N IS FOR....

N  IS  FOR....

NATURE 

This is one of my favorite subjects.  In elementary school we used to call it Nature Study, go for nature walks and set up a nature table in the classroom.  The things I learned about NATURE nearly seventy years ago have stayed with me to the point that although I left England fifty years ago, I will still come across a picture of an English wild flower. a seedpod or a bird and instantly recall its name.


So when I was recently visiting Claude's blog I was fascinated by a photo of a page from an English Nature Study book that not only encompassed my love of the subject but incorporated my love of water colors.


British bloggers may be entirely familiar with this book, but I had never heard of it or seen it.  It was entirely handwritten and drawn in 1906 but was not discovered until the seventies, when it was finally published. It was apparently on the best seller list in Britain for 236 weeks.  Understandably, as far as I know it never made the realms of published books over here because its contents were purely of British interest.


I am greatly indebted to Claude's friend Brandelldick who took the time to contact me and give me the name of the author, title and publisher.  A quick search of eBay and I found a copy -- for $6!  It's original price was 15 pounds sterling.  My copy arrived in perfect condition and its contents were all I could have hoped for.


So let me introduce you to my new treasure, courtesy of Blogland.

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady

written and illustrated entirely by hand, by Edith Holden

The Willow Warbler illustrated on the front cover has a whispery bubble of notes that fade softly away -- and is a sure indication that summer is here.  It can be heard gently calling through woods and copses most days of summer.

The frontispiece for the book quotes an appropriate poem by the romantic -- and rakish, Lord Byron.

Every page of the book  -- 176 of them -- is illustrated in water colors of birds, trees, flowers and insects. 

Each month of the year is explained and described in careful lettering, giving information of what can be found in the countryside at that time of the year  and includes appropriate and carefully selected quotations and poems.

Who knew why August has 31 days and not 30?

And I love those bumblebees on the thistles.

And this is my favorite picture of all.  Yes, I'm old enough to remember when horses pulled the plough -- good old lumbering, heavy-footed Belgians.  This could easily be a scene from the fields behind my house when we lived in Flamborough.

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This blog is my entry for the letter N at Mrs. Nesbitt's wonderful and popular project, ABC WEDNESDAY.  Click on the link and see all the other inspiring entries.