I found this exercise to be rewarding, a pleasant morning along my prairie garden.  It was especially interesting to find new aspects of some favorite plants.  The process of noticing details on one and looking for similar or different details on the other plant lead to those interesting new aspects of familiar plants.  I took a couple of pictures so I will be able to go back and compare those features in the pictures over time to see if my questions about the buds and possible seed heads are on target.

I would like to repeat this exercise on birds or animals - I'm sure at this point, it would be a bit of a challenge given the level of my skills at present, but my observation exercises where I watched 2 kinds of plovers on the river would be a perfect place to start.

I compared two leaves that had dropped in a park. One was large and oval with a complex serration pattern, and the other was small and heart shaped with a more scalloped edge (among other differences). Doing this study made me realize how much I don't know about trees! What is the function of serrated edges on leaves? What determines the pattern of serration, and what function does it serve? Why are leaves different sizes? What is the function of veins in leaves? Reviewing my study, I was also struck by how clearly I remember the leaves and the whole experience several days later.

I was amazed how much it opened my eyes by looking between two different plants. A great learning experience! I also learnt that I should have allowed more room on the page, and I started in pencil before switching to pen. Next time I might try a darker pencil.

I learned what wood sorrel is! I thought initially that I was comparing two types of clover. I definitely paid much closer attention since I was drawing these plants than if I had just taken photos. The plants were small so minute striations in the leaves etc…would not have been noticeable in photos alone. I think I did, and will probably continue to include numerical data, drawings, and writings for most all things I include in my journal as all three add to the understanding and accuracy of what I am observing and trying to depict.

Another activity I really enjoyed. I did a very brief comparison, but even so noticed things and found questions I never have before.

A very constructive and informative exercise.  It helped me look at and see things in much more detail than I normally would.  The wild daisy was growing amongst a group of plants and it was therefore difficult to ascertain which leaves belonged to the flower so I sketched both, and will help me investigate.

I had a lot of fun doing this exercise. I find this is at the core of what nature journaling is: a simple observation leading to us slowing down to observe even more, ask a lot of questions and wonder about (in this case) vegetative structures and plant strategies. Merci!

It was too hot to sit outside so I used the photos from the video and some of the instructor’s observations

There is so much to notice and think about when I slow down. The sit spot technique is really helping me see things for the first time. I also noticed that I needed words to describe specific parts of plants etc. and as a result learned so much about leaves, leaf parts and shapes not to mention  about these two plants. As I become more comfortable with sketching, I hope I will be able to betterbalance recording numerical data and writing with drawing.

Have not tried a comparison study. Have no flowers handy to compare. Will try this as soon as I notice spring ephemerals emerging. Which won't be too long!

It was very cold and frozen snow covered the ground in my backyard, so I wasn’t able to make a proper comparison study. I’ll echo what someone else wrote before me: challenging to take this course in winter :D I picked up two ivy leaves from the backyard and drew them indoors. Instead of focussing on two similar but different subjects, I focussed on two leaves of the same species. It was still a very insightful exercise, since I was able to highlight all the little differences between them as I drew and coloured them.

I’ll wait for spring and be back on it, it’s a very interesting way of looking at and trying to understand things better.

First attempt at comparison

Trying to get away from JUST drawing/sketching birds. In my front yard here are two plants that are like "weeds". I have a newer growth Banana (i cut this about 2 months ago after unharvested) and a small epiphyte on a old tree snag from a red palm. It's a beautiful summer day about 33°, blue skies and nice and windy like the dry season should be.

Challenging doing this course in the winter. There’s still snow covering lawn/driveway from three weeks ago. Temporarily warming up to mid-50s, and rain predicted. Would much prefer to physically be outdoors but at least a month and a half away. Did some sketches of houseplants yesterday; today did up-close sketches of purchased tulips/hyacinths.  Individual hyacinth blossoms seem to have varied # of petals; when packed in overall cluster not noticeable. Tulips grow taller and leggier every day creating the prettiest formations.

I spent a day in the spring just looking at and drawing all things purple. I didn't realize how many different flowers are purple and how many shades of purple.

I made notes of the birds who visited our backyard today. I decided to compare their beaks, sketching from my photos. I was focused on beaks but ended up finding the feather patterns around the eyes really interesting as well.

 

I used indoor plants as it was cold in MA.  I enjoyed comparing the two plants and noticed details that I had not seen even though these plants have been in ours house for at least one year.

1. I did a comparison of hop and thicket creeper. They climb side by side in my garden. The leaves' five-lobe shape and the edge's outline resemble each other. I haven't noticed, that hops climb with the help of short, downward hairs on the stem. It feels sticky and you can't slide your fingers into the opposite hair. 2. I need a bigger, much bigger, sketchbook!

Two herbs in the same pot. I never realized that the part of the lavender plant that’s inside sachets is the bud, harvested before it flowers. I love lavender; it reminds me of my grandmother, who also loved it.  I like basil for a different reason: the taste! I never noticed before that the basil flower is like a little orchid. Both lavender and basil are in the mint family, it turns out.

I really enjoyed this exercise.  I chose two flowers in my flower bed.  The one is petunia and I have no idea what the other is.  Both flowers are similar color, but so many differences.  The flower on the left is small and has feathery leaves, much more delicate than the petunia.  It is on long slender stems and long narrow leaves as compared to the petunia which is a much larger flower with a strong line of color running in the center of each petal.  Also the petunia has clusters of large round shaped leaves.  This course is helping me to look closer at everything, not just when I am sketching and I love it.