about at this time of year! Along with finding many secret doors..... 

Alongside all the secret gardens, behind the shops and homes of the High Street in Bridlington is a farm and allotment. I was a little confused by this but the ducks, chickens and geese run so freely, it is fantastic to see them enjoying life. You can certainly tell this has its benefits by the size of the eggs they produce. In this glorious sunny day they were enjoying the lovely sun. 

This is my favourite shot from the day, I am rather scared of bee's and wasps but was determined to get this picture so I could draw it. I love flowers and drawing so it was a perfect occasion to get my inspired. 

I will now wait until its opened next year :)

Burton Agnes Hall Orchid Festival 2014

So it was the gorgeous annual Orchid Festival at Burton Agnes Hall. Here is some of my pictures of the stunning flowers!

The snowdrops are also out in full swing is the wonderful woods. 

Whilst uploading my images on Instagram of some of my Orchids I came across this beautiful account:

http://instagram.com/orchidsinfo

Tomorrow: The First Summer Month?

So tomorrow apparently is the first 'summer' month. All I can say is I am still having to have my heating on in May! How crazy is that! This time last year I was enjoying the sunshine at Burton Agnes Hall amongst the beautiful flowers!

To get you into the mood for summer (when ever it arrives) I thought I would share some of these beautiful flowers from last years post. I am hoping to get drawing these flowers after this weekends Looka Teesside event in Stockton where I have a stall. 

Enjoy.. and I hope we have a lovely sunny weekend! Roll on summer.... :)

The Last of the Summer Flowers

Last weekend I got in some lovely snaps, possibly the last for this year as the dark night are on the way with the cold weather, here they are.....