Looking For Color

As the dark days of winter set in, I am looking for any ounce of color.

Cyclamen!

The unique flower that blooms year round. I have always loved the grace of the cyclamen from the early rise of the bud similar to a fern's uncoiling, to the flowing dance of the blossom. Not to forget the beauty of the fluid curve in the rise of the leaf as well as the heart shaped leaves.

Another watercolor sketch to add to the sketchbook:

No Excuses

I am using the holidays as an excuse for not painting even though I do not believe in excuses.

In order to set the record straight, I will gear up on artistic creations since I have one month to complete the sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2012.

I am amazed by the spectacular blooms of the tropical plant,Anthurium, which has a predominant spot in the living room window that faces south. It just loves this spot and graces me with blooms year round.

After completing this sketch and watercolor of the Anthurium, I am considering a full size painting.

Bella'roma

What a delight out my kitchen window.....


Isn't she a beauty!?!

Bella'roma is a Hybrid Tea Rose and a new rose selection for my garden. So far, this is the first bloom for the new plant.

I am ecstatic!

Bright yellow buds slowly spiral open, revealing gorgeous, warm yellow petals blushed rich pink at their edges, and set off by glossy, dark green foliage. The classic, high-centered blooms are said to hold their rich color and flower abundantly all season.

It won top honors as a 2003 "Rose of the Year" winner with both sumptuous blooms and a strong, tantalizing scent evocative of 'French Perfume.' But, in my opinion, although nicely fragrant it does not compare to the incredible smell of Gertrude Jekyll.

Another Fabulous Bloom

I cannot resist sharing photos of beautiful flowers that have crossed my path. Many of which will probably become subject matter for watercolor paintings. Stay tuned!

This plant was a compulsive selection at the garden store. Thankfully, two of the three plants survived the slugs and a small child visiting.

Daily, I watch the unveiling of blooms.

It is a Lily named Black Spider.



Today's display looks like this:


The full name on the tag reads; Tango Asiatic Lily Litium asiaticum 'Black Spider'

What a beauty, wouldn't you agree?

The Trail Is In Bloom

Summertime on the Chehalis Western Trail!

Everything is green and blooming.......

Looks like we will have a GREAT crop of blackberries.


When I lived in Colorado the Fireweed did not bloom until the end of summer, but here in Washington along the trail it is blooming profusely.

Ebony likes to get in the picture
The weed I just love is the Foxglove.




I have done several paintings of this flower as I think the spots (I call freckles) are charming.

My favorite spot to sit for a break......


The view from the bench.....



I am so fortunate to have such a beautiful place to spent time on a daily basis.

Now Blooming on the Trail......

As spring has been progressing, I have been posting what is currently in bloom on the Chehalis Western Trail in Olympia, Washington.

You can call me the trail eye-witness reporter!

The Red Elderberry is currently the star bloomer with its lacy foliage, large white flower clusters.


The Red Elderberry is a showy large deciduous shrub or small tree of the Honeysuckle family that grows 10-20 feet tall with a broad arching form. Older specimens have large, multiple trunks with coarse bark. Red elderberry begins growth early in spring and produces abundant, small, creamy white flowers in large, conical or pyramidal shaped clusters between April and July. Large clusters of small, bright red, fleshy berries appear in summer.

This deciduous shrub is very common west of the Cascades. Large attractive clusters of red berries are very popular with the birds, but may be toxic to humans when eaten raw. When ripe however they can be cooked and made into processed products, or fermented into wine. The rest of the plant (flowers, leaves, seeds, roots) is toxic as it contains cyanide-producing glycosides.

The flowers have a rather unpleasant, skunk smell. Butterflies enjoy the nectar of the flowers, while birds will feast on the ripe berries.

New Bloom on the Trail

It is exciting to walk the Chehalis Western Trail on a daily basis and watch for the new blooms of spring.

My master gardener friend, Janet Mandell, has been assisting me in identifying the different native plants.

The newest bloom is the Coltsfoot which is also called Sweet Coltsfoot and Palmate Coltsfoot. It blooms from March through to July in wet or marshy ground in woods and in roadside ditches. You will find it mostly west of the Cascades from Alaska to California and found east to Michigan and Massachusetts.

This patch of Coltsfoot I found blooming happily in a boggy section of the Chehalis Western Trail in Olympia, Washington.

Indian Plum Blooms

The beginning of last month I was excited to see the little sprouts on the Indian Plum, also called the osoberry, which is a native plant of the Pacific Northwest. It was a first sign of spring in our low land habitats near forested areas.

In the Pacific Northwest, blooms of white bells begin appearing on the branches as early as February. The flowers turn into clusters of small, seeded fruits, that attract birds, including hummingbirds.

Now in bloom, they look like little dancing fairies, would you agree?



There is a history of Native American use of the shrub for food and medicinal purposes, however very little commercial harvesting of the fruit is undertaken today.

I have had several sightings of Indian Plum while walking my dog on the Chehalis Western Trail in Olympia, Washington.

Maple Blooms

Lately I have been fascinated by how quickly the leaves of the Big Leaf Maple grow. The other day they were mire sprouts with long beautiful chain of blooms and today they are actual leaves. I believe if you spent the day watching, you could actually see the leaves grow!

They make a pretty picture, wouldn't you agree?