The Last Day of Spring!

The last day of spring - can you believe it!!!?  I've got a few thing to cover before the summer solstice tomorrow, but I can't get to them all...here's a couple to tide things over a bit! 

Prairie Liliy (or Wood Lily) - Lilium philadelphicum - photo ©Bruce A. Morrison

Our Prairie Lilies have begun blooming here on our north pasture. Last year we were robbed of blooms due to rabbits…snipped the bud right off as it swelled to almost bloom. Unfortunately I had to cage them to prevent a repeat of that this year. Frustrating!!! (The year before, voles dug up two bulbs...a small pasture has a lot of negative pressure!)

 

I have noticed the Range map "Floristic Synthesis of North America (BONAP)", lists this plant - Lilium philadelphicum , as not present in O'Brien County...well they are wrong. I first observed and photographed Lilium philadelphicum in O'Brien County, on the Waterman Prairie Complex in Waterman Township, in SE O'Brien. And that was the year before the complex was turned over to the state. I was alerted to the pending acquisition early by a DNR official who gave me permission to walk it and look for native plants to photograph. I remember he was surprised when I showed him a slide (ya, remember slide film?) of a plant in bloom.

 

Prairie Liliy (or Wood Lily) - Lilium philadelphicum - photo ©Bruce A. Morrison

 

I previously knew Lilium philadelphicum as "Wood Liliy", and used to see and photograph them along the shoreline of the north shore of Lake Superior. It was pretty cool to learn they were a prairie forb as well! I have since found them at Steele Prairie, just below the O'Brien County border in Cherokee County. When on the Prairie I refer to them as Prairie Lilies...up north I think of them as Wood Lilies...I guess its the most common native Lily in North America - that's fun to know!

 

We have two more plants coming up...one is in early bud stage now...the other may not put one on this year...not showing any sign of budding soon.

 

These are electric to the eye against the green for sure!

 

Prairie Garlic (Allium canadense) - Photograph - ©Bruce A. Morrison

 

And its that time in the native pasture here in SE O'Brien County where so much is happening, and often things are starting to get buried in the under-story, going unnoticed. But I always look for this one - even if I have to dig through the taller plants for it.

 

Sometimes referred to as Prairie Garlic, Wild Garlic or Meadow Garlic, this native prairie plant is the first Allium to show up on our pasture in the summer. By early June it can be seen down among the grasses and new plant growth, reaching for an opening of sunlight. You'll see their top-set bulbs form before the flowers...and the white and pink blossoms reach out beyond the knobby bulblets - creating almost a starburst effect.

 

Since the Mrs grows lots of garlic in her garden, we don't need to sample this beautiful little native Allium - just enjoy it's showy progression in the late spring through early summer!

If you'd like to view "A Prairie Moment" short video of Wild Garlic, you can do so on my channel at the following link - 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGB1KEW1iYE

  

Thank you for visiting my blog - enjoy the summer ahead - and be good to one another...we're all in this together!

 

Hope to see you on the Tallgrass! 

 

A Lot Going On...

https://morrisons-studio.com

 

Boy has a lot happened since my last Blog entry - shame on me!!! I just plain lost all sense of time...might be my age but its probably everything happening here and in our world outside the studio. 

In December some business issues started getting untenable...my web site provider had been a nightmare for the past 3 years and I finally decided that enough was enough...apparently being a loyal customer for well over 20 years doesn't mean anything these days? 

 I decided to go with a web provider that has been "artist based" since their inception. I wish they'd been around when I first started my first website back in the late 90's, but they weren't around yet. But I'm back up and running...its been some work rebuilding. And its been some time to get back to where I should have been a long time ago. 

One feature with this web platform I like is their "Newsletter" feature. I had all but given up on my old newsletter (not to be confused with this long standing blog). My old newsletter was created from scratch each time I published it - html coding and all...creating lots of testing and hammering out glitches. Finally the software I had used for 25 years, was no longer compatible with my computer platform...just had aged out. Should I commit to new html software or just stop publishing the newsletter? I did try mail chimp type programs but was never happy with them, but now I think its in a good place again. 

 I won't bore everyone with newsletter stories I've already published...some of you may already be newsletter subscribers of mine (?). If you're not, you certainly can subscribe for free and keep up that way, or at least catch up by checking the newsletter archives at - https://www.morrisons-studio.com/newsletter-archive At this time there are 4 newsletters to catch up on and the last two is a "two-part" story - something I have been revisiting here at the studio for the first time in 45 years! 

 If you would like to start receiving the new Studio Newsletter, you can do so by visiting - this page - https://www.morrisons-studio.com/email-newsletter 

In the meantime I'll still be keeping the Blog, and it will be similar to the newsletter but hopefully more of the same spin it has since it began over 20 years ago. The "Prairie Painter" Blog will also continue and be much the same as ever as well. Yes! I have two blogs and they have both been running for over 20 years...actually the "A Tallgrass Journal" has been running a few years longer. 

"Prairie Painter" has a bit more "art" slant than "Prairie", although they often merge much the same, and is available through the following link - https://prairiepainter.blogspot.com/ 

 In closing, be sure and check out the new web site and look for more news and tid bits down the road! (https://morrisons-studio.com) 

I so appreciate having you follow along through the years, and if you're new to the blog, I hope you enjoy visiting from time to time! 

Please be good and look out for one another in these uncertain times. We are made from the same cloth and we are all in this together. 

God Bless. Hope to see you on the Tallgrass!

June is "Dickcissel Month"...Just Say'n

 

 

(color pencil drawing - ©Bruce A. Morrison)

I got an idea last summer, reveling in all the Dickcissels living along our road and pastures. Nothing deep or serious mind you...and selfishly - something just for my own fun. I have to keep reminding myself - if you aren't having fun, then knock off what your doing and get to it...life is too short! 

 

I don't exactly recall why or how I came to this idea? Maybe it was all the perseverance these birds were being educated to each day - forming and raising families...staking their territorial claims and announcing that every day...all day long. Its really quite something to see and hear throughout the summer months.

 

I decided to just have fun and dedicate this artwork to them...all the graduates of Prairie Hill Farm - Class of '22. They wouldn't all pose for their class pictures but I got a few of them...mostly the guys of course, but a couple girls showed up as well.

 

Making this reminiscent of an old country school class composite did present some issues for me.  Color pencil is not a good tool for lettering nor graphics...I almost gave up the silly idea half way through, even before getting to the birds. I should've farmed that part off to someone who is actually "Good" at lettering and calligraphy...like our Daughter-in-Law Amy, she's a "Natural" at design and lettering - just look around our house!

 

The birds were fun - as was the central image representing their "school grounds"...putting everyone in a oval was "not" fun...not an easy shape constraint for my tired eyes and hands.

 

But here's to the "Prairie Hill Farm Summer Academy - Dickcissel Class of '22" - of whom many graduates returned this year and every year, to school their young and bring them up to be proud little Dickie Birds (as someone once called them)!!!

 

(color pencil drawing - ©Bruce A. Morrison)

 

I decided to declare June as "Dickcissel Month", in honor of these little birds and the memory they leave behind after they head south at summer's end.   I still have a glimmer of a seed to sprout a more serious Dickcissel piece someday...maybe a painting, who knows?

 

But I still remind myself not to take things too seriously, and have fun in the moment!

 

Be good to one another out there - hope to see you on the Tallgrass!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

Pre-Blizzard Sun Dogs from our lane (photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison)

It's almost Christmas and I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone the best this season!  Unfortunately for many it is also bad weather timing!  We have a really nasty blizzard here as I type...started yesterday and is still going strong here this late afternoon.  Visibility can be measured in "Feet" here right now...it is insane.

Yesterday morning when the above photo was taken, it was 18 below zero with a near 50 below zero windchill.  It was just kicking up the wind when this was taken.

 

Sun Dogs at full arc over the barn (photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison)

The next photo was taken this morning at about a quarter to ten...I was out trying to start the pickup/plow and saw the arc...WHOA!  I ran into the studio and grabbed the camera.  I backed up as far as I could up the lane past the barn but ran up against some very high drifts and the studio orchard fence...this was as much as I could manage in one shot.  

It is only the second full arc sun dog I have ever witnessed.  I took another very similar image of the first one here a few years back.  The snow was beginning to kick up so bad that I was lucky I spotted it before the winds just blotted it out!  It's been a terrible afternoon - much worse than yesterday.

The county plows have been pulled off the roads the past two days...we'll see what tomorrow brings.

At any rate - Be safe out there.  Stay inside and off the roads until the plows get a chance to catch up.  Please make this a safe and Blessed Christmas for you and your familiy.

See you on the Tallgrass - Merry Christmas!

Archival Works Friday...ya, I know it's Saturday, what can I say?

"Big Bluestem in Bloom" - color pencil drawing - © Bruce A. Morrison

 

Archival Works Friday (Yes I Know It's Saturday!)

 

As I mentioned before - I'll post a painting, drawing or serigraph (silkscreen prints) from the "archive" files of years past...and give a little back story on the work. I hope you'll find it interesting! Posting the first Friday of the month...

 

This Archival Works day is a color pencil drawing...my use of this medium dates back to the early 1960's. My first "Side Walk Art Fair" participation in Ft. Dodge, IA had all color pencil drawings; I think I was about 12 years old at the time and I only remember one of

them...probably a "self preservation" mechanism so I won't still be traumatized by how bad they must have been!!!!

 

The subject in the highlighted drawing "Big Bluestem in Bloom" is related to my 2 1/2 decade infatuation with "Prairies". I don't think my love of prairies is a very well kept secret - having been involved in prairie projects from the college level, public entities, and private consulting. Georgie has referred to me as "Prairie Boy" to many folks over the years (Ha!). Ya, well that's sure not where she found me - but yes, stuff happens doesn't it.

 

When we found the acreage here 20 years ago, it was the perfect fit for us...we had a few trees and a small bit of wooded habitat with nice spring ephemerals, and some great hillside gravel slopes with actual native prairie remnants...something that has become less easy to find in Iowa...only less than one half of one percent of this state's original prairies still exist. This little spot may not be on the super quality charts but even places like ours are disappearing much too frequently.

 

Something that I was hoping for in our little spot in the former tallgrass prairie was a place to work and play...it has lived up to my hopes yet has so much further to go. But we all have a lifespan...we're just making the best of what this "gift" of time has presented us. I always wanted to just walk out the door in the morning...or heck "anytime", and wander with the camera or paint brush, and record native prairie plant communities and the fauna

 

found there. It has been a wonderful gift! Every day here is a blessing! I found myself not just photographing forbs (wildflowers) and grasses, but also painting and drawing them.

 

When I'm out and about on the pastures, I often video tape things as I'm photographing them...video is just a side hobby now...I used to do video taping and editing for educational institutions, government agencies and non-profits, for part of my living, but no longer - it's simply something fun to do now.

 

The drawing in question...

 

One morning in mid summer I was out early on the pasture photographing things in the first light of the day. The flowers and grasses, insects and birds...the usual.  Later I was in the studio downloading files and editing images and sorting through the morning's video footage. As I was watching footage I came to a frame that I'd only recorded - a lot of times I'm easily distracted and forget to take stills (photographs) also (and vice versa). There was an image from the video that grabbed me - "That'd make a great color pencil drawing!".

 

"Big Bluestem in Bloom" - color pencil drawing was born from a still frame in the video footage.

 

I have since been inspired many times in a like manner from other footage as well in past years...some landscapes, some flora and fauna.

 

If you've followed me this far and haven't nodded off or just plain zoned out and left, I'm going to leave a link here for a video I edited together 9 years back...it's of a walk down Waterman Creek about 5 miles south of the studio. During this walk I was inspired to paint two landscapes from the footage you'll watch. The video is here -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f8oqe68WJw

 

After you watch this video, go to my web site at the following link, it will take you to my Archived Works page. There are two oil paintings there that were inspired from footage in the video. The link is here -

https://morrisons-studio.com/archived-works/

 

(I'm really making this too easy!)

 

The first person that gives me the name of one of the 2 paintings inspired by footage in this video, will win a free signed print of that painting.  Just the first person, responding to this story...just give me "one" of the painting titles and you win!

 

Thanks for hanging in there and good luck! 

 

Hope to see you on the Tallgrass!

It's Been Worse...Throw a Bit of Fun Into the Mix!

 It's getting on into the end of July and a lot has transpired in the pasture.  Its still very dry and warm...especially this week...temps in the mid 90's and a dew point that's nearly subtropical!  We got lucky about 2 weeks back and received  a little over one and a half inches of rain.  VERY grateful for that!  But still hauling water to the gardens and several smaller/newer trees that are showing stress.

I got a new toy a couple weeks back too...an older electric golf cart!  I am breaking speed records for water hauling now.  It is everything I thought it'd be - useful AND fun!

 

I call it the Prairie Schooner...been "sailing" all over the place in it and does it ever climb hills well!  Both Georgie and I take it for a spin daily. carries 4 buckets of water in the back and a short filled one on the floor in front...when there's no well, and hoses don't reach 100's of feet, this is the next best thing and the ride cools you off too!

Even though its been quite dry (still in a "severe" drought) the pasture's plants have been doing their best.  We're finding things are shorter in stature than "normal" years...and some plants have actually not bloomed and may not this summer now.

But here's a few that have been showing up since the last posting...

 

Wild Four-O'Clock (Mirabilis nyctaginea) with a nectaring Common Looper Moth (Autographa-precationis), along the road fence line on our native pasture. These almost always get past me (the Four-O'clocks), and when I seem to remember to look - they're about spent! I also see these Common Loopers often here...I guess their larvae feed on many things here like the asters and the verbena, as well as many other forbs. Plus I see the Eastern Bluebirds feed on the larvae frequently - everybody benefits! (photograph © Bruce A. Morrison)

 

 

 

The Narrow-leaved Purple Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) has bloomed all over the pasture but now going to seed. When we first moved here 20 years back it was the only purple coneflower I could find in the entire county "and" in adjoining counties...Waterman Prairie here had only E. angustifolia. But now we're seeing E. pallida everywhere in the roadsides - even in our ditches since the county planted them about 12 years back. The inset shows a native bee collecting pollen...and I'm still trying to figure out what type it is. Although its nearly impossible to see in this image, there are 4 insects on the inset image blossom...the bee, two fly species and a very large ominous looking insect (beetle?) hidden underneath the bee. Didn't see it until I was processing images! (photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison)

 

Lots of milkweeds blooming in the pasture here, this one often overlooked as its fairly diminutive...but the White-lined Sphinx Moth finds it just fine. This is also likely the most numerous "Asclepias" out here...they pack themselves in tightly together in large numbers, but blend into the undergrowth well. Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) SE O'Brien County (photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison)

A few more from the pasture...(top left to right) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea), Lead Plant (Amorpha canescens) and White Prairie Clover (Dalea candida)...things are going to seed fast. (photographs - © Bruce A. Morrison)

 

Top left - then clockwise - Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium), Ox-eye Daisy (Heliopsis helianthoides) with Culver's Root (Veronicastrum virginicum), Grey-headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata), and last -  Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa).  Because of the current drought, the Rattlesnake Master has mostly gone dormant...out of the entire pasture only one has bloomed this summer so far.  The Culver's Root, the Bergamot and the coneflowers are doing fine...the plants are shorter but still blooming well.  (photographs - © Bruce A. Morrison)

 

Its been worse...hot and dry, but we're still fortunate compared to others - and we're making the best of it!

Wishing you a safe and peaceful summer out there!  Be good to one another. 

 

Too Fast...

As usual - Spring is moving by too fast.  We've had so much cool weather...several light frosts and very little rain...until just a few days ago.  No we've had our first 1" rain in May here...we had a pittance in April and March as well.  But that one inch and all the humidity brought on by southern Gulf air has transformed everything into a jungle of green!  Although we are being listed in a "Severe" drought so far this year, it "looks" pretty enticing for the moment.

Gray Catbird

photograph -  © Bruce A. Morrison

Most of our favorite birds have returned...still waiting on the Dickcissels.  Although most are "favorites", we seem to have some very social Gray Catbirds this spring; so fun to watch!  It is bird song heaven around here now, and even the Cricket Frogs started singing last night.  You know the temps have warmed the water when your hear these little buggers...the American Toads have been singing each night for some time now too, and the Chorus and Northern Leopard frogs seem to be done with their monkey business for another year. 

 

I've been working in the pastures here more than normal...trying to rein in some bad actors.  Been mowing parts short and seeing what shakes out when I keep it up through the summer.  Right now there's some really nice things blooming - all the usual early/mid spring forbs like Blue-eyed Grass, Starry Solomon Seal, Fringed Puccoon, Ground Plum, and the Golden Alexanders. 

 

Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium campestre)

photograph -  © Bruce A. Morrison

 

The Blue-eyed Grass in the pasture varies from blue to light blue, to white.  I automatically look for it here on May 15th each year...I've only found it earlier in unusually warm and early Springs.

 

Fringed Puccoon (Lithospermum incisum)

photograph -  © Bruce A. Morrison

 

The Fringed Puccoon is always out before or with the Blue-eyed Grass, and I'm beginning to find it in more locations around both the north and south pastures.  I'ts likely always been in both but possibly the grazing of sheep and/or cattle in years previous to our arrival had suppressed these and they're just making a come-back again...? 

 

Ground Plum (Astragalus crassicarpus)

photograph -  © Bruce A. Morrison

The Ground Plum is a fun one...I personally like the common name "Buffalo Berry" but the fruit is more "plum" size and in appearance.  I guess its edible but its restricted to just one location on the pastutre and I'm being very protective of it...would like it to spread around some.

I'm far behind with chores around here and these are all the forbs I've been able to photograph so far this spring!

Hope your spring is a nice relief from the covid year we left behind, and that you're able to get out and enjoy it again; its moving too fast!

Be good to one another and see you on the Tallgrass!

 

So Look Forward to Ephemerals!

 

Waterman Prairie - Pasque Flowers (Pulsatilla vulgaris)  

(photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison)

Those wildflowers of Spring - who doesn't look forward to seeing these little beauties?  I fondly think of them as "ephemeral"...they last such a short time as a whole.  But getting to see the first of the Spring is real tonic.

Waterman Prairie - Pasque Flowers (Pulsatilla vulgaris) 

(photographs - © Bruce A. Morrison)

 

 I don't usually think of Pasque Flowers (themselves) as ephemerals, although they don't last nearly long enough.  No, when I think "fleeting", I'm more inclined towards those woodland flowers that are virtually missed if I don't get to the timber often.

Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) 

(photographs - © Bruce A. Morrison)

Spring Beauty is one flower that many people miss because it is so diminutive...the plant itself rarely taller than 6 inches, and as small as just 3 inches.  Each blossom barely larger than a third of an inch across.  I was at a childhood park along the Des Moines River in Ft Dodge (IA) visiting my wife's mother when I took a break and went down to the river timber below her place; that maybe I might catch them.  I was lucky - the ground was peppered with them.

 

Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

(photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison)

 

While photographing the abundant Spring Beauty, I noticed carpets of other plants but almost none had bloomed yet.  I did manage to find a spring woodland flower that also grows on our own acreage - a Dutchman's Breeches.  Now these mature fairly quickly and I'm often caught late even with those growing 30 feet from my own house!  But I got lucky here 😊

 

I wandered around the yard and grove this morning, but only see some future signs of ephemerals here and there...it was a very harsh and dry summer and fall on the property last year so I don't know what if or any affect it will have on our pasture or the grove.  Time will tell.  In the meantime I'm looking forward to more of those spring ephemerals...so happy Spring is here; wishing you a good one too!

 

Hope to see you on the Tallgrass!

 

Struggling...

The year has started out quite pleasant...not great for driving I'm sure, but the cold foggy mornings have brought pleasant tapestry everywhere.  Its been a mild winter so far.

As far as critters visiting each day, we've had the usual Opossums and Raccoons at the bird feeders during the night and a flush of American Goldfinches, House Finches and a good crop of Purple Finches from up north.  Our Juncos all seemed to have moved south on the heels of the blizzard a couple weeks back and occasionally we still see a Tree Sparrow or two, which is unusual as most winters they tend to stay in good numbers through at least February or March.

Northern Bobwhite Quail

(photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison)

We have had one unusual visitor and I suspect is is an escapee from someone's pen.  We had a Northern Bobwhite for a few days!  It was very skittish and a loner so I don't have much hope for it surviving around here...we have lots of hungry Coyotes, Owls and hawks!  We had a Northern Bobwhite show up here in the valley about 18 years ago too, so this has been fun to see!

A bit of a rush this past Christmas in the studio, some last minute orders and a very slow postal service for shipping anything!  It makes it a bit hectic getting materials and supplies on time for clients!  But we got through it and now settling in for the winter.

I usually try and write a positive blog...I'm struggling with this one...even what to say.

We all witnessed January 6th.  I'm struggling to understand why some seem to think it was no big deal.  I'm struggling to understand why some of our legislators swore an oath to the Constitution, yet are loathe to carry it out.  I'm struggling to understand why people I thought were intelligent, believe anything a classic narcissist says. And I struggle to understand why we can't work together for the common good and benefit of one another.  

I truly hope that this nation can pull together, quit finger pointing, quit crying wolf and be good to one another.  Love thy neighbor as thy self - haven't we learned this yet?

Take care and cherish your family and friends.  I'll say it again - please be good to one another.

See you on the Tallgrass...

Beat the Heat!!!

August 23, 2020 - "Over Pocahontas" - photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

Finally!!!!!!!!!  It's the 29th of August and its "Decent" outside!  Very pleasant day in the shade and even in the sun...I hope we outlasted the heat.

August 17, 2020 - "Over SW Minnesota" - photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

Its been a bugger...slightly over a quarter inch for the entire month of August and most of the plants in the prairie pasture are going dormant or look like they wish they had.  Everything will be fine, its just a "brown out" type of a scene with the golden rods and sunflowers doing the majority of the lifting of colors.  One good side to it is we haven't had to mow the acreage since the first week of July!  Oh - the other good side of it is we have not suffered through Durecho wind storms nor hurricanes or forest fires and we're still healthy!  A person must always count their blessings and be grateful...I say this sincerely.

August 16, 2020 - "Over Storm Lake" - photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison 

We have had some spectacular evening skies around here the past month.  As storms developed in the region, they always split around us - leaving us dry but with awesome views of their majesty!  It was frustrating but as I said, we've been very fortunate.

     "Distant Thunder - Redtail" - color pencil drawing - © Bruce A. Morrison

Things have been unusually brisk here at the studio, cannot explain it other than just saying I'd better get busy this winter as my walls are getting bare!  My participation in the 2020 Birds in Art international exhibit in Wausau, WI comes up in a couple weeks!  Although this will be the first time I haven't gone to see the opening in person when I've been included - everything's changed with Covid...it will still be an outstanding showing of Bird Artists the world over!  I just sent a small piece for an auction the Woodson Art Museum is having for Birds in Art...they do a "post card" auction of small 4X6" originals and I contributed a small color pencil drawing "Distant Thunder - Red-tail" for the auction...I'll at least be there in spirit 😊

Bring on September I say...and I beg your sincere pardon if it sours on us all as this summer seems to have.  Hope we at least finally beat the heat!