Yellow Iris, watercolour

Our pond is currently surrounded by a golden mass of these beautiful irises. Each flower is short-lived, but there are several on each stem which bloom in succession, so the display lasts for many weeks.

Like other irises, the flowers have their parts in threes. The broad petals with their arching sepals flutter in the breeze, and each petal-like style has crested lobes. It is a fascinating flower to examine and paint.

St Peter's Church Pebworth, ink sketch

The beautiful little church of St Peter in Pebworth makes a fascinating subject for an ink sketch. The architectural details on the tower give plenty of scope for technical drawing, while the shade behind the church and gravestones provides depth. The gnarled trunk on the newly-pollarded tree and the delicate iron railings complete the scene.

Cuckoo, watercolour

The male cuckoo's distinctive call carries considerable distances. The female has quite a different call - a rich bubbling chuckle. Cuckoos are brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other unfortunate species. The female watches prospective nests closely and when she gets a chance, she snatches one of the eggs from the nest and lays one of her own in its place. The adult cuckoos take no further part in the raising of their chicks.

When the cuckoo chick hatches, it somehow knows to eject any other eggs or nestlings from the nest, so that the poor host parents can give it their undivided attention. The greedy young cuckoo grows fast and is soon far bigger than its foster parents, who nevertheless continue to feed it, even after it has left the nest.

Hedgehog, watercolour

Hedgehogs were once common in our parks and gardens, but in recent years their numbers have plummeted due to land development and loss of suitable habitat. Cars account for a large number of fatalities, as the hedgehogs attempt to cross busy roads.

Luckily, hedgehogs can still be found in and around Pebworth. I saw one in the garden a few evenings ago at dusk, busily exploring the borders for food. Their diet is varied, and includes worms, snails, insects and frogs, as well as mushrooms and berries.

If you find a sick or injured hedgehog you can take it along to a local sanctuary, such as the Vale Wildlife Hospital & Rehabilitation Centre in Beckford, near Tewkesbury, www.valewildlife.org.uk