Playing with tempera sticks and wax oil pastels makes me feel like a kid again. Nice!
mixing it up
Blog
Schistocerca nitens
Reading up on this grasshopper, I learned that it is a problematic invasive species in Hawaii. In 2004, a major swarming event on the island of Nīhoa devastated approximately 90% of the island’s vegetation. Likely introduced to Hawaii several decades ago, it has since spread throughout the archipelago, aided by its ability to fly over 300 miles across open ocean!
That last fact blew my mind. 🤯
Downton Abbey
Rainy morning, a good opportunity to catch up on this week’s Draw With Me, where the theme was Downton Abbey (kinda). I may have seen part of a single episode of the show long ago, but I really know nothing except that it’s about aristocratic Brits and stars Maggie Smith. The characters depicted here are just random Edwardian people. I’m glad we don’t have to dress like that anymore. Especially glad I don’t have to wear a pizza on my head.
Brenneria quercina
Do you have oaks in your neighbourhood? Are they drippy this year?
wall graphics
It’s easy to find the elevator here.
conejo valley botanic garden
concert in the park
My MIL’s community hosts summer concerts in the park. It’s a good opportunity to practice people sketching.
wood rat den
Wildwood is lovely, but sometimes the creek is pretty smelly. Scenic, but odiferous. I wonder if the woodrats are bothered by that.
look up
First I noticed all the bird poop on the ground. So I looked up … and this is what I saw.
native bees
One of the highlights of Wild Wonder Day 2 was the session on native bees with scientist/artist Nina Sokolov. I met Nina last year; she’s a total badass. She snatches bumblebees right off the flower with one hand.
hashiworks 