Noticing the variety of tubular flowers that still attract all sizes of birds and insects. Two I've noted in my journal are a Tropical Mandeville with large tubular flowers and Blue Salvia that have tall stalks with clusters of smaller tubular flowers. I would have expected Hummingbirds to be more attracted to the larger flower, but there may be a difference in the quality, quantity or accessibility of the nectar since birds, bees and butterflies are all attracted to the Salvia more consistently. Flowers are smaller, but many more of them and they bloom over a long period from beginning of summer through early freezes. As soon as the temp warmed up even slightly today the bees and Painted Lady butterflies were back. Painted Ladies used to drive each other, and bees/hummingbirds off the plant, but now they are cooperating and just working their own corners of the plant. Will make a chart of the flowering plants in my yard to record what blooms attracted which wildlife.

I couldn’t find 2 lovely flowers, so I used 2 trees that were side by side—an oak and a cottonwood. It was almost like they were living in two different forests—the cottonwood was very flexible, blowing in the wind, with many of its leaves blown off. The oak barely moved in the wind, and still had most of its leaves. I found it challenging to suggest the texture of the two different trees without drawing individual leaves. I like having the inset single leaves; they make each of the trees more present to me. The structure of the trees really varied. The oak had sturdy branches that reached up, and was dense with leaves. The cottonwood had fewer, more fluttery leaves, very responsive to the wind. Its branches drooped and swayed. I thought its wood is probably softer than the oak’s.

I decided to continue with my Franklinia. I had real trouble with the water drops on white flowers and and shading the flowers and leaves. I learned that I need a lot of time. I forgot to take a ruler with me to show scale.

I went to a local wetland park, Corktown Common. I walked around the wetland and found a brown rabbit eating grass in the sunshine. I managed a quick sketch of the bunny before they were scared by skateboarders.  I continued to the wetland area and did a comparison of three plants which all had seeds that blow away. The Common Milkweed, A Bulrush and Sweet Joe-Pye. As it is fall, the seeds were blowing, the leaves were no longer bright green and the signs of decay were all around. I really enjoyed doing this and was surprised by how many people stopped and asked questions of me about my drawing and the park.

This one was hard.  I went into my back yard and had a hard time finding something to compare.  A lot of the plants are fading and going to seed.  I chose two small wild flowers.  The were very similar and I think that is what made  it.  I was frustrated toward the end. \challenging.