Let's Paint Nature!
Hiking & Painting in Nature – Chicago
Category: art
Swallows and Striders on the Fox River Watercolor Sketch
As the river flows A flight of tree swallows swirl. Zooming up, down, sideways fast. But the water striders below, On water they twirl. Zooming front and back, side to side fast. Yesterday I had the chance to ride my bike along the Fox… Continue Reading “Swallows and Striders on the Fox River Watercolor Sketch”
Let’s Paint a Simple Summer Sketch
Let’s learn how to make a simple summer sketch for your nature journal! Yesterday I was able to get out to my favorite secret pond where I noticed tons of cup plants (Silphium perfoliatum) growing along the edge of the water. Cut plant is… Continue Reading “Let’s Paint a Simple Summer Sketch”
It was there and then it was gone – Monarch Caterpillar Watercolor
It was there… I was looking at the reward for planting common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) in my backyard. Several times the hubby almost pulled it because he thought it was a weed (well it is), I pleaded for him to leave it and to… Continue Reading “It was there and then it was gone – Monarch Caterpillar Watercolor”
Windy at the Lake Watercolor and Nature Journal Club
Hearty winds whip across the lake, Kayaker struggles. Seagulls hover in the air, Clouds race above. Reflections can’t form in this wind, Dragonfly skips on waves. I messed my ankle up last Monday, so I’ve been off my feet for almost a whole week.… Continue Reading “Windy at the Lake Watercolor and Nature Journal Club”
My Native Front Yard – Blue Vervain Watercolor
Today blue vervain (Verbena hastata) is in bloom in the native garden. I absolutely love its flowers. Up close they look blue-purple. From a distance they look purple to pinkish-purple. The actual flower itself is tiny but grows in clusters on a spike. They… Continue Reading “My Native Front Yard – Blue Vervain Watercolor”
My Native Front Yard Wildlife Edition – Black Swallowtail Caterpillar
The native plants are working! Look who I found munching on some leaves…. a big juicy black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes). That means a black swallowtail butterfly must have laid an egg under the leaf of my Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) plant when I… Continue Reading “My Native Front Yard Wildlife Edition – Black Swallowtail Caterpillar”
It’s a Boy! Update on Polyphemus Cocoon
Do you remember last year when a Polyphemus caterpillar visited my house? (Click on the link to see post with video of caterpillar eating maple leaves.) I was completely shocked as I just happened to find it on my siding. Suddenly, in a matter… Continue Reading “It’s a Boy! Update on Polyphemus Cocoon”
My Native Front Yard – Golden Alexander and Prairie Alumroot
Build it (a native garden) and they will come (insects)! He he he. That was the famous quote from the 1989 movie, Field of Dreams, without the garden and insects insert. But in all seriousness, they will come. Why do we need to help… Continue Reading “My Native Front Yard – Golden Alexander and Prairie Alumroot”
Breakfast on the Grill
This is a true story of love and provision. My husband is a truck driver. Wednesday, his truck broke down about an hour and a half away from home. Wanting to save money on a tow, I hopped in the car at 5 am… Continue Reading “Breakfast on the Grill”
Daily Verse
- Ephesians 4:29“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
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