'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

Go here to find out more.

Sunday 18 November 2018

Botanical Paintings in Progress.

Hello everyone.  Many apologies for my month's absence from your comment box and blogging bin, but I have been busy painting.  I am now proud to announce (Ta dahhhh!) my participation in the group show 'South Seas Botanical' which opened a few days ago.  Those of you in Aotearoa New Zealand are of course warmly invited to see the show at the Zeus Gallery, Tauranga.  Those that are not currently in NZ, here are some views of my works in progress (w.i.p).  Next week I will post some views of the completed work on the gallery walls, and of the other three exhibitors' works too.


Dianella (blue berry plant).  The berries have not developed yet.
The soft hairy young leaves and small flowers of NZ Korokia 

Korokia
Colourful bacterial and fungal deterioration of Whirariki - Mountain flax
 (Phormium cookianum)

Whirariki - Mountain flax (Phormium cookianum)

Karaka - NZ Laurel (Corynocarpus laevigatus)
Karaka berries in progress - NZ Laurel (Corynocarpus laevigatus)
The very tiny karaka flowers and bud.

Karaka flowers.  Just putting in the first layers.
Tanekaha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides)

Tanekaha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides) wip

Puriri (Vitex lucens) with flowers and young berries.

Puriri (Vitex lucens)
Puriri leaves wip
Puriri leaves wip

Puriri flowers

Puriri flowers coming along.
The green moth is the 'puriri moth' Aenetus virescens, the larvae of which burrow
into the puriri tree and consume material before emerging as the adult.The adult only lives a day.

Kiokio - Palm Leaf Fern (Blechnum novae-zelandiae)

Kiokio wip












Monday 8 October 2018

Kåseberga, Sweden

Walking back to the car through the pretty village of Kåseberga I was once again really taken with the bright contrast between all the lovely flowers, the white walls and the brilliant blue sky.  I'll let you just enjoy the walk too.





The hollyhock on the left was so dark red it was almost black!  A stunning colour.


This was the one that was so dark.  



See the butterfly?

I think this is sweet Mockorange (Philadelphus). 
As much for my benefit as your possible interest, I have made this map of the places we went so far.

 Next stop: Sandhammerans - where there's SAND!

Saturday 6 October 2018

Fish!

At lunchtime on day one of my Andersen South Sweden Tour I again encountered Swedish Fish.  I have capitalised that because although there was an amazing selection at the Fish Church in Gothenburg, the fish shop and cafe at Kåseberga (Kåseberga Fisk AB) had a very good selection too.  Although my memory was indubitably influenced by my appetite (the fried herring was wonderful) and the fact that I have more photos of this shop.  Whichsoever, feast your eyes on this!


The bank to the right where I saw only a few poppies, is usually smothered in them!
It's just too hot and dry this year so they have finished flowering.


Welcome to the Fisk Shop! 









The staff were very friendly and patient even when very busy.




Upstairs to the cafe

The view of Kåseberga from our cafe table

The other place to eat... must have been good too judging by the queue.  


Wait!  What's that on the roof!!!?  

It turned out the snake was rubber and did a very good albeit passive job of being a cafe-fish-meal-scavenging-gull deterrent.