
leaning

Well how about that. It turns out that honeybees eat fruit. Amazing what you can learn when you pay attention!
I slipped into a part of the State Park I hadn’t visited before, and followed a deer trail under overhanging boughs, to discover this secluded open glade within a circle of coast live oaks. I lay down on the thick bedding of dry, prickly leaves, my sketching bag as a pillow, and watched the dappled light dance above me.
For a few minutes, I stopped thinking about what the US Supreme Court did yesterday. I just breathed.
Maples are scarce in the Santa Monica Mountains. They need cool, damp, protected shelter, which is in pretty short supply. But we do have two Acer species nearby (one native, one introduced), and today I visited both of them. Gotta love a tree with hairy balls, right?
Watched a quick demo by TJ Marston yesterday and tried to follow along. I struggle with painting trees so was glad for her tips. She says that viewing landscape through the design lens of a landscape architect can improve one’s sketching; an intriguing idea. I might have to take her 90 minute class next month to find out more.
I spent three hours forest-bathing and nature-journalling in Santa Ynez Canyon this morning. Riparian and Oak Woodlands are my happy place. So many Humboldt Lilies!