I Love My Weeds!

As they say, one person's weed is another person's treasure.

I think?

In this case the Foxglove, also know as Digitalis, is a weed and many people pull them up. On the other hand, I have seen these flowers FOR SALE at garden stores.

I love them! But rather than buy the flower, I transplanted the plant from the woods to my garden and the patch is growing like a weed (pun intended!). Yes, I might have to pull some in the future, but for now I am enjoying this lovely weed.




I call the spots inside freckles :)


Foxgoves will be the subject matter for Sunday Sketches.

Watch for it.

Oriental Dogwood Enchantment

I am totally in awe watching the daily transformation of the Oriental Dogwood Tree which a friend highly recommended I plant in my yard.

Not only are the flowers a study in grace dancing on top of the branches, but the color of the flowers have changed from a blush white to a dazzling pink in just a few days.

I see several watercolor paintings in the near future!

But for now, here are some photos of the beauty.....

The full tree is rather small; I am not sure how big it might get.


Check out the cluster of flowers!!!




And a close view of the flowers.




Subject matter for my Sunday Sketch....stay tuned!

Sunday Sketches

I actually cheated and did my sketch on Friday!

I am now into the groove of sketching once a week since I ran across Sophie's blog about Sunday Sketches. Being that I was out of town for the weekend, I needed to have a sketch for Sunday.....so, I did it on Friday :)

I am enjoying sketching, inking, and painting. It feels like I am coloring in the sketch and I must admit to coloring inside the lines. I hope it does not ruin my reputation! I am intrigued by shapes which when I normally paint with watercolors (without the ink lines) the shapes are less pronounced.

Here is my Sunday (Friday) Sketch:

Ink version


Painted version

Out Of The Box

Tried something new for my Sunday Sketch.

First, I sketched the subject matter of daffodils and tulips with a quick application of watercolors.


Then, I used pen and ink. Afterwards, I painted with watercolors.

A definite departure from my usual process of drawing first and then painting.


I have exited the box :)

Daffodils Out, Tulips In

Changing of the guards at my house; daffodils are slowing dying and the tulips are starting to emerge.

I love the love the colors!

Here is my first patch of tulips:




They are just asking to be subject matter for tomorrow's
Sunday Sketch.

Sunday Sketch

Strange name and strange looking flower, an early spring favorite, the Hellebore has captured my attention today.

Once again, I am fascinated by the lines and shapes. I could not resist painting them with watercolors.

Each flower in this sketch is at a different stage of bloom. I find Hellebores amazing and love the details in the center of the flower.


The flowers have five "petals" (actually sepals) surrounding a ring of small, cup-like nectaries (petals modified to hold nectar). The sepals do not fall as petals would, but remain on the plant, sometimes for many months.

The all green Helebores are unique and I am looking for one of these plants to add to my collection.

Sunday Sketches

More organized today than last Sunday. I did not have to squeeze in time to sketch. Maybe the rainy day was more conducive to being indoors being creative.

Having been away for two days enjoying the gift of sunshine and time at the beach, I was surprised when I returned home to find two Iceland poppies in bloom. What a treat and perfect subject matter for my sketch.

I tried another new watercolor paper which allowed more flow to the watercolors, but was rather "bumpy" for ink. I inked first and then painted wondering what would happen if I did just the opposite? I might give that a try next Sunday.

Here is today's Sunday Sketch: