Anemone beds I remember from my youth … like small allotments,
under-planted with other spring flowers, brightening up the back of the terraced homes …
such stunning flowers – my mother’s favourite (one of !!) … all gone now – so sad.
Anemones, early flowers (daffodils, narcissi), fish, early new
potatoes and vegetables in the 1800s could be ‘rushed’ up to London by the new-fangled
racing giant – the railway.
 |
| Quarry Team - by Stanhope Forbes |
Artists abound and abounded in Cornwall – the Newlyn School of
Art, and the St Ives School of Art – situated on different sides of the
peninsula: Newlyn just south of Penzance, St Ives overlooking Virginia Woolf’s
lighthouse (Godrevy) …
 |
| Godrevy Lighthouse in St Ives bay - which is to the left in this photo (not an art work!) |
… in the late 1800s, artists escaped city or town to paint in
a more pure setting emphasising natural light, and at the same time take advantage
of painting en plein air, cheap living and the availability of inexpensive models –
the locals usually.
 |
| Percy Craft - "Tucking a School of Pilchards" in the Penlee Museum , Penzance |
They were invaluable in recording the life of the fishermen, the
miners, the hazards and tragedy of the community’s life, the crafts and the
haberdasher – be they repairing nets, or crafting sails …
 |
| Flowers in one of my mother's jugs |
That is A for amazing jewel like Anemones and A for Artists
with their abounding clarity into life around them … from Aspects of British
Cornish …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
89 comments:
Poldark had the pilchard boats arriving last week!
I hadn't seen these artists works before.
Hi Hilary,
Amazing fits Cornwall so well, such a beautiful part of the world. The visuals are lovely - flowers and the art. A bit sad that the old ways are gone now. Great post.
Nilanjana.
Madly-in-Verse
Beautiful flowers, Anemones, ones I've never tried, but I do like the old fashioned ones which used to smell so great (Dahlias, Peonies). Artists help us retain memories of times gone by. Interesting Aspects, as always, Hilary.
I didn't know there were flowers called Anemones - I only know them to be found in water. Wow, I learned something.
The painting are beautiful too. Thank you for an entertaining (and educating) "A" post.
Sent with smiles, Jenny
2015 A to Z Challenge Ambassador
@PearsonReport
Some beautiful flowers Hilary, great start to the challenge.
You're post is a beautiful way to start A. Flowers have an obvious beauty, but our memories have the ability to transform them into treasures ;)
Somehow I knew you would have more than one A. Looking forward to another year, another AtoZ.
Lovely post and start to the A-Z Hilary thank you! It's brightened my day!
Anemones are such beautifil flowers - from the dainty wild wood anemones, through the brightly coloured De Caen types to the elegant autumn flowering Japanese varieties. I'm a real fan.
Anemones are such pretty works of art. A perfect pairing with artists, Hilary. Nice post.
Great overview on anemones and artists for A, Hilary! I love the realistic style of the two paintings..I almost did a double take for the second one...so amazingly realistic that it almost appeared photogenic.
I remember walking in my aunt's wood on her farm and seeing the anemones along with the primroses.
Sophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles
FB3X
Wittegen Press
Those are beautiful flowers. I can imagine escaping to the country from the town in the 1800s must have been fantastic - it's still brilliant today :). I could never live in a town.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
@ Bob - I thought you weren't talking Poldark! But yes the pilchards arrived rather late in the day ... glad I introduced you to two new artists - the schools down there were amazing.
Did you see the programme on BBC 4 last night - about the artists in the Welsh Valleys (Visions of the Valleys) - reminded me of the Stanhope Ford Quarry Men.
@ Nila - it is a fabulous part of the world - and I've always loved anemones .. now I'm getting into the Art.
@ DG - they are so cheery aren't they. The scented ones are glorious too ... and I love peonies, not so much dahlias .. not sure why. Artists do preserve memories of the old days ..
@ Jenny - lots of varieties of anemones (as Patsy mentions below) .. I've never heard of ones in water - but I could well be wrong!
I'm learning to appreciate art - so it's good to have the Cornish connection ...
@ Rosie - thank you .. good to know the post passed muster!
@ Clarabelle - thank you so much .. I hope I can find your postings .. I'll check again later on.
Yes the treasures of remembering ..
@ Rhonda - you had two entries too! Gives readers a choice .. art or flowers ...
@ Susan - glad it's cheered your day ... the flowers certainly do - and my jug is full of them now.
@ Patsy - thanks for adding to the anemone varieties ... and telling me they're the De Caen variety - I'd have never known!! But I do love them all .. I agree there.
@ Sharon - yes they do pair up well don't they .. thankyou ...
@ Elizabeth - I'm appreciating the art of the turn of the 19th/20th centuries and the early 20th - saw an amazing programme on the art from the Welsh valleys last night - see my reply to Bob at the beginning of this comment. Fascinating ...
@ Sophie - yes those wanders around woodland, or farmland, or our relatives gardens with large spaces - always so special at this time of year ... Primroses are special too ...
@ Natasha - I'm sure the artists craved new areas to paint and draw - and getting away from the smog must have been so freeing. Like you I prefer the countryside ..
Cheers to you all - I'll be over to see you soon .. Hilary
A is also for appreciative: of the artists who clarified what they saw (somehow photos are so cluttered; an artist cuts to the heart of the view), of the flowers that spring unbidden into our sight... Good A post, Hilary!
Love those flowers. I never thought of displaying them that way. Happy A-day!
I have to save anemones are not a favorite of mine although colorful. I much prefer daffodils. Good luck with the a to z.
Lovely post and both anemones and artists rate high on my list. Hope you are well. Diane
One of my favorite, also. I had a pot of narcissi in the house and they finished their bloom already.
A lovely picture of the flowers in your mother's vase.
A lovely post, just like the flowers. Paintings of everyday life of folks like fishermen are always among my favorites. I like the glimpses they provide of the way things used to be.
Good one Hils, I love anemones and for years always had some in my home when they were in season. Cornwall certainly has plenty of fodder for artists. I spent a week there and would love to have stayed longer. Good start off.
I agree with your mother's taste in flowers. It took me a long time to learn how to pronounce Anemones and I still must think. How I would love to be plain air painting in Cornwall.
Happy Easter Hilary
I love the colours of anemones .. the word sounds so luxurious that the flowers must be fabulous.
Imagine Virgina Woolf having her own lighthouse -
Great A post Hilary.
Fil
Fil’s Place - Old songs and Memories
I love art and wish I had made it a larger part of my life. Godfrey Lighthouse in St. Ives Bay would look great in my living room.
I'll check out your previous post. Looks interesting.
Happy April! :)
I love anemones! I used to have them growing in the yard and I guess they just died off after many years.
I have anemones , I too like the bright colors. I laughed at cheap models. I got two dollars an hour in college
@ Diana - you're right about the artists who were able to cut to the heart of what they saw - and those flowers so beautiful ..
@ Jenn - I think the first photo is of the flowers in the field ... but perhaps cut and in a bucket or something .. but I love putting them into my mother's jug ..
@ Jo - I quite understand - they may be too brashly coloured .. but daffodils are brilliant too ..
@ Diane - all well here thank you - and so pleased you're a fan of anemones .. and who could not love art ... your garden exudes both ...
@ Manzanita - thanks re my mother's vase and I love narcissi - I used to get them for my mother, but buy them cut now ..
@ Sara - great to meet you here - aren't the art works amazing .. showing us what life was like or reminding us of harder times ..
@ Jo - thanks - we as a family love them .. Cornwall was a great mecca for those early artists ...
@ Helen - as an artist yourself - you'd see the colours and clarity in Cornwall - as well as all the subjects and landscape matter. En Plein Air must have been a real treat for them .. enjoy Ireland!
@ Fil - aren't they wonderful colours ... I'd never thought of their name as luxurious .. though I call them gem like - they must be fabulous!
Virginia Woolf used to stay across the Bay - where my grandparents and family lived - so we would see Godrevy all the time ...
@ Stephen - perhaps one day you can build more time in for art ... and wouldn't the art work of Godrevy look good in our homes! Thanks for visiting the other post ..
@ Betsy - yes, I know Happy April. Ah well I'm glad I can remind you of those beds when they flowered ... I'm sure the poor bulbs do tire ...
@ OOTP - nothing's changed in a model's value then! But how interesting ... though I couldn't stand still for more than about a minute - I'd be no good. Very happy to hear you have anemones growing and they are so cheery ..
Thanks everyone - cheers Hilary
Well that was a cheery kick off to the A to Z challenge. Art and flowers, two of my favorite things. :)
Well I happen to like both Anemones and Artists.
Wonderful and beautiful way to start the A-Z.
I love those flowers! I need to figure out if they'll grow here in the southern U.S.
I love Rosemund Pilcher's books set in that area.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Such beautiful flowers, I love the bright colours.
Such beautiful flowers! One of the things I appreciate best about England is the gorgeous countryside. You always do such awesome posts for A to Z, Hilary.
River
Untethered Realms
Perhaps the anemones Dad sometimes bought for Mum were grown in Cornwall. I never wondered... Sue’s Trifles
Perfect start for the Letter A, Hilary...Art and A flowers. Our lives are so enriched by the artists works of bygone days with their depiction of life and time that has changed so much. The visual stories they tell are priceless. My favorite photo you have shown is the Flowers in your Mothers Vase. Very special.
Sue at CollectInTexas Gal
AtoZ 2015 Challenge
Minion for AJ's wHooligans
I think that might be one of the shortest posts I've ever read of yours, and you STILL intrigue me with your subjects! I sometimes wish I lived back in the era of artists like that, and have always wished I had some of that talent. I can't draw a straight line! Happy A to Z Hilary!
What pretty flowers! My daffodils are blooming now, and before the lilies which is odd. Good luck with the Challenge. :)
Those are gorgeous flowers! I think there are some like that in the garden behind my apartment. They're lovely.
Good luck with the 2015 A to Z Challenge!
A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
http://pensuasion.blogspot.com
A wonderful A choice to start off the month. A is for April and all the adoring blogs. Thanks, Hilary.
The flowers in your mother's jug are stunning, Hilary!
I'm just thinking, when last have I heard the word haberdashery? Such a lovely, quaint word.
It always reminds me of my late aunt, who was a milliner, she made the most gorgeous hats (does this career even exist anymore?) Anyway, whenever we were in the big stores, you would always find her at the haberdashery counter... she also had an excellent eye for matching colors and reviving old hats by dyeing them. Do people even dye hats/sweaters etc. anymore?
I know I'm a bit off the topic, but the word always reminds me of my aunt.
I love your posts, they always transport my mind all over... on a positive tangent...
I never really thought about how important artists were in recording history. I'm sure it was a tough way to make a living. They must have loved their craft. I'm ready for spring flowers. Soon.
I never knew those flowers were called Anemones - beautiful (they look like Perslanes from Texas). I see the artists' rendering of life at sea, nature, and our universe and just marvel at their talents! Cheers to a great beginning of the challenge! My site is:
http://www.door2lore.com/power-of-story-blog
I love the anemones!
Smidgen Snippets & Bits
You've brightened my morning with these flowers and art works. Cornwall is my favorite place, so I'm SO glad you've picked it for your A to Z. ((( )))
I can't even remember when I last saw an anemone ! Cornwall is such a beautiful place and I remember well the lighthouse !
Anemones are lovely! Good pick for the letter, "A"!
The very mention of those Cornish artist groups brings back so many memories. Years later here I am joining the Society of All Artists as a break from writing, see what I can do with what is left of that O level Art, Hilary :0)
The world would be a dark place without either of these two things. One of these days I'll get to see an aurora. :)
@ Luanne - they cheered me up as I wrote the post ..
@ Teresa - that's great another happy reader
@ Dani - I don't think they will grow in your heat - but I just might be wrong?! Rosamund Pilcher's books capture Cornwall so well ..
@ Suzanne - I know those flowers glow - I hope the flower seller has some tomorrow ... I might get lucky for Easter ...
@ River - they are stunning and were fabulous to see growing all together in the border style beds. We are lucky to live in this little country - it is stunning - each area can be so different. Thanks for the thumbs up too ..
@ Sue - the flowers your father bought for your mother could well have come from Cornwall .. it's nice to think so - now the post is up!
@ Sue - thanks I still haven't mastered the signature thingy - must make time for it!
But Art and Flowers - I saw a programme on the art from the Welsh Valleys last night - it was harsh .. all about the miners and their trade - but fascinating to see.
So pleased you enjoyed the anemones in my mother's jug .. I hope I can get some more tomorrow ...
@ Lisa - it may stay that way - I start off being good (and short!) ... ah well!! I can't draw either ... but am happy to keep posting eclectic posts here - thanks for that.
I'd love to do an art appreciation course, or a history of art course .. one day perhaps .. but I can't paint either!!
@ Karen - thanks ... @ Christine - yes our daffodils are up, as too tulips - are your lilies before your daffs - I'd have thought they're flowering in the right sequence now.
@ SL - well I hope you can confirm they've got anemones behind your apartment .. they're so pretty - enjoy them ...
@ Joylene - thanks so much .. Adoring Blogs sounds good!
@ Michelle - delighted you enjoyed the anemones in my mother's jug - I love that little jug.
Haberdashery - it's an old fashioned word .. I used to love visiting those areas in a department store, or a haberdashers - they had such intriguing goodies and I used to sew, but am not a crafter.
We have milliners still - they're needed for all the hats required at all the ceremonies, or Ascot (horse racing) in the various Royal enclosures ... I wrote about the Queen's dressmaker/milliner overviewer ...
There are still craft people out there plying their trade and I'm sure dying goes on - arts and crafts hasn't stopped ...
I'm just glad I brought back some happy memories for you .. positive tangents suit me!
Thanks for these .. back in a tick for you other wonderful commenters .. Hilary
@ Susan - I'm not sure I realised either .. but having seen the Cornish exhibition in London a couple of years ago - I wrote about it ... and then seeing other talks on art - I'm picking things up now. I saw a tv programme on art in the Welsh Valleys .. mostly about the miners and mining - incredible art work - but reminded me of Stanhope Forbes' Quarry Men picture above ...
@ Sue - good to meet you - well delighted you've made your acquaintance with anemones. I don't know Perslanes or Purslanes.
I'm no artist .. but am learning to appreciate their interpretation of life as they see and in the context they see it - like you I marvel at their talents.
@ Paula - anemones are so pretty aren't they ...
@ Ann - so pleased to have brightened your morning and day .. and Cornwall is delightful - a place of its own ..
@ Gattina - they're not often around - I see them in London sometimes - thankfully our street flower seller gets them when he can. Glad you remember the lighthouse - it's beautiful in its bay.
@ Sherry - knew you'd appreciate the anemones ...
@ Carole Anne - yes I saw you'd joined the Art Society - good luck with a change of skill .. and you did O level Art --- I simply cannot draw or paint! So glad the post brought back some happy memories ...
@ David - yes it would be dark indeed - flowers just bring out the Ah factor ... while art is amazing - wish I was more adept at understanding it ...
Now I could have used Aurora too ... and yes one day I'll get to see one too ..
Cheers to you all and thanks for coming by - Hilary
I can't wait to see the Anemones in my garden. They are so delicate and beautiful. And what would life be like without art? So flat...so boring.
Hope all is well, Hilary.
I have no anemones in my garden, unfortunately. They are beautiful. I do like looking at works of art for clues to life.
Love the picture of the anemones. Beautiful! Also loved reading more about them and artists. Oh to get away to draw in natural light in a gorgeous setting. :)
~Jess
Love that line about "rushing" flowers and stuff up to London via the speedy railway.
Some things haven't changed :)
Happy A day to you, Hilary:)
I always learn something new here; and gain new perspectives in the process. Yes, indeed, without artists to capture everyday life before cameras became available to the common men, few pictures and descriptions of the 98% were available for posterity.
Oh, I love the anemones! So brightly colored!
I think it was very smart of the artists to go where there was great light and available models for a good price.
I can see it will be interesting learning about Cornwall.
Lovely flowers! I don't have any anemones though. :(
Sigh. Looking at your photographs, I really miss being able to grow many flowers that the deer and the rabbits here love. English gardens are special and the English are avid gardeners. Great start for the A-Z.
A great start to the challenge, many place I can Identify with .Awesome pictures also graced this wonderful post.
Yvonne.
I never knew it was a flower - I've learned something!
I also can always count on learning something new whenever I come here, Hilary! The flowers are beautiful, and you have a wonderful eye for arranging them.
Julie
Anenomes, enchanting. I love them.
Those flowers are lovely. Thanks for a great A post. =D
That lighthouse painting is beautiful. It looks like a photo.
Beautiful flowers and what a great thing to have a history with artists. They capture life so astoundingly.
These are so lovely. The colors jump out of the images, so I imagine they are even more striking when you see them in real life.
The Cornwall coast is fantastic. I could almost smell the air when I looked at your picture of the Godrevy Lighthouse.
Beautiful Cornwall, I used to live on the other side of the Tamar up in North Devon, but always like to take the A39 down past Hartland and in to North Cornwall.
Currently in Greece where Spring has finally sprung. Lots of wild anemones dotted around the olive grove.
@ Talon - all well here and how lovely you have anemones waiting to appear - I did see some in Eastbourne today as I walked around. They are so delicate - yet so showy ... and life without art - thankfully nature gives us 3D .. but the artist can reflect for us to remember ..
@ Kristin - we don't have many here on the Sussex coast ... but works of art do tell us about life - I'm beginning to appreciate it more now .. I used to just like landscape - now I'm open ..
@ Jess - wouldn't it be lovely to be able to up sticks and get away to some quiet place to paint and draw - I'd watch you .. but just being away from the milling crowd is bliss .. for a while!
@ Mark - yes that's the way it was even until fairly recently - when Covent Garden was moved out of the centre of town ..
Some things have changed .. and you've moved - good luck with the unpacking ..
@ Rosaria - so pleased you are able to take some useful information away with you after a visit. I'm learning more and more about art too .. and would love to draw and paint - sadly no talent. Cameras offer another perspective - but different to art ...
@ Jerralea - wonderful you love the anemones ... and yes they could travel down more easily via the railway ... and it was (and to a point still is) a poor area - but with that inequality of those that have v those that can't get ... I'm glad you're looking forward to learning more about Cornwall ..
@ Mina - aren't they beautiful - sorry you don't have any ... sad!
@ Nat - I can imagine the animals eating the new shoots don't make you pleased - we have deer and rabbits here too and I know they can make life nigh impossible. English gardens are glorious - that I agree ..
@ Yvonne - thanks for the visit
@ Alex - glad you learnt a new word here .. they are lovely flowers ..
@ Julie - so pleased you too are happy learning something a little different once here. Thanks for the arranging - the get plunked in - but they seem to have their way and show their beauty - wish I could take credit ... others have said the same particularly with my mother's flowers - so I must be doing something right I guess.
@ Ros - lovely word .. enchanting - they are aren't they ..
@RaShelle - so pleased you enjoyed the flowers and the post ...
@ Diane - I've just confirmed to you - it is a photo and now I've changed the caption to that .. I used it to show the Lighthouse - apart from the fact it brings back memories of my childhood ... we used to play along these shores ..
@ Mary - anemones are wonderful - and I'm pleased I'm getting to know more about art and their styles ... and they do capture life incredibly well.
@ Lee - yes they are very striking - I hope I can get more anemones tomorrow. Cornwall has some incredible coastline and Godrevy is where we used to play if the wind was from the north or east .. St Ives would be too wind-blown ...
@ Mark - good to see you and to read that you know North Cornwall - if not the far west, which is really my area. We used to visit the coast just off St Austell .. but that was the first stop on our way west.
I envy you your time in Greece - the thought sounds very tempting .. enjoy the Greek Spring with your wild anemones .. glorious ..
Cheers everyone - thanks so much for coming by .. Hilary
That painting captures a great scene of the fishermen. Such a beautiful part of the world.
Hey, for once I got here on the first day!!! YEAH.
I don't think I've ever been to Cornwall, but I've read lots of stories that were situated there by authors like Daphne du Maurier, Agatha Christie, Victoria Holt and even a newer author, Susanna Kearsley.
I like that the painters captured the life in this rugged area of England with it's massive cliffs and seaside villages.
Great start, Hillary!
lovely post. I have a friend here in TX from Cornwall. Such a small world. Happy A to Z. I shall pop by again. Check out my A to Z - eye on Texas if you are interested.
www.wordsplash-joannefaries.blogspot.com
Anemones are beautiful. I want your mother's jug and that arrangement. ;)
I love the Anemones and the photo of flowers in your mother's jug. Very special and artful!
Hi Hilary!
Lovely first A-Z post and wow, look at the comments! You're a rock star! Love anemones and I love your mother's jug. :-)
I don't think I've seen anemones around here, but I have seen artists. *big grin* I always enjoy the pictures that come with your posts, so illustrative! Dragon Hugs!
Somehow I didn't realise anemones were a type of flower. I only know them as sea anemones ;) I always loved the word 'anemone' though. So cool!
And that picture of the flowers is stunning - what amazing colours!
Hi Hillary! I love your anemones. I was in Singapore Flower Dome last weekend and now I wanna go back to try to find anemones! I wish I have a garden of my own but it's quite difficult living on the 24th floor and traveling often.
I didn't know anemone were something floral! I did know they were creatures of the sea. We used to have them in our salt water tank in Florida. :)
Beautiful!! I love the colors so vibrant!!
hola Hillary, I look forward to learn about and enjoy flowers at your gallery
@ Nick - I know you love your art ... and the area is beautiful
@ Sara - well done! Time to make a journey down next time you're over? There's lots of Cornish stories and at some stage I'll be posting on them.
The artists were thriving down there and produced some amazing works.
@ Joanne - that's good - you can chat to her about my postings?! Small world as you say. Thanks for coming here - I'll be across anon.
@ Chrys - sorry my mother's jug is taken, and the arrangement needs to be refreshed .. which I hope to find today when I go to town!
@ Monty - you too .. my mother's jug is taken!! But appreciate you like the small display I put up ...
@ Denise - another after my mother's jug! Anemones are amazing and everyone's been attracted in by them ... lucky me.
@ Al - good to see you .. I doubt anemones would grow in Mexico - but artists I'm sure abound. Thanks so much re the pics I add to the posts.
@ Trisha - I forgot about sea anemones .. perhaps that's why someone thought they were water flowers. Yes it's a good word isn't it .. rolls off the tongue. Delighted you love the picture of the anemones ...
@ Maria - unfortunately I don't think you'll find anemones in the Singapore Flower Dome .. good luck with the search - but bet you find many other beautiful and fascinating flowers.
I don't have a garden of my own either and miss it - but being on the 24th floor and travelling - can see you have an even bigger dilemma!!
@ Rosey - I'd forgotten about the sea anemones ... they are beautiful sea creatures though and I bet your tank was amazing ..
@ Tammy - thank you - the colours do wake you up don't they .
@ Lisa - thanks for the visit - that's great .. plenty happening here on the blog
Thanks to you all .. on to B now .. cheers Hilary
I'm glad you started the ABC with your mum's flowers. She'd be so proud of all you've achieved here and of how many folk you've made happy with your posts.
i like seeing spring anemones, too!
Love it! Artists and Anemones. You always have such fun, clever posts.
The flowers are lovely! If I were an artist, I'd escape to a more pure setting too, and it would be wonderful to sit and paint to my heart's content!
@ Janice - thanks so much .. I managed to find some more anemones yesterday - so fresh ones for the weekend. My mother was and would be amazed at the blog .. still she saw a little of it ...
@ Theresa - any spring flowers are wonderful ..
@ Marcy - thanks so much .. they go well together and there are lots of delightful paintings of anemones - just not here .. I needed something different!
@ MJ - the flowers are great aren't they. The thought of just getting away with easel, paints and pencil .. wonderful countryside to create a work of art .. I would love to be able to paint .. I hope you can do that one ..
Cheers everyone - thanks so much - Hilary
I find it amazing that you post such wonderful pictures to go with your posts Hilary. They are very uplifting too.
Love the lighthouse!
@ Beste - delighted you enjoy the photos, as too the posts .. thank you.
@ J - yes the lighthouse is special to me ..
Cheers to you both - Hilary
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