chickweed willowherb

I wouldn’t have known what to look for had I not been shown it in the Cairngorms recently but it is a nice little, and I do mean little, plant – no more than 10cm tall.  I also recorded the other small upland willowherb, the alpine willowherb,  in both the Cairngorms and Tweedsmuirs.  More of the Cairngorms shortly.

After just a little bit of encouragement and guidance in the technique of putting up blog posts, Artists Sue Ford is now posting regularly on her new website blog to be found at - www.sueford.co.uk

Sue is keen to develop the website and blog with lots of FREE ‘how-to’ articles about art and painting technique. The blog will also be a way of keeping artists up-to-date with Sue Ford’s latest art course and art holiday dates, prices and events – so bookmark the Sue Ford Home Page and do pay regular visits from now on. Sue does not claim to be a computer expert – but she’s learning fast and will soon be a competent blogger. Well done Sue.

BOTANY BLOG
After a bit of a slow start, botanist David Hawker, who is the leader of our Botany Holidays in Menorca, is now getting the hang of posting blogs on the Botany Blog. Like artists Sue Ford, David does not make any claims to computer wizardry – but he’s getting there, and is also now able to post his own.

David has a very relaxed writing style – a lot like his teaching style – and his short but incisive posts are a pleasure to read – and every time I read one of David’s botany posts I learn a little more about the wild flowers he loves so much.

Find out more about:
Art Holidays in Menorca with Sue Ford
Botany Holidays in Menorca with David Hawker

Hairy Stonecrop

The hairy stonecrop is found in stony, moss-dominated flushes that receive slightly mineral-flushed water at altitudes of greater than 470 metres.  We’ve only got one record of it in Kirkcudbrightshire, my home county and I was hoping to get out there today to refind it.  The weather dictated otherwise, but later this week looks good.  The sheathed sedge is nothing great to look at and only occasioanally flowers, but its most southerly point is in the Tweedsmuirs and I found it again after the previous record in 1978!

Sue, who is the art tutor for our Art Holidays in Menorca, has also added her wish list and recommendations for really good value buys for everything from paints and brushes to canvas, paper and art books.

Sue would really really appreciate your ideas and recommendations for materials she could include in the shop. Contact Sue Ford

The shop is powered by Amazon and you can buy with total confidence.

Many congratulations

Jenny and Ricardo will be taking the new addition to their family to Menorca for our Tango Dancing Holiday in September – they will also be taking Jenny’s parents who will be babysitting while Jenny and Ricardo are dancing and teaching.

There are just two places remaining on this very special Tango Dancing Holiday – don’t miss your opportunity BOOK NOW

Sue will be writing regularly about her painting activities and the posts will include lots of how-to art articles and painting technique tips.

The new website now includes a Gallery of Sue’s paintings and pictures. More will be added as we go along. You will also find a list of all Sue Ford’s forthcoming Art Courses and Art Holidays – including of course, our own Art Holiday in Menorca next May 2011.

Also included in the new website is the Artists’ Shop – here you can buy artists materials from Amazon and have them delivered to your door. Sue has offered her own recommendations for good quality art bargains, so don’t miss this. Many more items will be added to this shop – and Sue would appreciate your suggestions and ideas for items that might be included. Contact Sue Ford.

You will notice that the style of Sue’s new website is similar to that of Inspiration Holidays and you’d be absolutely right. The new website is hosted here with Inspiration Holidays. Eventually it will be given a very individual identity.

Meanwhile the plan is to promote Sue Ford’s artistic endeavours and art tutoring, and we are delighted to do so.

Take a look at Artist Sue Ford’s new website

Didn’t have time to look at the native plants, except for poppies in the neat wheat fields. Harebells in Switzerland grow on walls in the towns and cities, unlike here where you have to look in fields and on the hills. Instead watched the black redstarts that seemed to be singing from almost every rooftop. Or the black kites gliding nonchalantly around the sunbathers and swimmers and over the red crested pochards, coots, tufted ducks and grebes.

RSPB recently asked where all the UK’s swifts had gone – judging by the number around Lake Geneva, I’d guess they decided to stay abroad!

Have just returned from looking at a couple of upland grassland sites in the Scottish Borders where the scarce mountain pansy is now in flower – beautiful blue-purple flowers, often with bright yellow on the lower lip, usually with the pink flowers of wild thyme nearby.  Set this in grass full of white-flowered heath bedstraw and the yellow of birdsfoot trefoil and tormentil and it’s ideal for photography.

Orchids are just coming out too, the deep purple of northern marsh orchids and the pale pink of heath spotted orchids – these are great for close-up photos.

Got up this morning to see a white-tailed red squirrel run across the courtyard, admire itself in the paintwork of our car and then scamper over the wall and into the field beyond. The nesting swallows weren’t keen about it, but hey it’s great to see this so near the house

Now’s the time!

The edges of the leaves of Sundews have little blobs of liquid on stalks which glisten in the sunlight and stand out from the surrrounding vegetation.  But you need to get really close to them – wet knees are a distinct possibility!

Sundews are  insectivorous, the sticky blobs trapping small flies and midges and then bending very slowly over several hours to enclose their prey in the centre of the leaf where digestive juices then dissolve the insect. It’s just a way of getting extra nitrogen which is in very short supply in bogs.  After that the leaf dies.

Sundews live in acid areas such as bogs and mires where there’s plenty of usually brilliantly coloured red, green or yellow and very wet Sphagnum moss to provide a colourful background.

Have a go at finding and photographing Sundews – they’re fascinating plants.

FIND OUT ABOUT DAVID HAWKER’S BOTANY HOLIDAYS