About to water
A big green hanging fern plant
Then saw two sweet eggs.
Life is Fragile
birds nest
Feather and Egg April 23, 2017
The box is singing
Fledglings are making some noise
Do the parents sleep?
Art Prescription: Mother Nature’s tenacity is amazing. Every minute or so I see one of the chickadee parents leave the box to go grocery shopping. The box gets quiet. And as soon as one of the parents flies in, there is a lot of sweet high-note chirping going on.
Index card with colored pencil:
Nest March 25, 2017
Loads of rich green moss
And soft downy rabbit fur
A chickadee nest.
Art Prescription: It fascinates me that all birds build different nests. Some use twigs and vines, some nest in tree cavities, others build with leaves, moss, fur, and I’ve even seen a snake skin. What a lot of work these winged friends put into their offspring.
Sumi-ink with my chop that says “hope”
Planning Ahead May 9, 2016
Two different nests
One for now, one for later
Industrious bird.
Art Prescription: I’ve had bluebirds building a nest inside a box in the yard for a month. Curious about this behavior, I asked the crew at Carolina Birders. Evidently these birds are building an alternate nest. While the pair takes care of sitting on eggs or feeding current fledglings, they spend their mornings building another nest. So if something happens to the first nest they have a new nest to lay eggs in or they may just use it as the next home. Fascinating how nature equips itself with procreation!!
8 x 8 mixed-media on watercolor paper
Nature Journal May 2, 2016
A paper bird’s nest
Nature journal style study
Tear, glue, draw, and paint.
Art Prescription: So fun to work spontaneously with my art buddies! As we talked, our hands moved and art was made.
8 x 8 mixed-media on paper
This Too is Spring April 17, 2016
Fast furious swoop
A near miss, the dove chortles
Hungry red-eyed hawk.
Art Prescription: I was sitting outside when I heard a sudden ruffle of wings. A hawk swooped in after a morning dove in the trees. Lucky for the dove, the hawk went hungry. The yin and yang of nature.
Nature Collection
Crowded August 3, 2015
A pretty cute crowd
Small nest in a fern basket
Move over, my worm!
Art Prescription: Discovered this nest when eggs were laid. Now spying on the biddies.
Index card with pen and ink and colored pencil:
Wizard of Oz January 21, 2014
Dorothy was right
No matter how far you roam,
There’s no place like home.
Art Prescription: Feeling much like a princess in a palace, I’m home!! Home with my creature comforts, and everything else that makes my heart sing.
Haiku July 1, 2013 Purple Finch
She pecks at mosses
Beak full she pauses, waits for
His wings to say fly!
Art Prescription: Watching a pair of purple finches in my backyard…delightful. Clearly team work as she gathers materials for a nest, he stands watch to see that the coast is clear. A slight jiggle of wings is cue for them to fly off together for their destination.
Haiku June 17, 2013 Sturdy Construction
Nestled on branches
Stands test of wind and rain, proof
Sturdy construction.
Art Prescription: We have been watching a robin’s nest for a couple of weeks. When recent thunderstorms ripped through here, I worried about the nest. Proof of the builder’s determination, the nest sits strong and steady! Amazing!
art prescription 