Then this fellow serenaded me but he wasn't about to let me get any closer. It is a very common bird -- the Song Sparrow, and he does have a very nice song -- and loud. However you need to get a better shot than this to see the black smudge on his breast that identifies him from other sparrows, (if he isn't singing, that is.) They rarely visit our yard, so I was glad to at least see and hear him.
And that was all I got for the afternoon. I could hear quite a few water fowl, but I didn't recognize their calls, and they were hidden deep in the rushes. As it was a gorgeous day we didn't mind too much.
We had decided to go to the desert on Wednesday this week, -- too windy last week. But now we are to get two days of wind and rain and dust storms in the desert. It's a good, solid, two hour drive over the mountains to the desert floor and the scenic route is a narrow twisty road and can be very windy when the winds come through the canyons. Since this trip is supposed to be a relaxing day off we will have to put it off again. I'm afraid the desert flowers will be past their best by the time we do get there.
But in the mean time I did not give up on my art efforts. I don't know the name of this plant but it is one that grows all over Hawaii. It is lushly green, dark red and yellow and as I recall can grow to about six feet, with lots of foliage.
I'm looking forward to seeing which city of the world Virtual Paintout will choose for the month of April. The ones from Stavanger, Norway were quite varied, and I discovered what a beautiful city it is. If you like to draw and paint visit virtualpaintout.blogspot (Click) and see what others have been doing. You also need to use Google street view if you participate. I'm really glad I joined this group. I was a bit reluctant at first, but it's fun and you learn a lot from many photos of the city you are visiting not to mention the other artists' renderings.
SEE YOU TOMORROW. I'M GOING TO POST ONE OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS ON ABC WEDNESDAY.
3 comments:
That plant sketch is one of your finest - a gorgeous, sensitively worked piece, Chris. I have no idea what plants you get over there, but to me it looks rather like a coleus - just a houseplant over here, as you will know.
I'm looking forward to the new VP location too!
What a gorgeous little plant painting, Chris! The colors are fabulous! Sounds like you had a nice day out and about too. One day I'm going to get off my butt and wander outside. One day.
Thanks for the VP blog site. I will check it out. We will be looking forward to your desert pictures when you get over the mountain.
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