May Marvels

Wild Hyacinth

Baby Bluebird

Sunset over Barn

Redbud leaf in tea

Redbud

Dragonfly - I can't find the species

Hazy Late Afternoon

Actias Luna

This is my second sighting of the Luna Moth, actias luna, one of the largest moths in North America with a wingspan of nearly 5 inches. Really amazing to see such a creature.

Fruits of Summer

Recently completed mini-canvas painting; sealed watercolor on canvas.
Just as the wild strawberries are ripening.

Summer Taking Flight

            

April Field Notes: Mushrooms

April was a slow, meditative walk through the woods, with my eyes down and roaming in search of that little (or large if I'm lucky), perfectly camouflaged morsel - the Morel mushroom. This morel season was pretty successful but not legendary. I have heard and seen pictures of the most epic harvests of morels. Oh to be so lucky!

I spy with my little eye: look how perfectly it blends in!

This year I even found a false morel, pictured below. Don't eat these guys, the are poisonous. For me the difference is obvious but the real giveaway is that a false morel is not hollow and an edible morel is hollow when cut lengthwise.

False Morel

Inside of false morel.

I have also been finding Devil's Urn, below, in my woods especially on downed tree logs. I think they should rather be called Elfin Cap, it's much less sinister. These are not edible. They look really spectacular and if you run your finger inside them and wait a second or two and magical little swirl of spores spirals out of them. I think there is a story hiding inside them.  

A fitting hat for any woodland sprite, gnome, elf or fairy don't you think?

Here was my favorite morel creation. A pizza on a toasted flour tortilla. First I sauteed some chopped onion in butter until tender, then I added a little cream and salt and pepper - just enough cream to make a paste like sauce. I smeared this on an already toasted tortilla. On top of this I added my sliced morel mushrooms, some cheese (whatever you like but I added garlic cheddar & mozzarella). I also added a thinly sliced tomato and a drizzle of olive oil. I baked at 350 for around 10 minutes. You want the mushrooms to get cooked thoroughly. You could sautee mushrooms first as well. YUM!

April Field Notes: Wildflowers

Shooting Star - many blooms smell of grape

Blooms of Shooting Star

Blue False Indigo - probably my favorite woodland wildflower

Blue False Indigo

Hoary Puccoon

Yellow Star Grass

Shining Blue Star, view from above

Wild Hyacinth

Fire Pink

Rue Anemone (or False Rue Anemone - they are so close) was very widespread in my woods this year. 

Yellow Star Grass

Happy May Day

watercolor on paper

Last week I filled a bottle with fresh water from our spring, toted watercolor paints, brushes and paper with me into the woods, scouted out a flat shady spot and used my spring water to paint. I wanted to paint postcards to send to my niece and nephew for May Day. Above is a Green Man, spirit of the woods, and below is a May Queen that turned into more of a woodland sprite. In other parts of the world, particularly in the British Isles, a procession is held on May Day and is led by a May Queen and Green Man in celebration of the beginning of summer. Here are some links to read more about the May Day customs:

http://windling.typepad.com/blog/2013/05/wild-folklore.html

http://www.terriwindling.com/blog/2015/05/beltane.html

http://intothehermitage.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-rites-of-spring.html 

Another product of forest painting, this time with a favorite quote.