One warm evening in the summer, I found myself looking after Marina‘s tomato plant. She was on holiday somewhere exotic, I was looking after her plants while she was away. It felt rather exotic on this balcony in Dalston London, so hot and with so many plants and oh so many red juicy tomatoes, I just had to sit down and draw them before I ate them. They were delicious!
I don’t know why she calls it a killer tomato plant. Maybe I’ll find out…
Researching beetles in the natural history museum, I found this one: A rather elegant fellow who normally lives and feeds off pine trees.
Today I am weeding at the Almorah centre. This is a small community centre with garden at the end of Almorah Road in Islington, London. I discovered it a few years back when I was exploring the area.
When I first saw it I thought; “if only I could do my art classes from there!” It is five minutes from where I live, and has a great garden for drawing plants and wildlife in. Nothing much was happening there at the time. I tried to contact the centre but didn’t get any response and it was looking somewhat abandoned.
Then a week or two ago a I saw a sign up on the wall of the centre. It said it was reopening and needed people to run classes there. Of course I jumped at the chance. Today I was there at the centre weeding that same garden. I’m going to be holding art classes there. I spent the day digging up weeds in the entrance. It’s such a lovely place. I really hope this works out.
There were weeds growing up amongst all the paving slabs and I was digging them up with my hands. I was surprised at how much life was there, how much had grown in the short amount of time it was left unused. The place hasn’t been used since activities there were stopped due to Covid. Now there was a whole ecosytem growing amongst the concrete slabs. Ants carrying tiny seeds from one place to another, spiders swinging across the walk way, a small black slug curled up on a leaf, and one very long red worm racing across from one side of the concrete to another.
And I feel bad destroying part of this new ecosystem. I suppose it has to be done so people don’t trip over on the way in, a question of balance. I remember how my mum used to grow herbs between the cracks of paving slabs so that when you trod on them you got the smell of the herbs.
There is a large weed growing up by the entrance gate. It has dark leaves and light violet/purple flowers. Bees are buzzing round the flowers. I can’t bring myself to tear this one out of the ground, not whilst the bees are so busy there. I’ll leave it behind and hope that the other volunteers and visitors will appreciate the flowers like I do.
Later that day:
I did do a quick sketch of the flowering plant and when I got home looked up this lovely blue weed. Turns out it is called a Blue Aster, or Lady in Blue, it is often popular with gardeners because if flowers so late in the year. It is a much appreciated herb in many places. Its flowers can be eaten and go well in salads, its roots can also be eaten to relax the lungs and help coughs and colds. It is thought to be a lucky plant and represents new beginnings.
Well I’m starting a new beginning here at the Almorah Centre so I’m very glad I didn’t chop it down!
My classes in drawing nature at The Almorah Centre start on the 19th October, 6 till 8, and continue once a week for eight weeks. They cost £18 a class, £15 if you are on a low wage or unemployed. Contact me on jofisherroberts@icloud.com, 07531065040, or just come along.
This Saturday 7th October 23 we will be giving a free drawing class in drawing nature. it will take place at The Almorah Centre in Islington, London, UK. Just pop along at 1pm and get started!