More Desert Flowers

I just can't get enough of flowers. I have been especially infatuated with the bladder sage. Since I don't care much for the name, I have decided to rename them for my own use. I think "balloon sage" is a much nicer name. Whatever you call it, it is an intriguing plant! The "balloons" are full of air, which I discovered yesterday when I squeezed one between my fingers. I know, I know, curiosity killed the cat. Since I am not a cat I have decided to take my chances. How ELSE are you supposed to figure these things out?

I also took a couple photos of the desert mallow (sphaeralcea ambigua). This is one of the most drought tolerant species of the globe mallow family. It was a bit windy outside, so forgive the slight blurriness. These plants can be quite large, and they really light up the landscape with those orange flowers. I have a thing for the color orange lately, anyway.


I finally decided I needed to do a little art. I have a tiny sketch book, in which I have been doing these dime-sized sketches of the jackrabbits that occasionally visit. If any of you have ever drawn from a live human model, you will know that one minute or 30 second poses are REALLY QUICK. Well, if you want a true challenge, try drawing from an animal. You are lucky to get a 5 second pose. Many of these sketches are so fast, and simple. I thought I could do little watercolor drawings from these sketches. That's what I worked on yesterday. As it turns out, I am not so sure I am getting enough information to do watercolors of them. You can see for yourself. It is really pretty "cute" for me. No, I do not have visions of being like Beatrix Potter. Not by any means. (If you haven't seen the movie based on Beatrix Potter's life, starring Renee Zellweger, you should.) I just wanted to do some art. I do love the big ears on those jackrabbits.