November Light

There is a certain light in the month of November that has always held me in a sense of wonder.


It seems particularly intense around the countryside of County Durham and Cleveland, most especially towards dusk.




Such luminosity of sky as evening falls over the landscape!

Soft high-lights on moss-covered trunks ...

Evening sun playing magically round the edge of twig and branch.

Overcast skies through damp russet bracken.

Looking up steep slopes at silhouetted trees against glowing skies.

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The muted colours of a twilight stream.

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This post also includes a bench - have you noticed it? 'Bench of the Week' was begun by RuneE of Visual Norway. Do visit his beautiful blog, and also the blogs of other participants, including Barbara Martin, PERBS, and Malyss.

Bench of the Week - Houghall

This week's bench is also featured in my Autumn header, and is from the dim and distant past of last century - 1998! I've had to scan the photos as this was pre-digital for me, the camera used being a little Olympus Trip.
I find as an artist that certain locations recur again and again in my work, and this spot is one of those special places. The view is from the patio doors of the house I lived in while lecturing at Houghall Horticultural College. To me it was magical, and I used to gaze and gaze, and sketch, paint and photograph this wonderful place.


The garden was huge, and led out onto fields and the distant Houghall Woods. The shapes of the hedges fascinated me - I have always loved the light along the edge of hedges backlit by the sun, or moon. There was only one outside light here, and at night the stars shone undiminished by street lighting. Owls called, foxes barked and the air was redolent with the scents of trees.

The bench belonged to the college. I stood it among my tubs, and used it as a kind of focal point leading the eye along the garden. After trying to sit on it once and wobbling fearsomely, I decided it was too rickety to use as a seat, and that it's charm was visual!

In this last photo the bench gleams softly in the evening light and the overgrown Virginia and other creepers take on an Autumn glow.

'Bench of the Week' was started by RuneE of Visual Norway. Other participants include Barbara Martin, PERBS, Malyss, Ackworth Born , Your EG Tour Guide , Dimple and Dina - do visit their blogs to see their Bench of the Week on Fridays.

Durham Artist Ingrid Sylvestre, artists in Durham City.

Bench of the Week - Arm Candy!

These benches at the University of Durham Botanic Garden reminded me of old paintings of beautiful ladies in historic gowns walking with their beaux in the park!

In the above photo the plant looks as if it is swooning on the arm of the handsome bench.


I've called this one 'Entwined'.




The plant above looks a little shy.



This one is 'Double Dalliance'!

But the last bench looks a little 'nettled' - must have had an argument!
'Bench of the Week' was started by RuneE of Visual Norway. Other participants include Barbara Martin, PERBS, Malyss, Ackworth Born , Your EG Tour Guide and Dina - do visit their blogs to see their Bench of the Week on Fridays.



Ingrid Sylvestre artist in Durham, Durham artist

Bench of the Week - in a sylvan glade

This week's bench is situated in a sylvan glade of almost ethereal beauty. Coming round the edge of the surrounding trees the beholder is entranced by the light, the jewel-like greens and the delicacy of the acers set among tall dark conifers.

Your feet brush softly through the daisy-rich grass as you head for the bench set back among the trees. Hush! Do not disturb the tranquillity, make no sudden sound against the background hum of bees.

Your seat is comfortable. It's high back beckons you to rest, to lean back - maybe to sleep among the trees in this secret place. Sweet slumber ...

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(The sylvan glade is at Thorp Perrow Arboretum, North Yorkshire. Situated near Bedale, it is a very favourite place of mine, to wander long among the trees imbibing the atmosphere and enchantment.)

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'Bench of the Week' was started by RuneE of Visual Norway. Other participants include Barbara Martin, PERBS, Malyss, and Ackworth Born - do visit their blogs to see their Bench of the Week on Fridays! This week we also have a new participant, Monica the Garden Faerie!

Bench of the Week - A lively little bench!

This week's bench is situated outside the picturesque Dun Cow pub in the centre of Durham City.

It is just the right size to fit into the corner under the window. A lively little bench it must be - obviously needing to be tethered outside the pub, like dogs sometimes are, and horses were in the old days!

There's just enough slack on the chain for it to jump up playfully at passersby, but not to run off down the road visiting other benches.

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It seemed quite docile as I walked past!

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'Bench of the Week' was started by RuneE of Visual Norway. Other participants include Barbara Martin, PERBS, Malyss, and Ackworth Born - do visit their blogs to see their Bench of the Week on Fridays!

Durham artist Ingrid Sylvestre, artists in Durham.

Bench of the Week - Elegant Bench

My bench for this week's 'Bench of the Week', (a day late!), is a slender bench in Moorbank Botanic Garden, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

I thought how peaceful and graceful it looked, in this green-and-white area of the garden. Rather delicate too ...

It was only when zooming in on my photos on the computer that I realized there is only one arm-rest. Maybe it is a chaise-longue sort of bench for elegantly reclining on!

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'Bench of the Week' was started by RuneE of Visual Norway. Other participants include Barbara Martin, PERBS, Malyss, Ackworth Born and Pacey - do visit their blogs to see their Bench of the Week on Fridays!

Bench of the Week - Enclosed Garden

I discovered this secluded haven of tranquillity last week.

Coming up from Durham Riverbanks onto South Bailey, you can see a historic church ahead. This is St Mary-le-Bow and now houses the Durham Heritage Centre and Museum.

I must have walked past hundreds of times and never looked through the railings. Such a beautiful example of a peaceful enclosed garden in the shade!

How tranquil one's thoughts could be, sitting quietly among the gently-coloured plants.

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A serene start to the afternoon - now it's time to stroll down into Durham City!
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'Bench of the Week' was started by RuneE of Visual Norway. Other participants include Barbara Martin, PERBS, Malyss, Ackworth Born and Pacey - do visit their blogs to see their Bench of the Week on Fridays!

Bench of the Week 5: Durham Riverbanks

Another Durham bench this week. Standing on the bridge, gazing at the view over the river and towards the Cathedral, I was not at first aware of the presence of a bench! Can you spot it?



Here it is - a beautiful arched bench of weathered stone!

I do not know it's history - I will add it to the post if I learn anything. Since taking the photo I have noticed that it is a very popular seat. This is not surprising as it commands a wonderful view of the River, and must be a prime spot for watching the rowing for which Durham is well-known.

Bench of the Week was begun by RuneE of Visual Norway. Do visit his beautiful blog and see what intriguing bench is there each Friday. Other regular participants include: Barbara Martin, PERBS , Malyss and Ackworth Born.

Bench of the Week - Front Seat at the Dance of the Gunnera!

This week's bench is at the Moorbank Botanic Garden of Newcastle University. What a prime location from which to watch the Dance of the Gunnera!

Bench of the Week was begun by RuneE of Visual Norway. Do visit his blog to see his amazingly beautiful bench. Other interesting bench posts can be found on the blogs of: Barbara Martin, PERBS, Malyss, Gerald England and Mad Aunt Bernard.

Bench of the Week - Durham

This week's bench is at the back of Durham Cathedral overlooking the river and it's sylvan banks. The old fashioned serpent design on the metalwork fits in well with the weathered stonework of the ancient walls.

Along the riverbanks one gets glimpses of ivy-clad trees. Since taking these photographs a few weeks ago, the foliage has grown, obscuring much of the view.

An occasional shaft of sunlight illuminates a jewel-green lawn, contrasting strikingly with the pink walls of the riverside building.

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The atmosphere all around is of tranquillity steeped in history.

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Bench of the Week has been begun by RuneE of Visual Norway. Do visit his beautiful blog and the other participants of Bench of the Week!

Bench of the Week

For today's 'Bench of the Week' I have chosen one of my very favourite seats in the Botanic Garden. Nestling in a sheltered glade screened by tall conifers, it is perfect for basking in the afternoon sun. There is no panoramic view here, the site lends itself to inward musing, creative ideas and solitary bliss.

How happily the bench appears to the visitor coming up from the Woodland Garden! Even on an overcast day it seems to shine and exude a warm welcome.

This photo was taken last summer, when the lovely Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' was in flower. Something to look forward to very soon!

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Bench of the Week was begun by RuneE of Visual Norway. Do visit his wonderful blog and also Barbara Martin, who first introduced me to the theme.

Flying through the air on a Magic Bench?

Over the Bank Holiday weekend I decided, as promised, to try out the Magic Bench! I had already had a large lunch with pleasant company, so when I sneaked off to the wood, I was not hungry. The feast could wait - but the ride to a magic land?

Tentatively I sat down.

I saw the pattern of shadows of new leaves moving in the breeze. I felt the grain of the wood. I waited ...

Oh! A small green caterpillar hoisted itself up over the edge of the bench-table and began rippling along the surface. So gracefully undulating - a perfect ballet.

Was this the magic, then? Transformation? To be reminded that caterpillars become beautiful butterflies?

"But this caterpillar is wonderful now!" I exclaimed.

Satisfied, I arose from the bench as the caterpillar continued its journey and the evening sun shone on our own magical world.

The Magic Bench

This is my first 'Bench of the Week' picture! RuneE, a photographer from Norway, has begun posting photos of benches on Fridays - this week his bench is on his blog Visual Norway Extended. RuneE's photoblogs were first introduced to me over at Barbara Martin.

I have called my bench The Magic Bench.

Coming down the slope into the woods, I saw it gleaming in the evening sunlight. Much more than just a humble picnic-table-with-benches-attached, it has a sense of other wordliness. I get the feeling that if I sat down, a feast would appear on the table, the whole thing would rise up into the air, and I would be whisked away to a magic land ...

Maybe I read too many Rupert the Bear annuals!

Should I try it? If it happens, and they have the Internet where I am transported to, I will let you know!