Category: Our Nature Journals

Calendar of Firsts, Our Nature Journals, Spring

Our Nature Journals ~ Week 21

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The meadow is so pretty right now! I painted the Horse Chestnut flowers, which are slowly on their way out, Ribwort Plantain, and Ivy.

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Our nature group explored a little of the local history of our nature spot this week, and Rose sketched a scene from life in the middle ages.

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For my Calendar of Firsts, I cheated  little, and I sketched our new kitten. We have been struggling so much with his names, so I recored some of the names we have toyed with! I also recored that it was Ascension Day, and the new moon.

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Happy exploring!

Our Nature Journals, Phenology Wheels, Spring

Phenology Wheels In May

by raisinglittleshoots4 Comments on Phenology Wheels In May

Back in January, we began to keep phenology wheels to record not only the changes in the natural world, but also the festivals of the liturgical year that we celebrate.

Here are our entries for May. A in previous months, Rose worked on her entry whilst I read from the May chapter of Roald Dhal My Year.

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Rose sketched a wild bunny, and as today is Ascension Day, she sketched clouds to represent the festival.

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I sketched the Hawthorn, which to me, is the flower of May! I copied Rosie’s idea of clouds for Ascension Day.

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Our Phenology Wheel posts for the year:

January

February

March

April

Nature, Our Nature Journals, Spring

Our Nature Journals : Week 20

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The meadow this week is bursting with Buttercups! I painted the nettles, Red Campion, Meadow Buttercups, and Red Clover.

My notes on the Nettles came from the beautiful & informative blog of Lucinda Warner, a herbalist who blogs at Whispering Earth.
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Rose sketched and labelled an Ash branch for her Field Guide this week. We had to agree to disagree on her choice of leaf margin 😉
In my Calendar of Firsts I recorded the Rosemary that is flowering in my garden, and a wee Brown-Lipped Snail that was walking along my path.
What is happening in your wee corner of the world?
Calendar of Firsts, Our Nature Journals, Spring

Our Nature Journals : Week 19

by raisinglittleshoots1 Comment on Our Nature Journals : Week 19

This week has been gloriously sun-shiny; perfect English weather! Everywhere is bursting with life.

In my meadow journal I painted Dandelion seed heads, Curly dock, Meadow Fescue, Sweet Vernal Grass, Alder, and the Alder Leaf Beetle, which was actually thought to be extinct in the UK until a few years ago.

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Our caterpillars arrived this week, so Rose chose to sketch on in her journal. I adore the sweet simplicity, but accuracy of her sketch!

In my Calendar of Firsts, I recored the full Milk Moon, and the flowering Holly tree in the garden.

What is happening in nature where you live?

 

 

Calendar of Firsts, Our Nature Journals, Spring

Our Nature Journals Week 18

by raisinglittleshoots2 Comments on Our Nature Journals Week 18

In my place journal this week, I sketched Dock, Ribwort Plantain, Sweet Vernal Grass, Lesser Spearwort, Wavy Bittercress, Sycamore flowers, Hawthorn, and a passing Orange Tip butterfly, along with a wee sketch of the meadow.

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We worked on our phenology wheels for April:

Rose has been keeping a close eye on the tadpoles in our pond, and sketched one for her nature journal.

In my Calendar of Firsts, I sketched a Dandelion, or ‘Fairy’ Clock, the first Orange Tip butterfly I have seen this year, and I recorded that it was May Day this week.

How are your journals coming along this week?

Happy exploring!

 

Our Nature Journals, Phenology Wheels, Spring

April Phenology Wheels

by raisinglittleshoots6 Comments on April Phenology Wheels

Back in January, we began to keep phenology wheels to record not only the changes in the natural world, but also the festivals of the liturgical year that we celebrate.

Here are our entries for April, as always,  Rose worked on hers whilst I read from the April chapter of Roald Dhal My Year.

Rose sketched a Horse Chestnut leaf, and the St. Georges cross.

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For my wheel: St George’s Day and Easter Day, Dandelions and Daisies!

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Our Phenology Wheel posts for the year:

January

February

March

Calendar of Firsts, Our Nature Journals, Spring

Our Nature Journals Week 17

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We have had some truly glorious sunshine this week, along with heavy rain and hailstones. The woods are filled with Bluebells, including a pretty swathe of pink. There are Dandelions and Daisies everywhere!

Rose sketched a Dandelion seed head for her journal
I chose to sketch a pink Bluebell and a Daisy in my Calendar of Firsts
In my place journal, I sketched Oak, Elder, and Wild Chervil, along with a wee sketch of the meadow.

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What is happening where you live?

Happy exploring!

Calendar of Firsts, Our Nature Journals, Spring

Our Nature Journals Week 16

by raisinglittleshoots4 Comments on Our Nature Journals Week 16
This week has been very pleasant, weather-wise. Beautiful, chilly mornings, stretching out into mild spring days.
Rose was inspired by a book she is reading; A Rock is Lively and sketched Lapis Lazuli
I am busy observing the meadow, which is so beautifully bursting into life.
Cuckoo Flower and Cherry blossom
Dandelion, Blackberry leaves, and Ribwort Plantain
In my Calendar of Firsts, I sketched our apple tree, which is in full bloom, promising lots of fruit for pies and crumbles. I also sketched a  Pheasant; I keep spying them on the way to the stables with my daughters.
Happy exploring!

 

 

 

 

 

Nature, Our Nature Journals

Our Nature Journals Week 15

by raisinglittleshoots1 Comment on Our Nature Journals Week 15

 

We have had some lovely walks this week, along with some beautiful, spring weather, though as I type, it is pouring with rain.

My husband took some smashing photographs of one of the swans.

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How handsome!

Rose hasn’t done any journaling this week; I did a spread of a tree study I did of the trees in the meadow:

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In my Calendar of Firsts I sketched the Bluebells that are beginning to bloom in the garden, a Buttercup from the meadow, the bats that flutter over the garden in the evenings, and this month’s full Egg Moon.

Happy exploring!

 

Calendar of Firsts, Our Nature Journals, Phenology Wheels, Spring

Our Nature Journals Week 13

by raisinglittleshoots1 Comment on Our Nature Journals Week 13

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Our week began on Mothering Sunday, with bright blue skies and glorious sunshine, but gradually became wetter as the week wore on. We managed some lovely morning walks still; everything is growing and changing!

We had some excitement in the garden this week; A partial albino Blackbird! Isn’t he a handsome wee fellow!

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This week Rosie sketched the Ash tree buds that were bursting into flower for her field guide.

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We also worked on our phenology wheels for March.

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I sketched a Bumble Bee, Dandelion, and Lesser Celandine.

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What is happening in the natural world where you live?