(with ladybirds, butterflies and singing birds)
Autumn has been like summer and the warm days have given us time to have “painting picnics”.
My artist daughter Sam and I have been exploring the Vale of Wardour near Tisbury in Wiltshire. A truly magical place with an enchanting castle almost hidden by the trees.
On our first picnic we were surrounded by swarms of harlequin ladybirds. They filled the air, landed on our paintings and settled in thousands on the old castle walls.
We had to eat our second picnic in the car …..
After walking uphill beyond the castle in the gentle rain through the beech and chestnut woods. Many of the trees were still green, some had changed to gold and the singing birds made it feel like spring!
The third picnic was on a gloriously warm, sunny day just before the wind changed and the arctic chill arrived. This time we sat in a field with butterflies! They fluttered and settled on the yellow daisy flowers – and then disappeared into the grasses.
The clocks have gone back and days are getting shorter – Sam and I are already planning winter/Christmas painting picnics with mulled wine and mince pies.
With less daylight hours painting becomes more difficult but we will try and go out earlier and grab every minute of light possible.
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