Away Message

I just wanted to let you know that I will be away Friday June 27 - Wednesday June 2.
--
I am certain of nothing but the Heart's affections and the truth of the Imagination- John Keats
Mary

Juneberries

Shadbush, shadblow, Service berry, Amelanchier. Juneberries. Ripe. Yum. Photo by BB.

Two more backyard journal pages: peony and Creeping Bellflower

I'm way behind on everything, but here are two more backyard journal
pages. I did the drawing one day and the painting another because
I've been so busy.

I would like to write more about these and post the photos I took to
go with them, and maybe I will sometime. Or not. Aiee.

Backyard Journal

I have too many computers! Yes, it is possible to have too many computers. I can never find my pictures--which computer are they on?

Here are three "new" (and unfinished) pages from my current backyard journal. Part of the problem with the second one is that the finished version must be on some other computer, but if interested, you can see it here.

The third one I have yet to paint. It was a super-hasty 12-minute sketch.

These are drawn/painted in a journal given to me by my older daughter and with instruction and hints from a book given to me by my younger daughter for my birthday.

Composting

Composting is important for the earth, the community and for the individual.

Here are our compost piles. From left to right, fresh, medium and
old. The old compost is wonderfully rich and friable and makes great
potting soil and is great for the flower and vegetable gardens.

Composting recycles stuff that would otherwise sit unused in a
landfill. And composted soil is rich and produced healthier foods
than depleted soils. It is better for the garden than artifical
fertizers. It provides micronutrients in a balanced way. And it
grows great flowers, too! :-D

what I learned from drawing

I looked at these anemone's for years and never noticed that they have two pointy petals and two dimpled (or notched) petals until I tried to draw them. These have just opened here.

3 pages from my current naturalist's journal

Unfortunately, the journal is just a little too big to fit on the
scanner. Click images to view larger.

Columbine

Columbine, by Mary Stebbins Taitt. With my macro and my new 90-degree
viewer.

Fringed Polygala

Fringed Polygala, by Mary Stebbins Taitt. Also known as "gaywings."
These are not common wildflowers in most places I have been, but were
fairly abundant at the Pinery in Ontario this weekend.

3 irises

These are not great photos, unfortunately, but interesting. Notice anything strange about them? LOL! (Not Photoshopped, as found in "nature" if you call a garden nature.)

Phenology: Bloodroot

This is the first day bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) has opened up
on the Black River near Sarnia, Michigan. I can tell that because
there is a sepal visible in the picture, and the sepals are deciduous
and fall off after the first day.

Budburst, first report (Phenology)

I made my first budburst report of the season--common dandelion.
First one opened yesterday, second today. We'd seen them elsewhere,
but not within a half mile of our registered site.

Phenology: Shadbush!

"The earliest flowering native shrub" is in flower now as of 4/23/08.
Baldduck Park, Detroit.

Phenology: Dutchman's breeches

Phenology: Dutchman's breeches, 4/23/08

And this within a half mile of my house, so I *could* report it to
Budburst if I ever have time.

Phenology: toothort's first day at Belle Isle, Detroit, Monday April 21, 2008

Phenology: Periwinkle

Periwinkle is in full flower at Belle Isle, In Detroit Michigan, along
Nashua Creek.

Phenology, Spicebush

Spicebush is fully open on Belle Isle, Detroit. YAY!

Fractal Friday: Fern

I made this "fern" with a free fractal program I found on Andree's page. I was astounded at how much it looked like a fern! Fractals are certainly a part of nature!

Singing wood frog

Along with a chorus of chorus frog and spring peepers, the wood frogs
were also singing--quite the din!

Spring Peeper Underwater

The spring peepers are out and peeping! YAY! This one is completely
underwater, and therefor, at this point, not peeping!