A New Challenge

Day 231: Birds are one thing. Botanical art is another, and although I want to be as accurate in my representations as possible in both subjects, plants are infinitely more difficult to portray. Petals/tepals and stamens must be counted, leaf form must be scrupulously observed. Does the leaf clasp the stem? Is it serrated? Notched? Are the stems glabrous or pubescent? Colour and shading are the least of your worries when you're trying to draw a plant with scientific accuracy. Maybe that's why so much botanical art is done in pencil or pen. In fact, I have been hesitant to add colour for fear of losing important detail, but at this point, my detailing skills are marginal, so I'm hiding my sins beneath a wash of pigment. For now, I am content to show the plant in its proper genus; species is going to take a lot more work. (Clockwise from the left: Paeonia, Lamprocapnos, Rhipsalidopsis, Centaurea).

A Not-So-Favourite Invasive

Day 314: There are half a dozen different Knapweeds (pure strains and crosses), all of which are considered Class B noxious weeds in Washington. They are prolific seed-producers and can crowd out native vegetation in a very short time, reducing the amount of forage for livestock and other animals where the plants occur. There are various controls which can be used for small infestations. Pulling or digging is effective, but mowing is not, due to the fact that the roots are long-lived and will re-sprout even in the same season. Biocontrols are an option when applying chemicals is undesirable. Methods include the introduction of Knapweed beetles or shading the plants out with more vigorous native species. That said, if Knapweed appears on your property, your first priority is to prevent it from going to seed.