Lemon a day

size 2″ x 2″  5cm x 5cm approx

This is tiny, the snail shell is tiny and fragile, it is the sort that appears on the chalk. We are not on the chalk, but there are pieces of chalk and flint to be found in the garden soil….have to have been brought here whether by nature or man, I am not sure but I do wonder about ancient iron workings as sometimes I find bits of slag-iron. Perhaps there is enough calcium on the surface to support chalk loving weeds ( which we also have) and snails. I shall look for one of the stripy snail shells as they are very pretty close up. This is the 200th picture in my series of so called daily paintings. My mother predicted that it would become a burden if I continued with one a day, it has been important to relax about not being perfect both in the execution of the pictures and the production of the pictures. If I had not embarked on the concept I would probably have some paintings to show but not 200 wildly varied images that I do have.

The blackbirds first nest in a small evergreen has been abandoned- or robbed; it was sitting on the nest but now the nest is empty- it was well within reach of the fox and the cats which are more common in the garden than five years ago. The best and most successful nest site for the blackbirds does not appeal to them until the Clematis montana has plenty of leaf. There are still roving goldfinches in the garden looking for seeds. They have had most of the remaining fennel seeds and I have cleared the Verbena bonariensis stems as they have  suddenly started to bring me out in a nettle rash.

#200