Susan Garrington
CSPWC, OSA, CFS, FEDERATION OF CANADIAN ARTISTS

Newsletter

(posted on 21 Jul 2017)

Like many of you I imagine, I like to begin my day drinking coffee in our garden when the weather allows. A few days ago I was joined by monarch butterflies who had been attracted by the scent of our milkweed flowers. We have been growing milkweed in our garden for many years now, beginning as a way to have materials close at hand for my grade seven and eight students to sketch. Fall is a busy time for teachers and so it was very convenient for me to harvest milkweed pods in our backyard rather than scouring the countryside looking for them. (The next time we meet, ask me to tell you the story of milkweed pods in my car and the ensuing "snowstorm"). Before growing these plants, I had no idea how pretty and wonderfully fragrant their flowers were.

Their fragrance fills the garden and that started me thinking about other plants that do the same and how I measure the garden's seasons by scent. Narcissus, Lily of the Valley, Lilac, Rugosa Roses, Milkweed ... each fill our garden with their perfume while reminding me that the seasons are passing. While my sketches, paintings and photos can bring back spring and summer visions during our long winters, nothing but imagination can bring back the garden's scents.

I am busy painting like a mad thing in preparation for some upcoming opportunities which I will share in a later newsletter.

In the meantime have a wonderful summer and store up memories, visions and scents for the long winter months, and if you happen to be in Port Stanley, don't forget to stop into Art and Soul for a treat, a coffee and to view artwork by several artists, including me.