WEEK 3

Date: Monday April 22, 2013
Weather: Windy, partly cloudy
Temperature: 55-60 degrees F
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Union Bay Natural Area

This week the weather did not improve as it had between the last two weeks, my site is becoming greener though and I am now able to identify a few species of plant life here. First and foremost I am delighted to say that I have identified my great tree, which to my confusion was actually exactly that which I had suspected it to be, but I had been swayed by an absence of cotton, that will come later. That's right, it's a Cotton Wood! 

1) Cotton Wood, Populus balsamifera, member of the Willow family. I  learned that this tree will produce a catkin flower, and sticky, yellow buds which are quite fragrant. The leaves of the Cotton Wood are arrow shaped, ovate, entire, shinny above, and dull gray below. The bark is gray and the trees retain much water which makes them unsuitable for wood burning (they are wetland indicators). The Cotton Woods here are also very tall, and grow alongside the pond in the shallow water.

2) The Rush, Juncus effusus, is the second species I would like to identify, which explains why I had thought I had seen Idaho Fescue (but clearly, did not). It has a single round, long stem and at this point most of the Rush is from last year, but in the center of the Rush, located in the pond, there is new, green color from this season.

3) The Pacific Willow, Salix lucida, also borders the pond. It is pretty tall, but not as tall as the Cotton Woods here, in general. It has oval/elongate, fine toothed, lanceolate, leaves with small hairs, yellowish twigs, and produces catkins. The bark is grayish and furrowed, and it grows in the same shallow water as the Cotton Wood. Interesting fact: the Pacific Willow is prone to hybridization with others.

4) Red Osier Dogwood, Cornus sericea, is a thick looking shrub which is just as abundant in the area. The first thing that I noticed about it was the red hue of the twigs, then when we examined the leaves closely; the longitudinal veins of the leaves were noticeable, as well as an opposite leaf pattern, and an elliptical, entire shape. The Red Osier Dogwood grows in the dry and wet areas here. 

5) Oregon Ash, Fraxinus latifolia, is a member of the Olive family. It has opposite, pinnately compound leaves that count 5 to 7 on a stem, which are elliptical in shape, entire, and have a hairy underside. The bark is gray, and furrowed in forking ridges. It is growing in the drier area alongside the walking path.

6) Sitka Spruce, Picea sitchensis, is a member of the Pine family. The needles surround the twig and are stiff, and the cones hang down and are cylindrical with thin, papery scales. The bark is gray and thin, and there are very bright green buds on the ends of the tree branches here. The tree is growing in the drier grassy areas.

7) Ponderosa Pine, Pin ponderosa, is also a member of the Pine family, naturally. The needles are bundled in groups of three, and the cones are egg-shaped and reddish. The trees' bark is thick and brown-colored, and the tree also grows in the drier grassy areas here.

8) Pacific Madrone, Arbutus menziesii, is a member of the Heath family. The flowers on the Pacific Madrones here are very small, white, and bell-shaped, and bark is smooth and red with dense cold wood ("refrigerator tree"). The leaves are waxy and elliptical/oblong with small tooths, and a simple pattern. The tree is also growing alongside the drier walking path area.

Leslie Field Sketching Techniques

1) Choose a small spot to sketch. I have chosen a small plant, just at my feet to make my subject for these sketches.

2) Analyze, observe, and take in the detail of your subject. Check!

3) Sketch your subject from memory:

4) Sketch subject without looking at the notebook:

5) My various fast-paced sketches

6) Five minute sketch

7) Experimenting with my pencil

8) Detailed sketch

This plant is relatively small, the leaves only being 2 inches wide. The most noticeable detail is the edges of the leaves which appear toothed but have a lobed shape overall.

Four more sketches of plants seen around the pond:

WEEK 2

Date: Monday April 15, 2013
Weather: Fair, sunny with a slight breeze, small clouds in NE sky
Temperature: 50 degrees F
Time: 5pm-6:30pm
Location: Union Bay Natural Area

The pond has not changed a considerable amount, however, sparse blades of grass have infiltrated the water's edge with their thin green bodies. Any buds in the trees last week have turned into small leaves, I am surprised that it has only been a week. The yellow-green is overwhelming as usual, and the sun provides a nice glow. Still, the breeze is picking up in the later hours and giving the air a decent chill. Four Mallards are in the pond again, though they are at too great of a distance to discern between these ducks and the Mallards from last Monday. There are high-pitched chirps sounding from the tops of the trees and I dearly hope that I catch a glimpse of at least one of the birds. Some of the grasses here remind me of the grasses seen in Idaho, which leads me to believe that they are Idaho Fescue, but I am not entirely positive if that is possible here in Western Washington.

WEEK 1

Date: Monday April 8, 2013
Weather: partly cloudy with a slight wind
Temperature: 50 degrees F
Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm
Location: Union Bay Natural Area

The colors here particularly amaze me. This is not a garden filled with an array of flowers or plants, but a scene that allows one to notice the subtle differences between the colors around one. The greens here come in a thousand shades, and the browns are mixed with reds, yellows, and the deep blue of the thriving pond that I have settled by.

The pond here curves like a boomerang. It holds a great amount of wildlife, the most noticeable being the brightly colored ducks, varying greatly in hue and slightly in size. Two ducks bare a light brown color with dark brown highlights and the other to have black, brown, and white bodies with brilliant green from neck to bill. The brown females are the more adventures of the group, and wander ever closer to me, their male counterparts in tow. A tree with upward reaching fingers, complete with green buds, stands between me and the distant dormitory structure on the edge of the University of Washington campus. Most other trees here resemble this landmark tree but appear much younger. The grass is very lush and green here, and on the edge of  the pond it gives way to a moss of a yellow-green color. A tall grass sprouted in the center of the pond bares a gray-brown color which contrasts against the many green buds and stems surrounding the water. The pond itself is dark in the evening here which encourages me to return on a sunny day to perhaps catch the blinding yet beautiful sparkle that the sun's rays can produce. Gnats, ducks, and the gentle ripples in the pond break the visual stillness. My duck friends quack and splash, diving into the water. It reminds me of a Summer quarry filled with the sounds of children playing. The most notable of the audible tunes though, are the sing-song calls of the birds in the trees, hidden from sight but providing much music. Since moving to Seattle, WA I have not experienced such a symphony, but when I was growing up in Idaho it functioned as an alarm clock!
I am looking forward to returning to this place throughout the academic quarter as the season slowly grows warmer and gives way to Summer. The changing weather will no doubt bring about changes in scenery at ground level as well!

My Relationship With Nature

Moving to Seattle, WA was a cut off from nature for me, Emerald City or not. I enjoy the city, the quick pace, the people, buildings, lights, sights, food, but I will always have a relationship with the nature that I grew up around. This nature being in the panhandle of northern Idaho. Living off of the land and employing sustainability is important to my family. Bored? Take a walk! Hungry? Grow it yourself! My family took multiple fishing trips in the Spring and Summer, camping trips during the hottest months, and my Father would periodically take a rifle or bow and arrow into the woods and provide our family with clean meat all year to accompany our fresh garden vegetables. As a child I can remember having hideouts and hangouts in the woods with my siblings and friends. We would continuously return to them in order to build pine needle and moss chairs, beds of leaves on smooth rock and even makeshift latrines (ah!). The comforts of the indoors are luxurious because they are warm, and sanitary in this part of the world, but on a day when the sun is shining you will always find me outdoors.