Themes seem to pop up with everything I look at!  The overlap of themes was overwhelming at first, but I decided to just roll with it - nature isn't black and white, after all.  For example, when comparing the size and location of two groups of similar ants, my possible explanations and further questions involved form & function and systems & energy flow.

This was one of a few pages I did during the "themes" lesson.  In this case I was looking at patterns in the camellia petals.  I was noticing how the petals near the center lined up radially away from the center.  I also noticed that in the tip of each petal was a slight thickening that showed when the light came through the petal.

For my nature theme, I chose form & function. 

I I made my sketch of the beetles (below) and came home to look up what they were.  These are box elder bugs, and I love the markings.  They appear to be harmless to the trees, seeds, and leaves that they feed on.  This time of year seems  very unlikely for the seedpods, but according to other commenters I found online they do also eat other leaves, dung, and dead insects.  Pretty much anything.  Doing this thematic exercise helped me to appreciate and learn from the insects rather than just be annoyed they chased me from my creekside sit spot!

I was looking for a seat by the creek in a nearby park, but found far too many insects flying around, which is unusual.  They were clustered thick on the ground in places, and flying everywhere.  

Walk in the park, overcast skies with the sun peaking out now and then, temperature in mid 70’s.  The turtles were out on logs all over the pond. Some logs had 10-15, some fewer. One log had two, one had just one. Why so many turtles to a log? For companionship, for warmth? Are they spacially aware they are so crowded?

During a recent wandering at the downtown waterfront in my hometown, I noticed how the snow at the base of trees, deciduous and coniferous, melts in a ring around the base. Why? I thought that perhaps the tree itself, being alive, would exude some heat (however minor). So I looked at manmade/non-organic objects but they too often had a ring at the base so that can't be the reason (or at least not the whole reason). What about solar energy heating the bark? A drip line from the tree's branches perhaps as I noticed that evergreens had larger rings around them than their deciduous counterparts. But that could also be from reduced snow that falls at the base due to the tree's canopy? Time to do some research.

I became really absorbed with drawing the individual capillary like patterns on this leaf, which when i was done resembled both a lung and a river system, beautiful pattern! I walk past this plant everyday, and have never stopped to really look at it - I am really enjoying this opportunity to finally pay attention to the complexity of something as simple as a leaf.

We just had a big northeaster with snow, rain, wind so not possible to go sit outside.  Will go out shortly to watch the ocean. See how the various winter waterfowl (e.g., eiders, buffleheads) are weathering the storms

Nov 23, 2020 - Lamanai, Belize Example #1 - Leafcutter Ants working during the day. Example #2 - Bat falcons only eat a bird's head. Brain and eyes taste good? Maybe Cornell can shed some light on this for me? Thanks.

I need to practice with themes for awhile and maybe brainstorm some journal topics here.  I went outside and was looking for patterns when I saw the cottontail and felt compelled to sketch it.  I didn’t have much time though and I struggled with proportions, but it was fun.

Many questions come to mind, what do they eat, do they feel the cold, do they join other flocks elsewhere. It’s a challenge to sit outside in nature due to winter weather but my backyard feeders provide me lots of movement. The house sparrows dart around in groups, the leaves are all being blown off now, patterns as they wave their final farewells. They provide part of the ecosystem with fertilizer in the spring. How many leaves are too many? This module has been really interesting, and as others have said a real help to focus and be present in nature.

After an incredibly hot summer with no rain,, I notice the change in my vegetable garden. Tiny, tiny butter nut squash!

I spent some time in my local park.  The grassy areas had just been seeded, so the sprinklers were going on and off around me.  I noticed the sparrows drank water from the puddles, but the grackles waited until the water shut off to walk around the grass.   Do bugs crawl up out of the water? Does the freshly planted seed show up better in the wet grass?  Does the wet grass feel good on their toes?  I wouldn't have noticed this had I not been an intentional observer.

I went to the park for a walk, and looked for examples of scale, quantity and changes. I was amazed how different locations, in the park, host a different number of pine trees! Birds seem to prefer the more quite area, as they fly away when I approach carefully. Taking a close look at those pine trees, I was surprised to see different shape and size cones and realized I needed to do some research about pine trees reproductive cycle! Some questions came to my mind: why do some trees have so much more mature cones than others? Maybe the wind has influence? How long does a mature cone takes to take shape? Female cones seem to grow mostly in the upper branches; does that happen always?

I'm observing the cicadas buzzing not only cycles as a group, but increases in intensity around early evening.  Also, as of the last week, the intensity of their droning has waned.   A possible explanation of the buzzing could be:  is it to signal a food source?  is it to signal for a mate?  The lessening intensity perhaps is indicating the mating season is over, the life cycle of the cicadas is coming to an end and their eggs are laid for the next cycle?  The more I observe, the more I marvel at the body of knowledge that has been gained from those who've gone before me and made the observations we have now that encompass the field of biology.  It also causes me to appreciate those who didn't have technology at their fingertips and had to gain knowledge of their world by observing the patterns and seasons for their very survival.

Mushrooms growing in the middle of an oak tree. Themes: Scale & Quantity, Patterns, Changes.