I had to go on a course in Sheffield yesterday. It was held on the 9th floor of the Hallam University, so at least there was a good view. South Sheffield made up the main and the Peak district was just visible on the skyline. This distant view made my day more bearable. If you've read any of my previous posts, you'll know that the Peaks are a constant presence in my life.
The sketch was done on the back of my delegate folder, using a free pen that was in my delegate folder. I made sure they didn't go to waste.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Monday, September 26, 2005
Rosemary and lamb
Last week was a trying one at work. On Thursday, between the end of school and picking up Deb and Nathan, I just drove around for an hour or so, stopping a couple of times to sketch whatever I felt like drawing. It did the trick and lowered the stress levels. This black-faced ewe looks like it's been crossed with a kangaroo, not too bad for a first sheep, close up, though.
Still, this was better than my go at the victorian-style lamp post and municipal shrubs, from Staples car park, or my last resort - drawing the blower fitting from my car dashboard. The last one had a Nobbsian look about it, but not as good, obviously (follow the link - right - to Michael Nobbs' site to see how it's done properly).
Back to unnatural history matters, we went for a walk round the block last night and it was interesting to see a rosemary bush still in flower so late in the year. Ours is long over and done with flowers. Along with the memory of the diascia we managed to overwinter, not once but twice, it just goes to show how gardens can form such individual microclimates.
Still, this was better than my go at the victorian-style lamp post and municipal shrubs, from Staples car park, or my last resort - drawing the blower fitting from my car dashboard. The last one had a Nobbsian look about it, but not as good, obviously (follow the link - right - to Michael Nobbs' site to see how it's done properly).
Back to unnatural history matters, we went for a walk round the block last night and it was interesting to see a rosemary bush still in flower so late in the year. Ours is long over and done with flowers. Along with the memory of the diascia we managed to overwinter, not once but twice, it just goes to show how gardens can form such individual microclimates.
Monday, September 19, 2005
The UK's number one...
I like woodpigeons. There's plenty that don't. Farmers aren't keen because they damage crops, gardeners ditto and twitchers because they're so common probably. Unlucky, because apparently, woodpigeons are seen in a larger percentage of British gardens than any other species of bird. Good, as I said, I like 'em.
I like them being common, I see lots of them every day in and around the fields on my way to work. There's even a pair that nest in the laurel bushes on one of Leed's busiest roundabouts - the Gyratory, too good a name for just a roundabout don't you think? I like the fact that you can identify them from a mile away, on the ground or in flight, thanks to all those white flashes. I just wish that, at half past five in the morning, they'd sing a little further down the street.
I like them being common, I see lots of them every day in and around the fields on my way to work. There's even a pair that nest in the laurel bushes on one of Leed's busiest roundabouts - the Gyratory, too good a name for just a roundabout don't you think? I like the fact that you can identify them from a mile away, on the ground or in flight, thanks to all those white flashes. I just wish that, at half past five in the morning, they'd sing a little further down the street.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Panda food
This was just a quick sketch of the black bamboo (phyllostachys nigra) that stands in a pot, outside the back door. I drew it yesterday whilst I worked up the energy to go out in the rain and split it for planting up in more pots.
Deb bought the bamboo when it was only 2 feet tall, about 7 or 8 years ago, and at £5 we thought it was a bit pricey. What a bargain it turned out to be. It grew to around 8 feet tall and we've split it to make new plants several times since then. We've got a few ourselves and we've given a few away as well.
The bamboo and its offspring have done a great job of screening next-doors' dilapidated fence. It hasn't done much for the wildlife though - unless we get any passing pandas.
Deb bought the bamboo when it was only 2 feet tall, about 7 or 8 years ago, and at £5 we thought it was a bit pricey. What a bargain it turned out to be. It grew to around 8 feet tall and we've split it to make new plants several times since then. We've got a few ourselves and we've given a few away as well.
The bamboo and its offspring have done a great job of screening next-doors' dilapidated fence. It hasn't done much for the wildlife though - unless we get any passing pandas.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Mists and mellow fruitfulness
Whoever described September as a month of ‘mists and mellow fruitfulness’ could have been writing about this morning. It’s a perfect late summer morning, with a hint of autumn in the air. There actually is a faint mist and a delicious chill, with the added soundtrack of woodpigeons and that wonderful rippling tic-tic-tic call of a robin that you only ever seem to notice at this time of year.
Talking of robins, one of this years’ young robins has been a regular in the garden for the last week, getting ever more red-breasted. It’s looking well on the food we’ve been putting out for it, bags of special robin food from Swillington Nurseries. It’s the best place to buy feeder food as well, just the job for our new birdfeeders. We’ve just replaced our old feeders with some nice new ones from the RSPB shop at Fairburn Ings (I get discount because I’m a volunteer - at a local mine reclamation site that’s going to become a RSPB reserve eventually, and more of that another day).
The greedy greenfinches certainly seem to approve, there’s never less than a couple on the feeders at any one time. There are plenty of collared doves picking up the dropped seed too, I’ve seen up to eight in and around the garden recently, so a good breeding season for them then. The rarest visitor lately has been a willow tit, what a great bird to see in our garden, having never seen one nearer than 5 or so miles from Garforth. Those new feeders are doing the trick.
Talking of robins, one of this years’ young robins has been a regular in the garden for the last week, getting ever more red-breasted. It’s looking well on the food we’ve been putting out for it, bags of special robin food from Swillington Nurseries. It’s the best place to buy feeder food as well, just the job for our new birdfeeders. We’ve just replaced our old feeders with some nice new ones from the RSPB shop at Fairburn Ings (I get discount because I’m a volunteer - at a local mine reclamation site that’s going to become a RSPB reserve eventually, and more of that another day).
The greedy greenfinches certainly seem to approve, there’s never less than a couple on the feeders at any one time. There are plenty of collared doves picking up the dropped seed too, I’ve seen up to eight in and around the garden recently, so a good breeding season for them then. The rarest visitor lately has been a willow tit, what a great bird to see in our garden, having never seen one nearer than 5 or so miles from Garforth. Those new feeders are doing the trick.
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