Brewster Gardens, Plymouth, Mass: Entry 2
Saturday, July 2, 2022 6:07 PM. 83°F overcast, slight wind.
I see two swans and five babies leaving the riverbank and going into the water. The older swans keep taking a mouthful of water and shaking its head. On the ‘shore’ there are tons of down feathers and regular feathers. Half-eaten bread and animal skat (possibly from a goose) also litter the grass next to the water. There’s a big skid mark in the grass on the grassy riverbank. I wonder if this was from a human, or a larger animal. It is most likely from a human because there are no claw marks or paw prints nearby. Underneath some shrubbery near the river, there is a pile of plastic shot bottles. In the river, upon looking closer at the aquatic grass, there appears to be a mixture of pine-branch-looking grass and skinnier strands with oval leaves. Some of the skinnier strands of aquatic grass is brown. I wonder if it is dead or if that’s its natural color. The water is lukewarm, probably about 65°F. The bottom of the river near the bank is dark in color and consists of a mixture of decomposing twigs, leaves, and mud. As I examined the mud, something made a splash near me. I looked towards the sound, and I saw the shadow of a fish swimming away. Across the river, closer to the opposite bank, the river bottom is lighter in color, perhaps made of sand.
Amongst all of the greenery–grass, trees, plants, aquatic grass–there is a spot of dark red in the Gardens. This pop of color, this difference, is what drew me towards the Japanese maple tree to identify it. To determine the tree’s species, first I examined the leaves. They looked similar to a sugar maple’s leaves, so I did a quick google search ‘dark purple maple tree’ and crimson king and Japanese maple were the top results. After comparing the leaves of crimson king, Japanese maple, and the leaves on the tree in front of me, I determined that it was the Japanese maple. The acer palmatum’s leaves are sometimes eaten after being coated in a sugary batter and fried. In fact, they have been enjoyed for at least a thousand years in Osaka, Japan.
Sketches:
Sketching in the field is a useful tool for thorough observation. I noticed the tiniest of details as I was sketching. For example, when I was sketching the Forget-Me-Nots, I noticed how each flower had a little white star surrounding the yellow center. I never would have noticed that if I was just passing by them or even if I was taking a picture. It was peaceful to devote all of my attention to one thing, especially something that was natural. Before I got into my flow, it was hard to sit myself down and really focus on the shapes and textures of what I was drawing. I found drawing the different values/light in my subjects the most difficult part. After I was done sketching, I found myself trying to notice the smaller details of my surroundings. That is why nature sketching is extremely useful to really study the environment you are in. The next time I go to my Wonder Blog spot, I’d like to pay closer attention to the tree species if possible.