When in Rome...

My second and last night in Rome (last month) was at the Hotel Forum.  If you're there, be sure to stop at the American bar on the rooftop for fantastic views of nearby buildings and ruins. Also, the roses were blooming so I couldn't resist sketching them too!

Laguna Beach

I recently travelled to Laguna Beach, CA for a marketing seminar - the place we stayed at was gorgeous!  I loved that I could hear the ocean at night - hey, it sounded just like the app on my phone!

The beach - right outside my room!

Laguna Motor Werks - old gas pump

We had an extra afternoon to visit the nearby mission at San Juan Capistrano. No swallows were there yet, but we did see 2 hummingbirds.  They were flitting about, but stopped often to rest in a tree.  It was my first time ever seeing a hummingbird sitting still. They are so very, very tiny!

Calla lily at the mission

The original structure

May flowers

It's been a good month for flowers!  

Faithful chives

These chives come up every year!

Mother's Day flowers - Thank you!

First poppies - Bright pops of spring color, and always gone too quickly.

Our early spring in Upstate NY

Back in March, we had some lovely summer-like weather, I'm just now posting a sketch of my flowers that bloomed then-

White roses

This is one of my very few efforts to sketch in ink first, and not use pencil. It's rather scary, but fun!

Chinese lanterns

I went about this all backwards!  First, I decided I wanted to make some art for a small opening in a bigger mat.  Then I got the mats made. THEN I sketched these. Oh well, I never claimed to be a rule-follower!

Lisa's garden

Visiting my friend a couple weeks ago. She doesn't tend the garden, but she gets to enjoy it!

2011-07-14 Daisys from my garden

These are so easy to grow and so pretty in a vase!

2011 0521 poppies

The first ones of the year, I so love their rich color!

Quince

Lovely sign that spring is finally here! Sitting in a limoncello glass from Positano, Italy.

Jacob's Walking Stick

I saw one of these in the Montreal Botanical Gardens years ago, and wanted one ever since. This has been here for 2 years now, and it is growing nicely - I just have to keep trimming off any shoots that want to grow straight!

Birthday flowers sketches

Birthday flowers!

I paint at my dining room table, even though I have a workspace upstairs. It's much brighter here!

 The flowers are a lovely birthday gift. (for me!)

2010 0905 Jackie & Matt's Garden - details