A few months ago, when the ground wasn’t frozen solid, my lovely friend Kerry and I went on a plant hunt. I bought and potted-on a six pack of cyclamen.

Not too long after that, I was perturbed and somewhat perplexed to find one of them flung unceremoniously out of its pot, onto the ground. My initial suspicion was a hungry/ ruffled blackbird looking for grubs, if not a ravenous/ rattled rat…

Would you have believed me if I said my old TV aerial blew off the roof, knocking my cyclamen to the ground?!

Regardless, it had been flung oot – leaving the roots in the pot! I brought it in to the relative safety of the house, and popped it on top of a jar of water with (admittedly) low expectations.

While my other cyclamen have all perished in this decidedly perishing cold spell, this one has flourished indoors! Who would have guessed that it (she?) would grow a new set of roots?!

She has graced my dining table and been admired by all who have seen her! I have refrained from giving her a name. ‘Cyclay’ doesn’t have a particularly attractive ring.  I’ve been blessed with these flowers for a good couple of months, at least. And I decided I should immortalise her and her fighting spirit, while she is still in bloom!

Taking inspiration from my intrepid friend Sharon, who has been investigating interesting sketchbook techniques, I made a bold start with inks.

Unfortunately this is the earliest photo I remembered to take!

As can sometimes be the case when ‘in the zone’, I have little memory of these stages in the process!

Beginning to add some details – defining the leaves and jar

Bringing it forward

…and knocking it back!