Two Nature Subjects

While walking I found a variegated leaf that was fun to paint but I had no idea what it was from.   I googled it and think it is either from an ivy or a geranium. 

The right side of the journal page is a life cycle of the Mexican Bird of Paradise from bloom to seed pod.

Nature is so interesting!

 

Yellow Rumped Warbler

My husband found this poor Yellow Rumped Warbler in the yard.  He said it must have happened not too long before as it was still pliable.  So, being aware of my desire to sketch nature, he brought it in, and I sketched it.

I feel bad when something in nature dies but it was a great opportunity to study and sketch it.  

 

Leaf, Moth and Yellowjacket

I found a leaf to sketch and while sitting on the porch with pen in hand, a moth and a yellow jacket appeared so I put them in the sketch.

The moth was hiding under a cover and the yellow jackets are everywhere in the fall.

Nature inspires.

Autumn Silhouettes

Even though it is cold and gray outside nature still provides beauty for us to enjoy.

 

More Wild Mushrooms

All the rain we have been having has really sprouted a lot of mushrooms.

This one that we found was different, instead of the normal gills under the cap, there is a spongy-looking substance.  That substance is actually small tubes that hold the spores.

I had to do some research to find out that this type of mushroom belongs to the Boletes and Polypores family.

I love when nature provides these learning opportunities.

Note: never eat wild mushrooms if you are unsure of their safety.

 

Grassy Mushroom

The recent rains have produced a bumper crop of these (not good to eat) mushrooms.

It called to be sketched. 

 

Signs Of The Season

I needed an art fix so I took a walk around the yard to see what seasonal changes were happening.

The hostas are flowering and the bees are busy gathering pollen from them. 

A mushroom is growing under the hostas.

A spider was walking on the Black-eyed Susie's while the grasshoppers were jumping around.

The cone flowers are fading and drying out.

Tomatoes and green peppers are trying desperately to ripen before the frost.

Yes, autumn is near.

 

Sunflower Time

Nature offers so much beauty that it makes me poetic and artistic!

 

Autumn Leaves Already?

I was so surprised to see these red leaves.  Makes me wonder what happened to summer.

 

Monarch Butterfly

Nature never fails to inspire me!  

The milkweed plant is so important to the Monarch butterfly!

We have a small group of milkweed plants near the lake and I check them everyday for eggs, larvae and  Monarchs.  I check them daily for anything new.

Two Ravens One Bread

I threw a few small pieces of bread out for the birds and by the time I got back in the house the ravens had descended on them and were eating as fast as they I could. A few fights broke out over some pieces.

Had to do a quick sketch, added a bit of color and haiku. 

Such a fun experience and now a memory. 

Immature Acorns

I found this branch with a cluster of young acorns on it and knew I had to sketch it.  So I brought it home. The intricate design on the acorn is so neat.

After I wrote the haiku I decided the sketch needed a squirrel because he was robbed of some food.

Frogs In The Swim Pool

I was at my daughter's sitting by the pool when I saw a dead frog floating so I netted it out and sketched it.  What long toes it had. 

Made a good specimen to study. 

Cholla Cactus Skeleton

This is a skeleton or the inside structure of a cholla cactus.  I found it a long time ago and decided I needed to finally sketch it in the Etegami style.

When I googled it I found out that people craft this wood into the body of a pen.  Looks neat.  Some also use it to place other decoration like feathers (as a friend told me.)

Arizona Leaves

Arizona Leaves, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

I found these leaves when I was walking (we have lots of them blowing around right now-but better than snow).
Our leaves all seem to be brown.

Agave

Agave, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

I always celebrate Monday with a cactus or succulent. This Agave plant is quite popular in Arizona. I was especially intrigued with the neat cut marks on the bottom. As the plant grows the lower leaves are cut off to keep it nice and trim.
Ink and watercolor.

The Last Of The Bouganvilla

The Bouganvilla are almost done blooming so I had to do a sketch before they were gone.

The painting opportunities in the desert are so inspiring and lead to such nice journal pages.

Pine Cone

Pine Cone, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

Since we picked up a trailer load of pine cones it seemed only right to sketch one of them.
These are from white pines.

Black-eyed Susies

Black-eyed Susies, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

There are just s few Black-eyed Susies left in the garden.
Done in ink.

Milkweed Seeds

Milkweed Seeds, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

The milkweed pods are starting to shed their seeds. Always so pretty and intersting to see.