A basket of flowers

I came across this delightful basket of flowers in the garden of Brantwood, John Ruskin's former home on Coniston (see yesterday's post).  It appealed to me as an artless, natural still-life so I crouched down to photograph it.  When I walked back up the same path a few minutes later it was gone, which - in some funny way - pleased me even more!

BTW, it's the big Arts Trail Weekend 2011 in Saltaire this weekend.  If you live in the north of England do come and visit.  There are all kinds of interesting things - a maker's fair, open houses in the village and exhibitions - including our own photography exhibition: 'Yorkshire - God's Own County', in St Peter's Church, Moorhead Lane, Shipley (take no notice of the brochure, which says Victoria Road!)   Would love to see  you!  Look on the website for a full programme.

Brantwood

This is the view through a window at Brantwood on Coniston, the former home of the eminent Victorian, John Ruskin (1819-1900).  A very talented man, he was an artist, writer, philosopher, critic, social reformer, conservationist - a hugely inspirational thinker.  (His writings had a profound influence on many, including Mahatma Gandhi.)  He lived at Brantwood from 1872 until his death in 1900.  Described as a powerhouse of ideas, this is where he did most of his writing and entertaining in his later years and from where his ideas spread to influence art, economics and social thinking in England and internationally.  (Think what he'd have done with the internet!)

It is in many ways a modest house, though attractive and interesting, full of treasures and lovely watercolours by Ruskin himself, JMW Turner and others.  It sits on the hillside above Coniston Water, giving amazing views across the lake and mountains.  The gardens are a delight.  Ruskin himself oversaw their development, using his land to explore a variety of gardening experiments and engineering projects (including a small harbour on the lakeside)  .  When I visited, the whole place was alive with vibrantly coloured azaleas and the woods full of bluebells.  I wandered around the gardens in a blissed-out state for over two hours!  If you ever visit the Lakes, then Brantwood is well worth seeing.