In this dreary rain-soaked Spring, it is a joy to see the all-too-brief moments of sunshine in the garden!

Adding to the collection

At this time of year, the garden springs to life again – hence the name of the season! As soon as it starts to be a little warmer, all the little bulbs which have been sleeping under ground start to push their way up in the hope of catching sight of the sun, and once they start there seems to be no stopping them. Snowdrops, daffodils, tulip, forget-me-nots… now two recent paintings, Musari and Snake’s Head Fritillary are available as greetings cards.

Muscari, or Grape Hyacinths, really bring the garden to life at this time of year. It is hard to believe that some people hate them because they “make the place look untidy”, but for me it is their rampant wildness taking over many of the borders which have been so bleak during the last few months, which herald Spring like no other. I love their blue-purple lushness, especially when seen against a backdrop of yellow Daffodils.

Do you love them or hate them?

Due to Mother’s Day and a certain persons birthday, the house seems to be full of flowers at the moment. I liked this vase of tulips for the variety of colours. So often it seems if you go to buy a bunch of flowers, they all come in one colour, so it’s nice to be able to flip from one to another.

Despite the wind and the rain we are enjoying at the moment, Nature is determined to set things in motion by coaxing our Spring bulbs out of hibernation. It always amazes me how they are able to withstand the kind of weather which sends us running for cover.

Still a little early for full grown daffodils, but these Tete-a-Tete make a good addition to a still life, especially when it’s raining outside.

What else would you do with a giant terracotta pot than rest it on a tall plinth and guard it with a hedge either side? At least it is a reasonable deterrent to anyone who might want to walk off with it.

This is from a quick sketch done at the weekend. The weather forecast was terrible. The day started with rain and we drove through unbelievable floods on the way. By the time we arrived the rain stopped. The sun came out. For a little while. We actually sat outside under blue skies. For a few minutes.

Cliveden is now a National Trust property, but was once a home to a Duke of Sutherland. Later it was purchased by one of America’s richest men, William Waldorf Astor, who passed the estate to his son Waldorf, upon his marriage to Nancy Langhorne. Nancy became the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons.

The last Tulips of the week. It’s a shame to let them go without getting as much from them as possible. Any variation is a good thing. Besides there are a lot of other things waiting in the wings to take their place. But I do worry that everything is trying to be here too soon. There is surely another cold spell to come yet.

Tuesday Tulips because, (guess what?), I painted them yesterday ! They are different from the ones I painted earlier. A deeper red and for the most part a little more ‘relaxed’. I’m waiting for the leaves to relax a little as well before I do another version.

There is something about Spring flowers that makes one instantly want to paint them – even though it is not yet Spring and these tulips are from the supermarket rather than the garden, they are still appealing. Plus it is a good way of extending the painting season of a subject that is all to fleeting.