Oxwich Burrows NNR

Walking back through Oxwich Burrows NNR was a real treat in the late summer sunshine - plenty to see and good to hear choughs too.

Hundreds of small solitary bees ....

Spindle; round-leaved wintergreen; rockrose; carline thistle and autumn gentian ....lots of bloody crane's-bill, milkwort and eyebright out too. 

Devil's coach horse with prey and a couple of grasshoppers. 

Wax cap; plenty of parasol mushrooms and a lovely turkey tail.

Nicholaston Woods and Threecliff Bay.

After dropping Tom off at Swansea Uni a walk down from our campsite at Nicholaston farm (to be recommended as a cracking campsite), down through the woods and onto the beach and east along to Threecliff Bay. We then walked back west to Oxwich and then back through the Oxwich Burrows and the NNR, but that'll have to be another blog!

Nicholaston Woods - growing on practically pure sand. 

Bees enjoying the late summer ivy nectar.

Spectacular bedding in the cliffs at Threecliff Bay. 

Snake's head fritillary cards.

As promised a range of the snake's head fritillary cards - it's always enjoyable to play with different colour combinations of materials!

Pomegranite printing

A dull morning, so some vibrant prints. Monoprints on a gelli plate background. 

Purple hairstreak butterfly - printing

When we went to Fingland Rigg - see the 30th August blog - we saw a rather pecked purple hairstreak. Apparently it was the first record of the year for the site. I spent this afternoon teaching Tom how to use a gelli plate and to rather good effect! The hairstreak was printed on from a 'soft-sculpt' block using water-based lino ink and hand-coloured with acrylic.

The leaves and printing block

Trial run butterflies

The uncoloured prints ...

The final coloured piece.

Burgh by Sands allotments

I always enjoy a visit to the folk's allotment ...frustratingly so much more productive than our garden!

The allotments 

My folk's produce 

..and other people's ...

Rudbeckia inspired cards

It's rather hectic at home, so the only art work I can do has to be done in dribs and drabs - which suits making and designing cards ....although I do have an idea that may take a while once I get some time! So here are variations on a rudbeckia theme.