Hiking & Painting in Nature – Chicago
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
What a mouth-opening surprise I had when I found these cute cup fungi growing in my own yard! What’s so neat about these fungi? Why, let me explain their coolness. First, they look like tiny cups on the ground. Awwwwwww. Second, they want it… Continue Reading “Cup Fungi Watercolor”
I’ve always wanted to see an owl in the wild while hiking. The natural way…not with a local bird group nor some Audubon field-trip, but surprisingly caught off guard while walking through the woods. For years, I’ve prayed for it. Then it happened. And… Continue Reading “Great Horned Owl Watercolor”
Like many of you, I’m home bound. My state of Illinois issued an order last Friday that restricts residents from venturing out except for necessary grocery trips or doctor visits. But Governor Pritzker said the magic words on television last Friday: “You many go… Continue Reading “Unbound and off trail – watercolor”
Eastern skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) is the earliest ephemeral spring wildflower to appear. Yes, this odd plant is a wildflower! And I found it while hiking just yesterday. Actually, I found tons of them! Skunk cabbage is a very unique plant. It generates its… Continue Reading “Time for Skunk Cabbage – Watercolor”