Muse No. 8 May 18, 2020
Blind Contour of Iris by Claire LaRose , Santa Fe Botanical Garden Volunteer Coordinator
With phenology monitoring we visit the same sites for each series of observations. For this musing, return to your Muse 7 object and make note of the differences from your first observations (record the date and the conditions of the day). As an observation exercise, try a blind contour drawing. Slowly follow the edge of the plant with your eye. Now place your pencil/pen on the paper and move your hand slowly with your eye as you follow the edge of the plant again.
Blind Contour of Aster by Claire LaRose
Don’t look at the paper while you’re drawing- it’s hard! This exercise trains your hand to move in the same way your eye is moving. Share your signs of spring with us! #gardenmusings, #santafebotanicalgarden
Learn more about phenology monitoring on our citizen science webpage.
The Garden Musings Project is an open invitation to look more closely and broadly at our backyards, front yards and neighborhoods. Each week we’ll send three prompts focused around a theme – color, texture, lines, interaction to name a few. These prompts will include ideas to guide a musing or conversation between you and your nearby outdoor spaces. Try each of the exercises, or stick with one that evolves into a regular practice.
Every few weeks, we’ll have a live-stream conversation (via Zoom) to share our experiences, and to chat with artists, educators, writers, poets and gardeners from New Mexico and a far about their own practices observing and interacting with their gardens, landscapes and other natures around them.
Ways to Join: Participate at any level in the project is welcome. Try the weekly musings as they come up in your social media feeds. Sign-up for the project emails below to receive the weekly musings in your inbox, as well as the information for the group gatherings via Zoom through the registration list.
