This was the best kind of Spring day - bright and sunny with white cloud puffs drifting across the blue sky. Temps were in the mid 70's, (warm enough but not hot), and it was breezy, not so much that the wind-chill-factor came into play, but enough to make the pines creak as they swayed. All the trees are leafing out, giving the woods behind the house a soft, green haze. In bloom are Dogwoods, Redbuds, and our state flower, Carolina Jessamine. In song are crickets, wind through the pine boughs, lawn mower in the distance, and Carolina Wrens, Cardinals, Chickadees, and Tufted Titmice.... and more. Beautiful day.
I took a nice walk with the dogs and then came back to my own back yard to draw. Spring is always amazing around here when the Solomon's Seals start coming up. Our variety is delicate with thinner leaves than others I've seen. In the spring they unfurl from the leaf litter, their juicy green leaves bright against the crispy brown leaves.
While I was drawing the unfurling Solomon's Seal, the Red-Bellied Woodpecker from yesterday returned to the white oak filled with holes from the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and sure enough, he was pulling something out of the holes... his food cache? My guess is yes.
2 comments:
I hope it is OK, I have linked your blog to mine: http://downthenaturetrail.blogspot.com/
I visit your blog every week to see what beautiful drawing you have posted. Your artwork is such an inspiration to me. Last year I started several blogs, some for business and some for pleasure. Now it seems to have become an obsession to keep up with mine and to follow others who have similar interests. It has only been in the last few weeks that I have begun to make comments on others’ blogs. I have been a teacher and school administrator for over 40 years. Now I am retired form the local school system and university where I worked for more than 20 of those years. I own a small educational consulting company. Keeping journals, taking photos, and doing watercolors is a respite from deadlines and reports that are a part of owning your own business. I am not a professional artist but have taught many workshops for teachers and students to encourage them to draw, use their cameras, and be good observers. Some medical issues during the last year have made my drawing and journals become more of a priority—the whole “stop and smell the roses” cliché (taken very seriously by me now). With the Internet and blogs it is so gratifying to see the number of nature artists who share their work and their passion. Also as an educator, I am impressed and thrilled with your work with the JAMBOREAD poster that you do for your local library system's annual children's reading festival. It has been my lifetime work to ensure that children have access to the world through books. Kudos to your in your effort for this critical mission.
Judy - Oh, thank you for your kind words! I am very honored to be linked to your lovely blog. I've added you to my list, too. HC
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