Today I took the bicycle, well first a walk with Annabelle, down the street to Hall Road for what turned out to be an eventful painting afternoon. Not only did I sketch and then paint a site, I came up with an artist name inspired by my favorite French painter, Cézanne.
A sketch of an old dam by Swains Lake. The start of the Bellamy River
Shortly after the sketch… I began painting with purples and pinks in the background, then worked forward to the trees, wall, water, shadows, and snow.
Painting by. Chadd de Deux
Travelling home, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my mom made the trip back from Maine, and my girlfriend landed successfully in Beijing. Good day!
My ride. Thanks to Annabelle for finding the painting site today.
Please enjoy these five paintings, done in Barrington, NH, of trees and the surrounding landscape. I’m hoping to keep the theme of “Trees and their landscape,” throughout the event.
A snowy slope in the back 40. With knotty pine trees
A farm house across from Goodwill Conservation
Farm house sketch
Dead Elm, I think, makes a good raptor perch
Nissan Silvia driving by on GranTurismo’s forgotten track, “Beauty Hill Rd.”
A feel good painting about trees
Annabelle is such a trooper. Check back next time for more content!
Pies are great, but you need flowers bringing bees to make the fruit
To grow an awesome garden this summer, use cucurbits, lots of flowers, and means of privacy.
Watermelons, melons, pumpkins, and cucumbers—just some of the most exciting pie fruits—all fall under the family of cucurbits. It just so happens that cucurbits, according to my friend Linghui, a PHD studying pollinators at UNH, need more pollinator action than other vegetables. The challenge—budgeting space, time, money, and energy for vegetables and flowers—is exacerbated by a steady loss of bees and pollinators in our environment.
Bees are not the only pollinator. Wasps, moths, and butterfly’s are also pollinators. Spiders and dragonfly’s are not, but still visit the plant reproductive sites.
To ensure a good garden, you gotta have some privacy. This is so you can sing to the plants. Even plants growing in parking garages are clinically proven to appreciate being grown to Mozart. A good screen depends on how much space you have. For small areas use a trellis and annual vines. With a larger area, mix evergreen and deciduous shrubs, and even perennials. The screen is best when it reaches out into the yard, becomes nuanced with sinuses and paths.
A screen!? Photo credit Marj Butler
Now is a good time to start planning your vegetable gardens. Many seed companies, such as Fedco Seeds, are so inundated with orders they have a wait list. Also try out Burpee Seeds, Traditional Seed Co., and Johnny Schneeps.
When you consider flowers and vegetables, don’t forget vines and even shrubs —available via mail order—for a little intimacy element.
A winter screen planting the Buffleheads appreciate
Chadd G Hippensteel 