The Country Diary of a New Momma
capturing nature in watercolor while my baby sleeps
by Edith Holden
living close to nature on Vancouver Island
what I'm using to create my paintings
1. Clear and cold day, walked with family at Island View Beach in Victoria.
8. Baby boy turns 3 months old today. Very cold temps - 9 C.
15. Collected plants while on my walk today to create the January title page for my country diary.
16. Woke up to snow! More snow is forecasted, the forest looks so beautiful.
17. Snowed all day today, I took baby boy for his first walk in the snow, along the way I found some variegated ivy.
18. The rain came and made a mess of the snow. We stayed inside all day today.
24. Heavy rain all day again and forecasted for the next week - very gloomy out. I finished my beauty berry painting today for page 2. It is much warmer out now, if this continues we will have an early spring.
31. January was warm and very cold with lots of rain. I am yearning for spring to arrive. Winter with a tiny baby is challenging. We are staying here at the seaside resort until May 1st. I have been enjoying being back in Nanaimo and going to the marsh more often.
Below: Beautyberry, My baby boy out for his first snowy walk, hellebore wilted from the cold, black huckleberry, baby boy in his stroller, and hazelnut catkin.
5. So far February has been much dryer and sunnier than January.
7. Found some more variegated Ivy with a different leaf shape while out on my walk.
9. Snowdrops are up more, I found some with a more yellow green leaf color compared to the classic blue-grey leaf often seen. I thought they might be snowlfakes and not snowdrops. However once fully opened I looked at the flowers and they are snowdrops.
11. Primroses are startinf to come out aroudn the resort in all the little side gardens, mostyl light yellow and purple flowers.
14. Young leaves are coming out on the saskatoon berry bushes and a few flowers on the highest branches that catch the most sun.
17. I walked the woodland trail for the first time today with baby boy, as walking was the only way to get him to nap. I can imagine in a few more weeks how many lovely woodland flowers will be coming out. From the looks of the area there will likely be trilliums and calypso orchids.
24. February continues to be mild and warm and not too much rain. I am behind on painting this month as my sweet boy has decided to stop day time napping unless he is in motion in the car or the stroller. This month I hope to list the coommon and latin names of the plants that I have painted.
29. Today is a special day as it is a leap year, we usually do not have a 29th day in February. I am looking forward to spring and having many wildflowers to inspire me to paint.
Below: (my reference photos and baby boy) - Primrose, varigated Ivy, crocuses, snowdrop, Baby Boy in February, and the view from our home overlooking the sea.
Botanical painting doesn't have to be overwhelming!!
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