Herons!!!

A heron flew overhead as I took  my morning coffee in the garden today, an hour later I walked up the towpath and saw five herons standing in the field of stubble on the opposite bank of Sprotbrough Flash vole hunting. It is a very large bird, fully grown around 36 inches tall, they can usually be seen standing in shallow water   patiently stalking the fish, I have also seen them in the winter, on the rocks below the falls.

"Herons Fishing below Sprotbrough Falls"

acrylic on canvas 14"x10"

"Winter Fishing at Sprotbrough Bridge"

acrylic on canvas, small section of a larger painting.

I got to thinking how many times I have painted herons and also included them in my paintings of the local landscape and waterways. They are so much part of the local scenery and such a beautiful bird.

On Sprotbrough Cut last winter.

Herons can off course be seen on  many of our waterways and this next painting is of herons at Aysgarth Falls, in acrylic, painted some time ago.

Herons at Aysgarth Falls 

For me, the most entertaining time to see our local herons is early on a summer morning before there are people around, and if there are boats moored up overnight sometimes a heron can be seen fishing from the roof of one.

"Heron on the Rocks"

My Garden 'Tidy Up'

I got in a good days gardening yesterday, the sun shone and it was more than pleasant to be out there.

My intention was to clear the long strands of brambles which seem to have grown overnight and are ready to trip the unwary, and a large group of thistles which although very pretty I needed to take out. I have an abundance of nettles and thistles elsewhere in the garden for wildlife.

The green bin quickly filled up and I compressed it with spade and rake to get as much in as possible. 

Squirrel didn't seem too impressed with my efforts !! 

I don't compost my garden waste since I decided I was going to keep my garden 'on the wild side' and I did away with the lawns and mowing - so it is a mix of wild flowers and perennials with the addition of a few annuals geraniums and pansies etc, it suits me and it is very pretty in all seasons. 

So there will be pots of jam in the Autumn, if the birds leave any blackberries for me. In the meantime I have a yen to do some paintings, of my garden, maybe small watercolours. 

Watch this space !!!