Back in Judy's Jungle

I've been spending plenty of my abounding free time back in my studio space at Jamaica Street Artists recently and it's been inspiring to be around the talented and lovely folks there and, to my surprise, a lot easier to get back into my work. I've had a break of around a year and a half so it's really a great joy to be back. Long may it continue.

Welcome Autumn

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells

Roots and Leaves Themselves Alone

My first day on the RHS horticulture theory course at Tyntesfield didn't exactly go to plan. I scrambled my way along perilous roadsides - an ill judged decision to go on foot from Nailsea - with a bag brimming with pens, pencils, a shiny new notebook, a hearty packed lunch and pocket money for the tuck shop only to find the course has been postponed until next week. Nevertheless, I had a brilliant morning investigating the Victorian greenhouses and walled gardens and picked up some delicious yellow squash and white beetroot from the kitchen garden tabletop sale. I highly recommend a visit - it's worth it to see the incredibly intricate scaffolding alone..............did I really just say that??......anyway, three cheers that Kylie didn't get her grubby little paws on Tyntesfield!