Planting a wildflower meadow
As a substitute of a garden, I planted a meadow and every summer season it attracts swarms of butterflies and bugs. Then, because the summer season involves an in depth, the seed heads feed the birds too. I’ve had a attraction 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 beneath, 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 looking out 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 automobile park! I additionally spent a number of time making ready the bottom. The seeds have been sown in what is definitely a really skinny layer of soil overlaying 400 tons of stable 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 larger knapweed.
Wildflower artwork backdrops
These flowers have additionally been helpful as research for thus many backdrops in my work. Beneath I’ve posed a hare towards 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 excellent posed towards dandelions.
My hedgerows and shrubs are additionally native, wild varieties and so they 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 beneath.
Tree Sparrows | Effective Artwork Print | Purchase Now
Lengthy Tail Tits on Blackberry | Effective Artwork Print | Purchase Now
