Texas wildflowers

The first explosion of native wildflowers has begun, the first I found up close being the blanket flowers growing on a street corner in Somerville, Texas. Yesterday I stopped to get a closer look at the bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, and tickseed blooming near highway 36 and FM 1948. Washington county will soon be covered in glorious color — this year, the peak bloom time is expected on Easter weekend, though they will continue through next month. And summer varieties will soon follow . . .

CAMPSITE COWSLIPS

 

April is a lovely month to be in England, the countryside is filled with wild flowers, bluebells fill the woods and primroses, violets, wood anenomes and cowslips are everywhere, especially on our campsite only a short distance from the junction of two major motorways!

some late spring wildflowers

Yesterday we took a drive along the eastern shore of Lake Somerville . . . at least as far as one can drive before reaching water. Texas flood conditions continue with many lakes beyond capacity and overflowing. This lake is closed for at least the next two months --- water is well over campsites with their electric hookups and boat ramps. Many hidden obstacles out there to run a boat into.

We were able to drive to the overlook next to the spillway to take a look. Even the wildflowers are stressed from too much rain, though I found a few to draw anyway.

A Weed By Any Other Name... Laura Gillis

I know it is technically a "weed" but it's a really pretty weed when you get down and look. Right now our yard here in North Central Texas is covered in a thick purple carpet of Henbit or Lamiun amplexicaule. I had thought about mowing it but when I saw that Henbit is an early source of nectar for bees and small insects I changed my mind. Bees are some of my favorite insects so I do hope they get busy before the farm-boy hubby shows up with the herbicide!

Ink and watercolor in a Stillman & Birn Beta Sketchbook.

more Texas wildflowers

In the spring I began filling this wee sketchbook (under 3" square) with Texas wildflowers found near our new home. Then throughout the hot, humid summer, I sort of ignored it . . . . There weren't as many wildflowers seen then anyway.

But now lots of new ones have filled the local pastures, mostly yellow. So I added them this past week.

a few summer wildflowers and butterflies

 

In my wee wildflower sketchbook (3" square), I've been continuing to draw wildflowers found near our new home. Summer seems to have mostly yellows, with a few leftover white prickly poppies and orange Indian blankets. Not much difference between black-eyed and brown-eyed susans, sharing the same Latin name, but one has tiny brown markings near the base of the petals.

I also drew a few of the butterflies we've seen in our yard. Lots of black swallowtail caterpillars have been eating my parsley and dill, but I'm wondering if the birds are in turn eating them.

Texas wildflowers

Our new home state of Texas takes their spring wildflowers very seriously. There's even a special festival about them. Pastures and meadows around us have been literally filled with color!

Most of the spring wildflowers are going to seed now, making way for early summer blooms. Over the past several weeks, I sketched 25 varieties in this 3" sketchbook made from scraps of Nideggan paper. They can be seen at the following links:

http://vickylwilliamson.blogspot.com/2014/04/texas-wildflowers.html

http://vickylwilliamson.blogspot.com/2014/04/more-texas-wildflowers.html

http://vickylwilliamson.blogspot.com/2014/04/yet-more-spring-wildflowers.html

Weekend in the Mountains

This past weekend was the opening of the first Western Trail Art Association art show at the Museum of the Western Prairie in Altus, Oklahoma. Since we were going to be there on Friday and Saturday nights and since we hadn’t been anywhere in a while and since the Quartz Mountain Lodge was giving the artists a special break on the rates we decided we would take the weekend and get away for a bit. 

Saturday the weather was perfect for hiking so we got up and had a good hearty breakfast at the lodge and then went to find the trails. (In my opinion, they could stand to have better maps.) 

Our first “hike” was on the Twin Peaks Trail. It was not my idea of a trail (it was a very nice sidewalk) but at the end of that trail I did a little sketch of Lake Altus-Lugert.

Early morning sketch of Lake Altus-Lugert

I had always heard that if you were out on the lake and knew where to look, you could see the foundations of the town of Lugert that was flooded when they built the reservoir. Sadly, the lake is at 20% capacity and you don’t have to be in a boat to see the foundations.... they are close to the trail and high and dry after this past drought.

After the Twin Peaks Trail, we finally found a “real” trail with dirt, rocks and weeds. (My favorite kind of trail.)  We climbed rocks, watched deer and turkey vultures and just generally lounged about soaking up as much clean air and nature as we could before we had to go back to town. 

On the ridge above the Quartz Mountain Lodge

Thankfully, they have had a bit of rain up there so there were a few wildflowers on the trail. Lots of Texas Toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus and Spring Beauty Claytonia virginica (both of which are much more beautiful than my sketches!)

Spring Beauty Claytonia virginica

Texas Toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus

All sketches in ink & watercolor in the nature journal with hemp paper.

Fruit, Flower & Berry Report - Pam Johnson Brickell

Click to enlarge - 'tis much easier to read :)

On the 10th hole of my neighborhood's golf course and across from the 150 yard marker is a spot large enough to park the cart and be out of the way of golfers... Standing in this one spot, I was treated to all these beauties. Eye candy everywhere!

I did the pen sketching and added watercolor to one flower, Beautyberry leaf, Hickory leaf and nut - enough for reference when I returned home.

More time was spent doing research and the lettering than sketching! I love the thrill of sketching plein air. But, the fun continues when I hit the field guides. After searching all 3 southeast wildflower field guides in my library, I had to consult the internet for the Bigroot morning-glory. I'm a Wikipedia fan!

Milkweed Season

Milkweed Season at Longears!

sketchcrawl in Excelsior Springs

sketchcrawl in Missouri, a photo by vickylw on Flickr.

We drove to Missouri on Saturday for sketchcrawl, meeting in a small park on Lover's Lane that is more like the edge of the woods. I had intended to try to paint a loose landscape of the area, with either one of the foot bridges or a certain tree that has partly fallen across the path.

But there were so many wildflowers in bloom, they seemed to be begging to be sketched. Jeanette (aka Mistress of Longears) corrected me re: the rue anemone, telling me that it is called FALSE rue anemone.

Skullcap & Out of Practice - Pam Johnson Brickell

Skullcap & Out of Practice
Originally uploaded by PJBee

In April, I discovered my first Skullcap. A delicate mass of blooms upon a single stem. I snipped the top off of one stem and took it home to sketch.

I was pleased with the sketch and waited (not patiently) for time to add words.

I am saddened that last week I did not honor the sketch and take my time with the calligraphy. My spacing is all wrong and the 'P' is totally lost behind the stem and leaf.

I must put the frustration involved with moving aside and get back to my meditative calligraphic self. I hate when I rush and dishonor the gift of art.

Grass Vetchling ~ Sigrid Frensen

I finally found some time this week to make a (little bit) larger painting. It's only bigger in paper size, not in subject. This is a Grass Vetchling (almost sounds like some sort of bird). The Latin name is Lathyrus nissolia and its a rare and protected plant in the Netherlands. As you can see the flowers are very similar to other peas. The biggest difference is the foliage. It's a really grassy plant and it doesn't climb like most Lathyrus' do.

It's really thin and there's a lot of white left on the page, as you can see. It was difficult though. The stems are long and thin and I'm not very good at painting straight lines. So I took it really slow. I did manage to give all the lines a shadow part. And for the flowers I got the colour right. The pods were so nice to paint, that was really fun :)

Now I hear you all ask me "Where does this lovely vetchling grow???" Well, I'll tell you.... roadsides, grain fields, woodlands and dykes. Sunny, warm, more or less open places slightly moist, moderately fertile to fertile, slightly acid to often chalky, grassy soil. Plenty of places like that but it's a rare little beauty nonetheless :(

I wish I had this near my house so I could paint a bigger painting with a few sprigs, dancing together. But this must do for now. A lovely elegant wild thing.

Morning in the Meadow

I have been riding out often this past week, on the Niagara River Recreation Trail, which runs for 56km along the river on the Canadian side. My favourite spots are quite close to where I live, five to fifteen minutes on the bike.

Last week the huge meadow just west of Fort George, called ‘the Commons’, was covered as far as the eye could see with tall yellow wildflowers. Some of the plants were as much as a meter (3 feet) tall, with graceful grass-like leaves and pretty ‘dandelion style’ flowers, one atop each branching stem.

I went out with my paints early one morning to sketch this attractive plant. I’m glad I chose this day – as I was packing up at about eight thirty a couple of parks employees drove up on an ATV to see what that guy with a bike was doing, sitting in the middle of their field! I showed them my sketch. They explained they were just about to mow the field, which they did that very day. A shame really; they cut it long and don’t take away a hay crop, but they do leave a wide patch uncut towards the woodland edge where the flowers and shrubs may still flourish unhindered. I also took lots of photos there, and when I came home I went to identify the flower. It is actually very common, so you would think that in my eighth decade of life I should know it well. But in my youth I never learned very much about the wonders of nature, and until now have not had the leisure to delve into the subject.

I could not find an exact match to the flower in my wildflower guide, so I went on the web and searched in all directions. Surely, with all the millions of images and sites, it should have been easy. I tried in my search to enter all sorts of qualifying words, but, though it seems in retrospect impossible to miss, I still couldn’t make an identification. As usual, in extremis, the cavalry came to my rescue, in the shape of ‘Buckeye’ and Sigrid, and the “ID Please” group on Flickr.

I learned that what we have here is a species of 'Tragopogon', known as Meadow Salsify, a very close relative of Yellow Goatsbeard, with many other common and local names, the most apt of which is ‘Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon’.

May I digress back to my rides on the bike trail? The day after I made my sketch I was riding by once again, and was surprised to find on the uncut areas of the meadow, not a single flower was open. The flowers were all over, (or so I thought). I was so glad to have made my sketch just in time. In my botanical ignorance, I had not known that this flower opens at early light, but closes again in the middle of the day. I wonder if this is a unique trait amongst the flowers? But thus, of course, the strange name I mentioned.

Getting back to a proper identification. I did want to be absolutely certain as to the sub-species, so that when I wrote this blog I would label accurately and not lead people astray, and there remained still a question – was this species ‘Tragopogon dubius’ the Western (or Yellow) Goatsbeard, or was it ‘T. pratensis’ , the Meadow Salsify? The matter was just settled (I think) this morning, in favour of the latter.

To be truly sure of this interesting plant’s habits, I am revisiting its haunts, morning, noon and night. Quite exhausting really. I think I should go and have my nap now.

What? Oh, yes. You may call me ‘Jack’ if you wish.

May Day 2010 - Pam Johnson Brickell

May Day 2010
Originally uploaded by PJBee

A lovely day in the low country. I spied these blue-flag iris and had to stop and sketch them. The surprise was finding mock strawberries at my feet :) They were quite a good size and it puzzled me at the wild strawberries I'm used to were teeny.

My wildflower guide cleared up the mystery. These plants were actually introduced from India and are not part of the strawberry family. It goes onto say that the fruits appear edible but are actually flat and tasteless. I'm glad I didn't try one. I would have been really bummed.

I painted the flowers plein air then added the calligraphy at home.

Bluebells, Bluets and Practice--Vickie Henderson

The tiny Bluets growing along the wooded hillside in my yard this year are gorgeous.  Irresistible, in fact.  So I gathered up my outdoor sketch kit this past weekend and went outside.  

Practice is just what its meant to be, an experience full of mistakes, blunders and, most of all, learning.  And this experience was no exception.  I would love to create one of those beautiful en plein air landscapes that I often admire.  But until then, I practice.  It's a bit like riding a bicycle.  You don't learn how to balance until you actually try it--over and over again.  And nobody can tell you how.  Then one day, without you knowing it, your brain has integrated all that you've learned and you find yourself doing it.    

That's the fun of new discoveries.  They feel like magic!  

For more about my first 2010 outdoor sketching experience visit my blog post Fumbling En Plein Air  at Vickie's Sketchbook.  You may also enjoy seeing my Red-shouldered Hawk Sketchbook at Vickie Henderson Art.

Easter in the Park...

Easter Sunday was beautiful; overcast but warm, and I decided to get out and sketch and take photos before the promised storm. Bloodroot was EVERYWHERE. I sat by the river to paint in my journal...



Here's how it turned out...



Isley Park Woods is a Missouri Natural Area that boasts an astounding array of wildflowers every spring. I always wish I could paint them all as they bloom, but there's never quite enough time to keep up with them. Yesterday I ran away from home and celebrated Easter in my own way...

Bloodroot is a fascinating flower--the large leaves clasp the stem and protect the flower as it emerges. It's been used as a medicinal, a dye, and a love charm, according to folklore. You can read more about it HERE.

Swamp-Lily, A Last Hurrah - Pam Johnson Brickell

Last week my friend, Kate, called to say she saw a flower off in the woods and thought it was something special. It sure was! A Swamp-Lily! Also known as String-Lily, Crinum americanum L.

A few days later, I was able to go take a look at it. The weather was threatening but, I did manage to make an ink sketch of it in my journal.  Then it started to sprinkle so I took a photograph, and off the the shelter of my car I went!  I painted the ink drawing from my reference photo.

I was a bit dismayed, as I didn't leave much room for the flower names......... ah well.

I call this 'A Last Hurrah' as the lily's bloom time is from June to October.  I saw quite a few plants around the area, but all had long since bloomed.  It's in the amaryllis family. A real beauty and uncommon in SC, though it can be found in the southern coastal area of the state.  That's us :)

Hops: a Bine!

Mystery Plant.... Solved! - Pam Johnson Brickell

Behind my booth at the Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival I discovered a plant I'd not seen before.  I was struck by Nature's red brushstrokes within the green leaves.  So much of the plant reminded me of a poinsettia but then not.

I posted this initial sketch on Flickr and asked if anyone had any idea what  this plant was called.  Several flickr friends said poinsettia.

I search all my books, but to no avail. I wanted to know this poinsettia like plant's latin name.

John Nelson of the University of South Carolina's Department of Biological Sciences came to the rescue.  I sent him my initial sketch and a couple of photographs I took.

Here's what he said: This plant is "fire on the mountain" or "painted leaf", Euphorbia cyathophora. It is indeed related to the poinsettias of commerce. This species is introduced, and is a bit weedy, but I don't think it is really invasive--

I so love it when a mystery can be solved! Thank you, John!!