It's spring here in Westerm Australia and the best time of all ... the garden is really starting to take off and more so with the latest additions.
I've felt pretty flat lately because we miss our beloved Gracie so much. I went looking for these roses - her namesake - and wanted to plant them in an area of the garden she wasn't often allowed - it isn't properly fenced off and would have been too easy for her to disappear. She loved this area when she ventured into it - and would sit and survey her surroundings for hours.
Planting more roses |
We have a large garden which comes in handy, considering all the plants and cuttings I need to study for botanical art. We're constantly working on different areas of the property to improve and generate more growth - and it's a huge undertaking. I managed to find four of these rose bushes and they now have a new home in our garden.
I was so happy to see they have already started flowering - they're a really lovely scent of warm cinammon and honey. My friend Jessica at Inky Leaves suggested the pattern of the petals was much like Gracie's beautiful apricot/cream coloured fur ... now I will think of that every time I see them blooming, a beautiful reminder.
Also, our dear friends gave us this beautiful rose bush - "Gift of Grace" - they adored our Gracie too and spent a lot of time with her - our dogs were best of friends.
And - it's flowering already ... so lovely. So we now have a 'Graceful' garden bed to enjoy.
As for the botanical art distance course - well, we're now onto our final assignment before the diploma portfolio works. The current assignment is a composition of mixed flowers. You'd think that would be easy - considering it's springtime.
Once again, it's harder than it seems. I was going to include wisteria -
our vine is stunning, but there are so many petals and stems and colour hues and even though it is a gorgeous subject, it wilts as soon as you cut it. After weeks of drawing, hayfever and colour studies it's back to the drawing board ...
Always with us xxx |