Twenty 7-12 year olds (and their parents) now know the difference between a valley oak and a coast live oak, though hopefully that’s not the only thing they gained from our time together 🌿💚
sharing the love
Images
leucocoprinus birnbaumii
Lately there’s been a few different types of mushrooms popping up in the straw mulch. I’m no mycologist, and I’d like to learn more. This one’s not going to make it to our dinner plates!
lazy daisy
Found myself in Beverly Hills with a little time to kill.
art supply relay
On Draw With Me this morning, we spent two minutes with a single random art tool, then switched to another one. Repeat for about half an hour, or until spent. Slightly hectic, but fun!
zuma
It was good to be back at the beach with Suzanne. The water was clear and warm (about 70°F/21°C), and tiny bean clams (Donax gouldii) were out by the million. S said it had been about ten years since she’d seen this many at Zuma.
vacation casualty
Most of the cacti in the bathroom bay window survived a month without water just fine. But this one’s looking a little worse for wear.
select, refine, design
Taking part in a group run-through of Liz Steel’s Watercolour on Location course for the second time. Lesson 1: Select, Refine, Design.
ardea herodias
where the light isn’t
Shadows can reveal things we may not otherwise notice. We might see new details or shapes, or even additional organisms that were not at first obvious. Shadows also highlight the shape of the object on which the shadow is cast, and show which parts of the organism are touching the surface. They can help explain complex shapes and how parts fit together.
Thanks to natural science author and illustrator Robin Lee Carlson, I now understand why a water strider’s shadow looks like it has big round feet. Fascinating.
recovery day
Not only did Annette keep the garden alive in our absence, she left me with a nice sketch subject.
hashiworks 