Rooted in June
Flourishing Greens, Inspired Scenes, and Raven Tales
Hello, I’m Clare, a self-taught mixed media artist, I split my time between Dorset and Cornwall, UK.
Subscribe for free to enjoy monthly posts about what inspires my art, my sketchbook practice, day trips, nature and general pondering about life.
You can also find me on YouTube, Patreon & TikTok.
If you are naturally curious, then click here to get started.
Hello Creative Souls 💛
Welcome to my June newsletter inspired by the start of the summer season and the ‘wanting’ to write this morning after walking round the garden. It started with blue skies and dappled shade across the lawn cast by the mammoth tree from next door. It’s a beautiful old giant, not sure of its name. It gives the garden morning shade and protection for the many birds that reside in there throughout the year. I think of it as a guardian tree that stands up to the strong winds and rain as it gets battered throughout the year. In summer its leaves rustle in the wind with a beautiful soft background sound that relaxes my mind.
As I wandered and pondered this morning, cup of tea in hand, not yet dressed, I noticed tiny cobwebs weaved throughout the grass, covered in morning dew. As I walked along the borders I saw the dahlias starting to grow, dahlias that were given to me by a dear friend’s mum. They have managed to pop up every year having never been lifted out of the ground, surviving minus temperatures, snow and frost, yet here they are.
The peonies were glorious this year and as for my roses, Emily Brontë has gone bananas. I couldn’t resist some new roses which I saw at the garden centre, two of a which have purple blooms. I know, how many roses do I need? But they were purple. Blue for You and Rhapsody in Blue, very special roses and as I found out later on, my dear friend’s mum’s favourite and very meaningful. Then just last week I saw a rose called Hot Chocolate and yes, you guessed it, I had to have it. All roses have since been potted up and apart from Hot Chocolate, they are in full bloom and smell divine, heaven scent for sure.
The house martins have built yet another nest in the eaves of the house, they are thriving this year, which is a joy. I have spoken to several people who have said that the swallow and house martins numbers are in drastic decline. One of the nests is right above our bedroom window so we are very close to the action, watching the parents fly in and out multiple times throughout the day. capturing tiny bugs to bring back and feed their forever, chirping chicks! It’s the sound I wake up to every morning and the sound I drift off to sleep with every night. They make the cutest noises apart from when they are hungry and squabbling with their siblings! As I stepped out of the back door a couple of weeks ago the path was strewn with tiny white egg shells that had been tidied out of the nests. We feel so blessed to be voyeurs to the everyday lives of these awesome little birds.
“My only desire is an intimate infusion with nature, and the only fate I wish is to have worked and lived in harmony with her laws.” - Claude Monet
The garden is bustling with new life, tiny fluffy blue tits and great tits, leggy, youthful blackbirds, goldfinches, robins and a young woodpecker, who loves to hang off the red hot pokers, bending them to the point of nearly snapping. This garden is a safe haven for so much flora, fauna, mini beasts and birds and I am so grateful to be able to witness it all. On days where I struggle for artistic inspiration or can’t go far, thanks to my creaky joints, I can always rely on the garden and earlier this week, although I was suffering with a swollen knee, I was able to get outside with my sketchbook and sketch the gorgeous pink cosmos. I used my Derwent inktense pans and Inktense pencils to create a quick piece of art. I did film the process which you can find over on my YouTube channel.
Well, that’s me pretty much caught up, a very long introduction I know and I still haven’t got to mention what I want to share with you today. I have some rather special guests in the garden and I want to tell you all about them, so grab a cup of tea, if you haven’t already and I’ll tell you all about my ravenous garden visitors.
A couple of years ago in early spring we noticed a lot of tapping and damage being done to our cars and windows of the house. Something was pulling the rubber seals from around the windows and even the wiper blades on my car. It turns out that we had a couple of very naughty visitors and they weren’t in any rush to leave! Unwanted, rowdy and destructive visitors who were loud and very rude! One afternoon I was laying on the sofa when a big raven landed on the lawn and then proceeded to walk right up to the glass doors and started tapping at the glass. It was rather comical as it seemed that he was looking right at me. I got up and said, “oh hello, it must be you who is causing all this damage”, with that, he turned around and flew off. Instead of being cross with him I was in awe, this big bird had tapped on the glass for me, what did it mean? Being spiritual and forever seeing signs around I wanted to know more about these birds and more importantly I wanted him to stop damaging our cars and property.
So, how did I stop the damage? I’m not entirely sure to be honest, it just sort of stopped after I started talking to him (assuming it’s a him) as it turns out, there is now two of them. I started feeding them, they tend to eat what I put out for the songbirds, various seed, peanuts, sunflower hearts, dried worms, they are partial to the hedgehog food, which is chicken based and they like bacon rind as a treat. I guess they are corvids so must eat any small mammals or birds that have died, berries and fruits from the trees. According to the RSPB,
Ravens were once heavily persecuted as pests on farmland and game estates, but protection has helped their numbers recover.
They do sometimes nest in big cities, and if you look up, you might see them soaring and tumbling high above. You’ll also see them on farmland, in the uplands and mountainous areas, or near seaside cliffs. You’d be very lucky to see one in your garden!
Ravens are super-smart birds and can often be seen engaging in playful behaviour. They have a distinctive heavy, soaring flight and sometimes flip upside down with closed wings, possibly just for fun.
They’re often seen in pairs, but particularly in the winter, young birds can come together to roost in big groups. Ravens are mostly carrion eaters, which is dead or decaying flesh of animals, but they will eat insects and hunt small live prey. 1
I love having ravens visit the garden everyday, they recognise my call and have given up being absolute pests. The big raven sits on the back gate and waits patiently - he also tramples across my veg beds to get my attention if I am in the kitchen. The smaller raven is more timid and lets the big one take the lead.
Fascinating Facts About Ravens:
Ravens are among the most intelligent birds, capable of problem-solving, using tools, and even mimicking human speech.
They have a complex system of vocalisations and can communicate warnings, share food locations, and even playfully mimic other animals.
A group of ravens is called an "unkindness" or a "conspiracy," highlighting their dark reputation in folklore.
Ravens are known to form strong social bonds and can live up to 40 years in captivity.
Despite their ominous associations, ravens are highly adaptable and thrive in diverse environments, from wild landscapes to urban areas.
The Myths and Legends of Ravens
Have you noticed that ravens have often shown up in scary films, a demonised bird that is highly intelligent and quite stunning? Ravens have long perched at the crossroads of myth and reality within English folklore, embodying mystery, wisdom, and ominous portent. These intelligent corvids are often woven into tales that straddle the line between the sacred and the sinister.
In the rich tapestry of Arthurian legend, ravens hold a spectral yet significant presence. Some stories suggest that King Arthur did not die but was transformed into a raven, watching over England in perpetual vigilance. This connection imbues the raven with an aura of eternal guardianship, a silent sentinel over the land and its people.
One of the most enduring legends ties ravens to the Tower of London. According to tradition, the presence of ravens at the Tower is essential to the security of the kingdom. It is said, "If the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall, and Britain with it." King Charles II, recognising the superstition, is believed to have decreed the protection of these birds after hearing prophetic warnings. To this day, at least six ravens are kept under the watchful care of the Yeoman Warders, nestling history within living feathers.
Ravens also cast long shadows over English poetry and lore, often symbolising death or ill fortune. Their dark plumage, sharp call, and carrion diet link them with the otherworld in many tales. Yet, not all associations are grim. In some narratives, ravens are seen as messengers or even guides, their keen intelligence revered rather than feared.
Thus, throughout England's mythic landscape, ravens remain enigmatic—creatures that whisper of the past, guardians of legend, and symbols of an enduring connection between the natural and the supernatural.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this month’s catch up and before I forget I want to let you know that I am now over on Patreon. It’s free to become a member of the Purple Ladybird Art community. I’ll be sharing my sketchbooks, my creations, the art materials I use, the art books I read and recommend, my art supplies list, and extra ‘behind the scenes content’. I’m not sure where it will lead but I have some exciting plans for the future.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my art channel over on YouTube, I am nearly at 1,000 subscribers! So near, yet so far! It’s taken me two years of hard work to get there so your support is truly appreciated as I couldn’t have done it without you.
So, until next time dear reader, stay naturally curious…
Clare 🙏💜
This purple Ladybird sticker was designed by a good friend of mine, who is a digital artist. His artist name is Ink Hognito and already I have said too much. I will be getting this cute ladybird made into stickers and will be available for my patrons in the future.
Resources:
A Treasury of British Folklore. Maypoles, Mandrakes & Mistletoe - Dee Dee Chainey
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/raven
It’s hard to keep up with you, Clare. You will soon have as many channels as Rupert Murdoch. Interesting to read that you have some “exciting plans” so I wonder on which platform will you break the news first? Very interested to read about all the great names of the roses that you buy and the folklore and facts about those mysterious car-damaging ravens. I like the collective noun ‘conspiracy’. What a fun ladybird logo!
Clare it’s a poplar tree that offers you morning shade and they are very beautiful. They are one of the best native trees for offering habitats to many of our birds. 😊