Red-winged Blackbirds are apparently “one of the most abundant birds across North America” but Saturday was the first time I’ve observed any. They hang out in wet places, and we don’t have very many of them around here! The males are so handsome and showy, with their bright orange epaulettes which they puff up as they call.
Sketched from a photo by Ashok Khosla.
While painting this, I could hear a group of young kids delightedly catching lizards. I was torn between ‘free range parent’ and ‘state park docent’ as I wondered if I should fondly recall the joys of childhood or admonish them not to hurt or take the animals. I said nothing, but I had all the feels.
So many wildflowers on today’s hike! I counted 32 different species, including several that were new to me. This one’s figwort or bee plant. The flowers are small, but look like cute little faces.
(Oops, just saw a typo on my sketch. It’s Scrophularia. Sounds like a disease, doesn’t it?)
I’ve been driving past the Newton Canyon trailhead on Kanan for, oh, 25 years. Today I finally hiked it. It’s very pretty! The canyon sunflowers are out in full force, with lupins about to bust out all over.
When I stopped to sketch the view, I discovered that I didn’t have my usual brushes with me. All I had was a skinny little water brush, which is not my favourite tool. I tried to make the best of it …
I did my first stint in the MCSP Visitor Center today, where they have a lot of taxidermy animals and birds. This sketch was done from one such specimen. Learn something new every day!
I’ve been doing some fern-spotting, and sketching, in Malibu Creek State Park. More to come!
Working on my Docent homework 😊
It’s a good day when I can get out and enjoy both nature and culture. Astrida & I loved the Fabulous Fiber exhibit at BG Gallery in Bergamot Station. And, of course, a visit to Temescal never disappoints. These well-worn steps climbing the slope under a spreading oak are made from log cross-sections.
It was another windy, chilly day at the coast so I headed over the hill to my favourite sheltered trail, the section of the Backbone between Piuma Rd and Tapia Park, also known as Piuma Ridge Trail. I love that place—it’s shady, ferny, moist, and mostly human-free. Perfect for just sitting on a mossy rock and breathing it all in with eyes closed, enjoying my daily dose of nature therapy.
I saw an interesting and new-to-me plant, so did some sketch-noting and looked it up when I got home. It’s Warrior’s Plume (Pedicularis densiflora), a perennial root parasitic herb that attaches to the roots of other plants to obtain nutrients and water. I only saw a few plants; I wonder how widespread it is. It doesn’t appear on the 1983 list of the Flora of Malibu Creek State Park, so maybe it’s a more recent arrival, or perhaps it’s too rare to have made it on the list? Regardless, it’s very pretty!
hashiworks 