I visited a local garden, found a quiet spot to sit, and compared two nearby plants - a dawn redwood tree and an overgrown boxwood shrub.  I found that the comparison sparked more questions, encouraging me to look up more information.  Not having a scientific background, I find it difficult to understand the natural functions of what I'm observing, but the process is encouraging me to learn more.

I compared a wild grape vine leaf from my back yard with a sea grape leaf from my sister's yard. Sea grapes are trees and not grapes but their fruit grows in long clusters. They're used in similar ways - juice, jelly etc. The grapes have jagged leaves with loose clusters hiding under leaves. Sea grapes are oval with long visible clusters.  The leaves are much larger. In Fall the grape leaves are yellow, and sea grape leaves are orange or red with yellow veins. Both have a main vein that starts at the stem and goes to the other side of the leaf. I learned that there is a plant with leaves similar to wild grape that is toxic. Open the "grape" and if the seed is like a crecent moon, don't eat it. I think I could organize my data to see that it's a comparison by listing similar things side by side instead of randomly .  Like -  then scientific names,  then colors, then how they grow on the stem, then other observations etc. This was fun. I wanted to compare the tassel weed flowers in the yard, the neighbor's chickens, the trees blooming along the street.

I don't have lots of experience drawing outdoors. So, it was little blinding to look at white paper while sitting in the sun.  first lesson - maybe a hat or find some shade. it helps to be able to see. lol.  Drew in my garden, a fuscia and ?? very different plants.

This was a great exercise. I sketched a mayapple and liverwort plant. Each has very different leaf and flower structure, texture, and color. Except for the black flies harassing me, and the bird that pooped on my hand, this was lots of fun. I used my watercolor pencils for a little color.

Rain/Snow yesterday in Denver, but today when I went for my walk I saw some weeds in the open space along the walking trail.  So I brought a couple of pieces to the house and was able to determine what they were by contacting Larimer County Weed Service.  Then I drew them along with their names and descriptions textures.  I also found out one was non-invasive (Rabbitbrush) and Native American's had used as yellow dye and to make medicinal tea and chewing gum.  The other (Common Mullein) is invasive.  In spring/summer flowers and leaves are edible and can be used in salad or to make tea.  I have lived here 70 years and never even noticed the weeds before.  So fun experience.  

Rainy day in Denver so I opted to compare two of my houseplants: Desert Rose and Chinese Money Plant. In comparing both plants, I noticed way more subtleties than I would have otherwise noticed, such as how the veining shows up on each leaf and color/shine differences. I found it helpful to go feature by feature and upon noticing something in one, looking for it in the other. Did not focus very much on numerical observations other than # of leaves per stem. 

This was a very absorbing exercise.   I picked two plants in the garden and soon realised the flowers were very different in structure.   The forget-me-nots are a classic simple flower with five petals arranged round the reproductive organs to attract the pollinators in, but  the perennial cornflower was much more complex.  It took some time to determine the structures in the flower.   Eventually I dissected a flower and studied the parts with a hand lens, concluding (hopefully) that the true flowers were the tubular structures in the centre, while the purple/blue 'petals' around the edge are decorative and perhaps modified sepals rather than petals.  I couldn't find any structures within these even though they are tubular.  I need to do more research to verify what part is which and if my hypothesis is correct.

Now I’m completing a Comparison study I started a few days ago. I sat out on the front porch and sketched three different ornamental trees/bushes. Since I started we’ve had several days of rain which has stimulated growth of buds and leaves.  I also took some close-up photos as it has been rather cold for extended time observing.  

I really learned a lot from my caparison study of two very opposite looking trees.  They were both growing in a wooded area ,one by a pond.  Because its early spring and no fancy leaves etc. to study , it forced me to really take a good look at the tree itself.  I could really see some of the similarities and differences in bark , branch formation, height, just to mention a few thing.  The up close "face to face" exercise with the trees was very interesting. I still really need to figure out how to manage drawing and descriptive data in the space I will have in my journal. I'm working on that.

Spring is an interesting time to do nature comparisons on the prairies of Colorado - not much is growing yet, at least that's what I thought at first.  I ended up finding several things I could compare, noting the time of year.  Future comparisons in different seasons will be interesting.  I liked focusing on the small part of my subject, but struggled with the bigger picture, at least with the drawing piece.  I also felt like I was too wordy.  It was a great exercise putting into practice all that I've learned so far.  The possibilities are endless!

When I first looked at these two leaves they seemed very similar to me, but after drawing and comparing them, I noticed differences in may things, such as the shape of the points and veins. I also noticed many subtle differences in color.

There is not much growing here yet, still snow on the ground, so I used a couple of wildflower pictures my husband emailed me.  I found that comparison drawing really made you look at things at a deeper level than just drawing a single thing would; kind of puts you in the mindset of looking for differences and similarities.

Not much green outside this time of year except for evergreens...

I was able to get more out of this comparison study than I would have by studying a single cactus sample. Comparing two similar cacti species side-by-side highlights the similarities while also emphasizing the differences. I created a Venn Diagram and used it to note the characteristics of each plant and its overlap with one another. This way I did not feel confined by the remaining space on the sketched page and it was a new way for me to try to document my observations with attention to pattern, form/function, change, etc. A second (or third!) page may be required for all the questions that are generated. And a whole other writing book for the answers! There is so much to learn... and it is a wonderful thing.  

Helen de Groot, Virginia  2/12/21 The temperature is in the 20’s and the ground is covered with snow. Though I know that the hellebore is in bloom under the snow and chick weed is up, I opted to compare a couple of house plants. I’m not sure I will worry about balancing drawing, writing, and recording. I will do all three, but I want to draw. I’m not sure anyone other than myself will ever look at it. It is relaxing for me to draw. I do realize that I will learn a lot through this experience.