At the turn of the year

Sometimes I go out into the garden with a story in mind. As often, I’ll draw what I’m given. And at the turn of the year, a flurry of toasts, hopes and fireworks, it’s soothing to see what nature’s up to on this unseasonably-mild day.

The Forsythia is exuberantly in bud, its stems green-to-russet. Soon, it’ll be a blaze of yellow, one of the first to the party in the new year.

The hebe is, as first glance, as it was but on closer look, full of new growth, each spray of leaves different in hue, pattern and size. I love the irregularity of plants – even the most apparently-regular turns out to be cheerily odd.

And the rose, in the gloaming, is all rich purply greens, little leaf buds popping in vivid pink and fluoro green (not for the first time today, I reach for a highlighter for that).

So here’s to the turn; to what’s next; to looking forward. Thank you nature and hello 2022.

Ballpen, watercolour, fineliner and highlighter on the backs of old printing proofs.

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