blueberries - more than a tasty snack

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I miss my big garden chock full of year-round native color! But hope (and joy) is not lost. Fortunately, there are many gorgeous wildflowers blooming right now for me to sustainably harvest and enjoy some mini arrangements. From the pinks of end-of-season coneflower, to the yellows of goldenrod, and the vibrant purples and lavenders of the start of the asters, color is all around us! When I create these wildflower arrangements, I am always aware of avoiding galls (insects overwintering), peak flower blooms or buds yet to be pollinated (I try to find some that are just barely on their way out, or have been pollinated to make sure I leave good end of season food for critters), and never take the last of ANY type of flower, no matter how common they may have been before. A good rule of thumb is to take 10% or less of a flower in one area to keep some for birds and other wildlife (especially as falling migration is ramping up), enjoy the beauty of invasives without spreading their seeds further, and to take only what you can use. Remember - we are part of our ecosystem too and should utilize wild bounty respectfully!
Oxygenated water is a good thing (although too much can be bad if there are sudden temperatures or other environmental changes!). In fact, fish/aquarium animal owners, or bird bath wonders will often add a bubbler to the water to help keep the water in better quality. This oxygenation happens naturally in streams and rivers. Every time water rushes over rocks, a heron or kingfisher lunges after prey, or frogs hop out of the water, oxygen is added and forms bubbles! Splashing during creek play can also add oxygen. Macro invertebrates and fish use gills to pull oxygen molecules out of the water to breathe. These animals also help keep aquatic, and even terrestrial ecosystems happy and healthy! Everything's connected!
Join me next Tuesday, 6-7:30pm @chestercountyartassociation for 6 weeks of botanical illustration fun! We'll examine parts of a plant, how to scientifically document observations through art, understand plant colors, and more, with unique activities each week followed by time to work on a single piece to be completed by the last class. Time to draw from natural objects and plants available.
There is some crazy cool camouflage in the world! Some critters have only the same color as their environment, but other animals, like the Twig Mimic caterpillar, also behave and move like the object they are trying to blend in with! Octopuses, tigers, fawns, Sapsuckers, Screech owls, and many others are masters at blending in with their surroundings. What's your favorite way that you've seen camouflage displayed?
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