Sunday, I found a Dogwood to sketch. What caught my eye as I stood beneath the tree was how the sunlit blossoms looked against the Carolina blue sky. I love how delicate and wispy the branches are that reach up for the sky. The white flowers are not really flowers, but are called ‘bracts’ that come out of the tiny cluster of yellow flowers. The bracts are four large petals-like objects. Today they were dancing around in the 20-30 mph wind gusts. Luckily, I was in a somewhat sheltered spot.
I stood while sketching the branch with a Pentel Brush Pen, then sat below the tree to add color to the sky and leaves. I stood once again to see the subtle shading on the flowers. This page is part of my Journal of Trees – a Zeta Series Stillman and Birn journal. Love this paper!
Did you know:
• The Flowering Dogwood is an understory tree which means it grows beneath taller trees.
• The fruit of the dogwood is called a ‘drupe’ – a fleshy fruit with a single seed. They are shiny red and can grow up to a half inch long.
• Many birds and animals eat the fruit.
Thanks, Carol! In the wild, the dogwoods love to be tucked in under the taller trees. The nursery dogwood adapt well to being planted in the open. At my childhood home, we had a dogwood that was not happy under the edge canopy of our large maple tree. It stretched away to get sun.
Thanks, Carol! In the wild, the dogwoods love to be tucked in under the taller trees. The nursery dogwood adapt well to being planted in the open. At my childhood home, we had a dogwood that was not happy under the edge canopy of our large maple tree. It stretched away to get sun.
I love your beautiful sketch and am happy to learn that we may be getting some spring-like temps soon. And thank you for the info on the flowering dogwood. We have one in front of my building. There are no trees above it but maybe an apartment building counts?
I love your beautiful sketch and am happy to learn that we may be getting some spring-like temps soon. And thank you for the info on the flowering dogwood. We have one in front of my building. There are no trees above it but maybe an apartment building counts?
Thanks, Rhonda! Yes, flowering trees and the great blue herons, great egrets and wood storks are nesting. Hang on, spring is heading your way 🙂
Thanks, Rhonda! Yes, flowering trees and the great blue herons, great egrets and wood storks are nesting. Hang on, spring is heading your way 🙂
Thank you so, Valerie! I'm loving the brush pen. Sometimes my strokes are fatter than intended but in general, I love the overall look 🙂
This is so pretty, I can just feel that breeze blowing through the branches, wish I could handle the brush pen as well as you do!
This is so pretty, I can just feel that breeze blowing through the branches, wish I could handle the brush pen as well as you do!
Beautiful blue skies there – and flowering trees already? Lucky girl! Thanks for sharing the painting and the information 🙂 Have a great week!
Beautiful blue skies there – and flowering trees already? Lucky girl! Thanks for sharing the painting and the information 🙂 Have a great week!