More colour than I can shake a paintbrush at.

Although I might have to give it a go!

If you had told my pony-mad teenage self that one day I would be wandering around a Flower Festival, I would have thought you bonkers! And yet, here I was at the weekend…wandering around…the RHS Malvern Spring Festival…

…thoroughly enjoying myself! The weather was fantastic. There was an abundance of colour; everything was so vibrant, even the greens seemed to have an extra pop in them. And the perfume - incredible!! Wallace was there having a cuppa, and you might even have spied Alan Titchmarsh in one of the photos….

Inspiration was around every corner; not just for the garden, but for painting too. Colour palettes, textures, sights and sounds, all igniting the senses.

Yes, it was hot, but there was an abundance of food and drink outlets, potable water stands, lots of areas to sit - even a beach with obligatory deck-chairs - and music. The floral marquee was awash with blooms and leaves of all descriptions, the show gardens were a delight for the eye, and there was enough plant and nursery stands to satisfy even the most voracious of plant lovers’ appetites. I especially loved the houseplant area!! Added to all that deliciousness, there was a great art and craft hall, where I managed to catch up with Erica Just who was busy selling her beautiful floral artwork…

It’s the first time that I’ve visited one of the RHS Flower Shows, and hopefully it won’t be the last! Have you been to one?

(Oh, and you might just have noticed I had a soft spot for the tulips!!)

We also found time at the weekend for a walk around the bluebell woods on Bringsty Common…

…which made me think of the Mary Oliver poem:

When I Am Among the Trees 

When I am among the trees, especially the willows and the honey locust, 
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily. 

I am so distant from the hope of myself, 
in which I have goodness, and discernment, 
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often. 

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."

The simple delight of a woodland in spring. Fresh green leaves rustling. The chirruping, tweeting, chattering of birdsong. Unfurling croziers of ferns. Banks of bluebells. Clouds of cow parsley. Buttercups, golden goblets, luminous yellow. Carpets of webs, shimmering in the morning dew.

"The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also." Harriet Ann Jacobs

Talking of paintbrushes, you might have seen that I have bought myself a new one…along with some different paper…

Here I’m using;

• Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolour brush Series 111 Round Size 20

• Royal Watercolour Society HP watercolour paper 425 gsm (22'“ x 30”)

• Bamboo pen

• Wallace Seymour Kendall Green Ink

• Wallace Seymour Indian Yellow Watercolour

I also mentioned Janette Phillips, who offers online courses in which she demonstrates the Wallace Seymour materials.

I’m really enjoying creating these ‘florals’. I find them very meditative. My landscapes are fluid, spontaneous affairs, whereas these are much more considered, but equally as expressive - at least, that’s the aim!

A couple of other things that caught my attention this week:

• This interview with artist Ann Witheridge - I particularly liked her thoughts on sharing ‘painting secrets’ near the end of the chat…

• I always admire those who can play musical instruments: how fabulous is this?

Until next time, anyone for tea?

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