Fernery

Whenever I hear a word that refers to the natural world, I automatically create a visual in my mind complete with sensory effects. When I was reading about Birr Castle Demesne before my two week stay there, I was attracted to the description of the fernery and it was high on my list of "must see right away".

From my young days crawling around the soft moss in the woods behind our house, I loved ferns. As a child I pretended they were umbrellas for the fairies. Their ruffled texture, rolled edges, bumpy undersides and leprecaun greens remain vivid in my memory today.

My first visit to the fernery sent me back in time and I viewed it with a child's eyes and feelings. I know this because of how the fernery made me feel.

Let's take a visit....

From the Millennium Garden, through the gate and straight ahead......

to follow the path to the fernery....

be careful if it's wet, you might slip....

on moss covered rocks,

or slick wood.

This is the world of gnomes, of stunted trees, dampness, decay....Watch out for them near the bridges...

and under roots and rocks. They use ferns to draw you in.

Remember the division between two worlds is close.

Defining spring

The solution to no blog topic for today came from Illustrated Life's Jeanette Jobson, another Newfoundland artist blogger, who put out a challenge to choose the sixth photo in my sixth file and present it. I couldn't believe that this photo was yet another version of spring- Newfoundland style. I can't seem to escape it.



This photo was taken outside my summer house in Duntara, Bonavista Bay, NL which is right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. In this part of the province the icebergs are usually heralds of spring. This was shot in April 2007. Ice bergs and pans of ice were made for artists. Although icebergs appear white, there is no end to the range of colours created when they are hit with sunlight. But it is the area where the ice touches the water that always intrigues me. That's where I find the most beautiful greens in the world. Maybe that's why they appear in spring!

A cool view from my patio

An even cooler view from my sofa!

It's beautiful, but...

I am ready for colour in the environment. As I've gone about my days since the beginning of March, I'm attracted to every bright, vibrant colour I see. This happens every year at this time. I am even looking at colourful clothes I would never think about wearing any other time of the year. The loads of snow and the gray weather that is part of the Newfoundland winter engulfs you and you slowly become accustomed to grayness . You don't even realize it's happening.

Now it is officially spring. I have to keep reminding myself that it does eventually arrive, usually in May! This is the scene outside my window. I concede that it is beautiful, sculptural etc. etc. but it is not spring!


This is spring .