Don't Sit Under This Apple Tree

Some of the houses on my street are located in what was an apple orchard back in the old days. Just about all the really old apple trees are now gone. This is what remains of what was the last one in the back yard. I feel that since they survived so long there is something undignified about hauling away their remains. Plus, they can supply sketching and painting subjects.

I took a number of photographs, and took my sketchpad out for some quick studies.

Since our lovely Spring weather turned, as is typical of New England, the ensuing watercolors were done indoors.

Sometimes it Takes a Long Time to Finish a Painting

One of my New Year's resolutions (sure to go flying by like all the others) is to work on unfinished paintings, revisit ideas and sketches, and if need be, send hopeless starts to the great art trash bin in the sky.

Painting on site

This painting is one I worked on during one of Tower Hill BotanicalGarden's "Arts Weekends" in October, 2014. It was the time of fall color, but they day turned out gray, then misty, then rain. Still, found a spot under a tree, and at least the acrylics didn't dry too fast like they usually do.

In its first state

The painting looked OK while I was outdoors, and one visitor from Charleston wanted to buy it (I never heard from her, so I assume she came to her senses). Since I wasn't excited by it, I put it away since I knew there was something wrong, but couldn't put my finger (or paint) on it. I then realized that while the foliage was brilliant on that maple tree, it looked out of place because the staff keeps the grounds so clean that there were no leaves on the ground. I also felt it needed softening, but with a few more bits of color, so I added the figure with the umbrella.

Enhanced version

It was still looking rather uninteresting, so I tried the old artist's trick of putting it in a frame to see a more finished effect. Surprisingly, this is all it took to give it a lift. Still may need more tweaking, but now it doesn't seem so hopeless.

Now on to the rest of that lifetime supply of unfinished work....

A frame seems to help

Catching up (and trying to keep ahead)

Oh dear, it's been a while. My purpose for even having this blog was to reassure myself that I was accomplishing things - letting the photos and postings be the proof. Fear not, I was busy, in fact, things needing real work took precedence over this blog. So, let July be the month of catch up!

This weed, now 7' tall, is the plant growing the best for me.

Spring in New England means lots of garden work. In our suburban area, we are battling wilderness which tries very hard to take back what is clear and cultivated (and sometimes the wilderness wins).

My garden nemesis is the poison ivy. I spray to kill it, but every so often decide on manual means, and with the aid of hook tool and rubber gloves, try to pull out as much as I can. Yes, I wind up with the awful rash and itching, but figure that since I'll probably get it anyway, take advantage of the encounter and try to remove as much as possible.

This large branch feel from my neighbor's ancient chestnut, and now serves as "found sculpture"

Forsythia in bloom - careful pruning increases the blooms each year.

And after its haircut

Garden Time

After the back-and-forth of "is it spring or still winter", there comes that time when (usually after a day or so of rain) the greenery just explodes.

In addition to the usual yard chores, I finally decided to address the two overgrown bird's nest spruce by the front walk. They had gotten to about 4 or 5 feet across, and since I didn't have them on a regular pruning regimen, my attempts at pruning last year meant they would be too painful to look at for the next few years.

So, between garden spades, forks, shovels and finally, the chainsaw, the old ones were pulled out. Just like looking in the mirror after a haircut, it is disconcerting to see these two new little shrubs taking the place of the old giants.

 

These two new ones have some pretty big shoes to fill.

 

 

The old stumps were a lot bigger than you would expect for a shrub.

 

Also this year, hope to have some rhubarb from the new patch.

 

Spring Road Trip Part II: Longwood Gardens

After a day and half indoors at museums, it was time for a change. Even though it was cool and rainy, we went off to visit the conservatories at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. They were currently featuring their orchid collection, but any time you can escape this year's winter into their perpetual spring indoors it is a good time.

Nothing more to add; the pictures tell the story.

Strawbery Banke

 

 A couple weeks ago we put the dogs in the kennel for the weekend so we would have more freedom to poke around the coast. Spent a day in Portsmouth, New Hampshire including the Strawbery Banke museum village and environs.

Birdhouse in garden of Goodwin House, Strawbery Banke

 

 

Summer house/trellis at Goodwin House

 

 

Perfect weather for strolling in village

 

 

View from our lunch spot

Phlox Explosion

While it is too hot to actually stay outside, the flowers are going wild. Bee balm is a nice cool blue, and the phlox this year have gone insane!

Mid-Summer Garden

Animals don't like to eat daylilies, astilbe, monkshood, foxglove or bee balm, so those comprise my low-maintenance garden.

In spite of the hot weather, it is looking good.

Clearing the Jungle

With one sunny day before the rains settle in for a while, I cleaned out the area shown in http://forthillstudios.blogspot.com/2012/05/garden-time.html. As my "Christmas tree" grows, I will cut down some of the surrounding trees.

Garden time

The warm, rainy weather has made it a jungle out there. Some things, such as the rhododendron out back are magnificent, and the foxglove at the edge of the weed-filled garden look good. But there is a corner of the driveway where the weeds have gone wild - can you see the five-foot balsam hiding in there?