Autumn colours in my garden

I hate having to put plants on the compost heap when they are still flowering
but they are all past their best, 

so I've been busy in my garden emptying the baskets and troughs.

October is here and we are now in the season of Autumn,

 but this year our weather doesn't feel like Autumn yet, as we are still enjoying warm sunshine

although the days are getting shorter

The  grapes on the vine over the pergola in front of La Petite Maison 

have not been so good this year. So we have left them for the birds to eat.

I did trim off some of the vine and twisted some into a rough garland and hung it on the door.

I've made some others which I'll  keep to decorate for Christmas.

I love the colours of this Virginia creeper.

( Parthenocissus Quinquefolia)

 it's made up of five oval leaflets

     

Now that all our summer visitors have left, I have more time to myself.

I've been reading my art books, and following my favourite painting blogs.

One in particular is  Ronelle Van Wyk she inspired me to take up watercolour painting.
At the moment she is showing some fantastic paintings using oil paint.
It was 2. yrs. ago after I had been on a visit to the Provence that I found her blog
and especially like the style she has using watercolour paints.

It's been raining most of the day today, so it was a good opportunity

 to get out my paints and  practise some technics which I'm trying so hard to master.

  . Also I'd seen some splatter painting, which I've never done before, so gave that I try.

I'm quite pleased with my first effort for the autumn colours.

but maybe I should have tried the splatter technic  on a  piece of scrap paper first !
Oh well as the saying goes, 'we learn by our mistakes !'

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian