Spring is Coming!

If I drive 80 miles east, I find myself high in the Cascades where it is the middle of winter.  If I drive 80 west, spring is definitely starting.  I live in the in-between zone.

I sketched this pussy willow and bumble bee on February 1.  The bush grows right on the edge of the Coquille River, about one mile from the Pacific Ocean.  More than one bee was buzzing about.  The willow surprised me because the same branch had fairly tight buds and others that were already full of pollen.

Willows have male and female plants, but I believe they are on separate bushes.  These would all be female.

Small Nature Objects

©2012 Carolyn A Pappas, Small Nature Objects. Ink and Colored Pencil in large handbook sketchbook.

A top of an acorn, a piece of bark with some lichen, and a pussy willow that I was lucky enough to come across. Normally, I've been sketching with just ink, but this time I added some colored pencil.

I have some exciting nature sketching excursions planned over the next few months. I am going to make an effort to add color of some sort to my sketches.

It's been pretty chilly here in Massachusetts, but I am excited that it is officially spring. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can spend some more time outdoors with my baby. She is almost five months old now.