A summer memory

This new painting was inspired by my garden, which was a sanctuary during the last lockdown.

The garden is not quite so inviting now in the wind and rain, but it’s still full of autumn colour and wildlife.

I hope this brings some colour and a memory of warm summer sun into your day!

It took a while to paint, I started at the beginning of September when these colourful flowers were still blooming, and finished last week. It got interrupted by a painting of pikachu for my nephew.

Pikachu is on his way to New Zealand. He’s taking his time, I think the post is slow because of the pandemic. I’m hoping he hasn’t got lost and that my nephew likes him when he finally arrives!

First flight

A blackbird, newly fledged,

zooms like a badly thrown pom pom across the lawn.

By some miracle it lands safely on a branch,

first flight complete.

Tai chi in the garden II

A robin hops around the lawn

scooping up insects disturbed by

the recent passing of a lawnmower.

Not wanting to interrupt his feast

with tai chi,

I sit on a nearby bench

watching.

My practise becomes

simply sitting,

breathing,

relaxing,

focussing inwards,

as blackbirds

scold the approaching darkness.