A quick one before they all go – Watercolour
This was done, in 1 hour, after a news programme about a disease effecting our native ash trees. This disease, Charala fraxinea – better knowns as “Ash Die Back” has been rife on the continent of Europe but we have escaped it until now. It seems to be one of these diseases which destroys tree leafs and the tree cannot recover. Ash trees make up around 20% of our native hardwoods so its important that everyone becomes familiar with this blight and reports it. About 25 years ago Dutch Elm disease did so much damage here. A good link to study is:
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara
I painted this from a photograph taken recently on one of my many trips. It shows a copse of ash next to a lochside.
Incidentally, there has been a huge loss of ash in the USA but this is mainly due to an imported wood boring beetle originating from the far east.
Nikira 6:27 am on October 28, 2012 | #
Oh, really sad story and beautiful watercolor. Hope scientists will find a cure, may be birds, eating beetles or else.
Uncle Bob 9:27 am on October 28, 2012 | #
Evidentially its some sort of pathogen which originated in Eastern Europe and has spread to many parts of the Continent. Its not, as the BBC says, the first case in the UK as there have been reports in other parts, including the west of Scotland. Seems to spread from imported plants so there is now a ban on this. When will we ever learn not to shift plants around the world.
Nikira 9:32 am on October 28, 2012 | #
Yes, you are right. And by supporting local farmers world could be made a better place. Once I came to the milk farm and they could not sell me their own milk, but only reworked into the supermarket brand.
greyseal 10:32 am on October 29, 2012 | #
This is a grand splash of color, Uncle Bob!