Anne's last plate

My apologies for not describing the finer points of Anne's last plate - the first of the Freshwater/wetland section.

Top left is Marsh Marigold at the northern end of the Loch of Swanney.
Top middle is Ragged Robin on Swona.
Top right is Water Mint on the Loch of Harray looking to the Stenness kirk.
Bottom left is Meadowsweet on the Wideford Burn in St Ola.
Bottom middle is Great Willowherb at Brodgar.
Bottom right is Cuckooflower/Lady's Smock at St Andrew's Mill.

The Orkney Book of Birds - pocket edition

The Orkney Book of Birds is now available as a pocket edition. Nothing from the original book has been left out, indeed Orkney's world of birds changes constantly and we have been able to include a species list, thanks to Paul Higson, that is current up to 31st July 2011.

Signed copies are available from myself (Tim) or from Tracy Hall's website priced at 9.99 sterling
www.watercolour-artist.co.uk/bookofbirds.htm

Wetland flowers

Here's the first wetland or freshwater plate.  I've enjoyed painting this one, although once again it has taken a little longer than expected.  I find the plants growing in this habitat to be particularly characterful - often with quite striking flowers and/or leaves.  Some, like the Marsh Marigold, shown below, have quite architectural leaves and seem very robust whilst others like the Ragged Robin, also featured in this plate, appear very fragile and delicate. 

Some of these flowers have been unfamiliar to me.  I found this a little surprising because although I'm not a botanist I find it hard to believe I could have walked past the flamboyant blooms of the Great Willowherb without acknowledging their existence! (Great or Greater Tim? - you'll need to correct me).  Perhaps the somewhat inaccessible nature of the habitat means that some of the species are less frequently seen unless you go out looking for them?  Whatever the reason, I look forward to the next plate which includes one of my favourite flowers of wetter environs, Marsh Cinquefoil.