Planting a wildflower meadow
As an alternative of a garden, I planted a meadow and every summer time it attracts swarms of butterflies and bugs. Then, because the summer time involves an in depth, the seed heads feed the birds too. I’ve had a allure of goldfinches feeding right here together with linnets and yellowhammers. My resident colony of tree sparrows additionally actually get pleasure from it.
My wildflower meadow acts as a larder for my wild artwork topics
A larder for the birds
I am hoping this new ‘larder’ exterior my front room window will feed this inhabitants over the winter and supply me with loads of new portray fashions on the similar time. A few of my finest compositions, just like the goldfinch feeding on a thistle head and the wren on a bracken frond under, are of birds feeding on seed heads.
Jenny Wren | Restricted Version Print | Purchase Right here
A magnet for bugs
Sow a meadow in early spring
It took a bit of labor to get it established and searching again it now appears a very long time because the chilly spring day I first sowed this combination of seeds and even longer since I gathered the seeds from the banks in my gallery automotive park! I additionally spent lots of time getting ready the bottom. The seeds had been sown in what is definitely a really skinny layer of soil masking 400 tons of strong chalk which had been dug out when my new studio was constructed.
Among the many many species which have taken are wild carrot, purple clover, ox-eye daisies, horse shoe vetch, self heal, yarrow and better knapweed.
Wildflower artwork backdrops
These flowers have additionally been helpful as research for therefore many backdrops in my work. Beneath I’ve posed a hare in opposition to harebells and, later in the summertime, I selected mayweed for a backdrop.
Hare in Wildflowers | Restricted Version Print | Purchase Right here
Hare in Mayweed | Restricted Version Print | Purchase Right here
This fox and its cub additionally appeared good posed in opposition to dandelions.
My hedgerows and shrubs are additionally native, wild varieties they usually play host to all kinds of birdlife, together with a bumper brood of uncommon tree sparrows and the lengthy tail tits, featured within the portray under.
Tree Sparrows | Effective Artwork Print | Purchase Now
Lengthy Tail Tits on Blackberry | Effective Artwork Print | Purchase Now
