2.5"X3.5" Gouache on paper

It is amazing how the drawing muscles atrophy when you don't use them. I found this really hard but I felt that I had to contribute something this weekend. I am still battling to finish painting my house and have spent about 20 hours at it over the last three days.

I am very fond of goldenrod, it is native here and consequently considered a weed. Worse than a weed actually because many believe that it is responsible for the seasonal outbreak of hay-fever. This is a myth, the pollen of goldenrod is disseminated by bees. it is the plain green ragweed, flowering at the same time, which is wind pollinated and the guilty party.

7"X5" Acrylic on board

Jerusalem Artichokes have nothing to do with Jerusalem or artichokes. Tasting somewhat like artichokes (it is the root which is eaten) the early european settlers called them girasols because of the way they turn to the sun like their cousins the sunflowers.

Ours must be close to three and a half metres (twelve feet) high and are much loved by the bees.