Tuesday 21 April 2009

Woodland Light

I am entranced with the light in the Woodland Garden.



On some days clear sunlight illuminates the blooms, outlining each bejewelled twig.

When mist enfolds the wood, the camellia shines softly.

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Today the evening sun dapples the undergrowth. Tiny curls reach up, unfurling to the spring summons.


A glowing woodland crown waits hidden beneath the trees.




Daffodils dance round the radiant Prunus.


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The path is golden.


Saturday 11 April 2009

Hold Your Ground!



A couple of weeks ago I came across a quote, 'Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground!'


I remembered it because it made me laugh and also presents a deep and pertinent truth. It is especially relevant in today's difficult times.It set me thinking about when you have goals, visions that take a tremendous amount of effort to achieve, that are so much bigger than your self and your meagre resources.

How energizing it is to get encouragement and affirmation! And how different from being told to be 'realistic' and let go of cherished dreams. I feel such tremendous gratitude toward those who have been great sources of strength to me over the years.


Last year I received a tiny oak tree rescued from a friend's garden. It would have been thrown away in their big clear-up, so she gave it to me.

I planted it safely in an old earthenware pot. (Yesterday's nut in a cracked pot!)


It looked so small and vulnerable, yet I can imagine gazing up at it in years to come ...


One day it will be a mighty oak!




Believe in your dreams, friends ...



... and hold your ground!



Sunday 5 April 2009

Durham City's Hidden Jewel

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK

The spring sun shone from a perfect blue sky as I entered the gardens of Crook Hall in the heart of Durham City. It had been several months since my last visit, and I had been looking forward to renewing my acquaintance with this lovely place.

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
The view above shows the Georgian and Jacobean parts of the Hall, from the Walled Garden with its spring flowers. (Crook Hall's excellent website gives interesting information about the Hall and its history.)

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
I paused in the Cathedral Garden, where stunning views of Durham Cathedral are echoed in the arched gateways and clipped hedge. A distinctive arched seat continues the theme.
Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
Walking through the arched gateway into the Shakespeare Garden, I looked back. How I marvelled at the light shining ethereally onto a statue, and illuminating the white flowers in the green shade!

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
Further along, a little piper played among the ivy and pale daffodils.

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
Emerging through another dark hedgeway into the sunlit orchard, my eyes were led along the curved path through the trees. In the distance a statue provided a serene focal point.

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
The Moat Pool reflected the cerulean sky and countless daffodils fringed the water's edge.
Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
In the Woodland Garden silver and gold gleamed in secret glades.

Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
An enchantingly beautiful magnolia raised its blooms to the heavens.
Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
I soaked up the sun in front of the warm walls of the old Hall, wondering how many people must have done the same after countless cold winters!
Crook Hall Gardens Durham photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK A last view of historic Durham Cathedral before walking back into the city!
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Durham Crook Hall Gardens photographs by North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre Fine Art Paintings Murals Illustration Live Event Entertainer including North East Entertainment Caricatures and Silhouettes cutting at Weddings Parties Proms Corporate Events Entertainment Business Launches Awards Ceremonies Conferences County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Tyne & Wear Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Nothumberland Yorkshire UK
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To see more of North East Artist & Entertainer Ingrid Sylvestre's work please visit Ingrid Sylvestre Art, where you will find her paintings, illustrations, live event caricatures and silhouettes cutting including wedding entertainment ideas, party entertainment and corporate events entertainment throughout the North East UK.

Ingrid Sylvestre - Durham Artist

Durham artist Ingrid Sylvestre, artists in Durham.

Friday 3 April 2009

Misty Moonwatch

A group of people gathered at the Botanic Garden yesterday evening for a Moonwatch. This year is the International Year of Astronomy, (so I've just discovered!), and this was an associated activity.

It had been a glorious sunny day with clear blue skies. However, as telescopes were being set up a mist drifted in and obscured the heavens ...

The intention had been to look at the moon through the telescopes. This was not to be! By the close of the evening the mist was so thick we could hardly see beyond the glasshouses. How glad we were that the cafe had specially opened to serve hot chocolate, tea and coffee!

And another treat was in store ...

Peter Edwards from the Physics Department of the University of Durham gave a marvellously inspiring talk about astronomy and the universe.

His presentation included a simulated journey through real space, past stars, nebulae and galaxies. I found it awe-inspiring to learn that if you took every grain of sand from every beach and every desert on Earth, you would have an idea of how many stars there are in the universe!


Contemplating all this later, I thought how it could have made my life and everyone or everything I know and care about seem insignificant. Not so - it had the opposite effect ... The awesome beauty and vastness of the universe magnified for me the infinite value of all those things on earth we hold dear. The ordinary-extraordinariness of love and life.


Thursday 2 April 2009

In Praise of Primrose Heron



A favourite plant of mine is Stachys lanata 'Primrose Heron', (or Stachys byzantina since it has had its name changed). Here in the UK the more usual silver form is known as Lambs' Lugs (Lambs' Ears!). I have only seen Primrose Heron in a garden centre once, many years ago. Of course, I had to have it!
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The above photo taken earlier today shows it in soft sunshine, which illuminates its buttery coloured leaves. It looks good planted among darker foliage; here it is next to an escallonia, with the dark shadow of a juniper in the background, and sedum. The forget-me-nots have just opened today and add a nice contrast to the yellow.

The sun went behind clouds at around 6 pm, and the colours changed to more bluish hues. Whatever the light conditions, Primrose Heron seems to retain a striking luminosity.


I love the furry texture - you can see why it has the Lambs' Ears nickname! In each leaf there is such a variety of colour, from white, cream and yellow to green, which all changes depending on the direction of the light.
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Later in the year it will have mauvish flower-spikes, and usually sprawls over the edge of the lawn, which I rather like!

I love to plant it next to very different foliage. Here the red grass Uncinia rubra gives such an exciting contrast of colour, texture and shape.
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I'd be interested to know if any of you fellow-bloggers have it - I've never actually seen it in anyone else's garden!