Although store-bought rather than home-grown, a spray of Daffodils certainly brightens up a bleak grey February day. There is always something to find to lift the spirits even if the weather may not be to ones liking. It may be disappointing but you shouldn’t let it dominate your life. Spring will soon be here and suddenly everything will be saturated with colour!

Taking some time out from painting Tulips to paint some Snowdrops which are coming up in the garden.They are so delicate and yet surprisingly resilient given the wind and the rain we have been having. They have no protection of any woodland but come up wherever they feel like it.

Although from the supermarket rather than the garden, it’s nice to have some Tulips to paint. They are still a little bit stiff and upright in their bunch, and I’m looking forward to them becoming floppier as time goes on, and I can paint them as they become more relaxed.

Despite multiple warnings of snow and wind thought to be the worst in living memory, we were lucky enough to get away with only mild conditions, and what snow we had was mostly washed away by mid morning. Yet five miles up the road the snow lay much thicker on the ground. Fingers crossed it won’t be our turn tomorrow!

Wishing you all Season’s Greetings and a Happy, healthy and peaceful New Year wherever you are.

With immaculate timing the pump on our central heating system has gone on the blink again and we are either sweltering or freezing! I ‘m hoping that will have a happy outcome in 2026 as well!

Apples ready for picking. Crisp, sweet and juicy. I love this time of year!

The leaves dangling from the tips of the little Cherry tree provide proof that we are now in Autumn. Not that I had doubted it. Any sadness at the thought of the year starting to decline is dispelled by the stunning colours this season brings.

Painted in a 4×6 inch sketchbook

Painted from a recent quick visit to El Campello, Alicante. The tower belongs to a chain built along the Valencian coast to guard against attacks by pirates.

Recently painted ‘Blue gates’, a view which always appeals to me whenever I visit the gardens at Chastleton House. Although not strictly accurate, I may have missed out one or two things, and I may have moved the thistles a little, but not too far. Some people will think this a heinous crime, others will believe such minor infringements are acceptable for the sake of the painting. I like to believe it expresses how I saw the place at that particular moment. I may well paint it differently on another day. If you don’t allow yourself permission to add a little of your emotions to a subject, you may just as well take a photograph and have done with it.

It’s been mostly dry this year and hosepipe bans are coming into force in many areas of the UK. Despite this however , the garden has done well and many of the fruits and flowers have had a glorious year so far. This weekend though I saw more ladybirds (ladybugs) in a small area of the garden than we have ever seen before. Apparently they are swarming this year in many places. Scientists think it might have something to do with the weather. Well, I managed to think that might be the reason too! They were on the figs and all over the rhubarb leaves which had quite a few little black flies on them. When I looked the next day the leaves looked brand new as though they had just come out of the washing machine. Well done Ladybird/bugs!