Poetry Friday: Nature Journaling
Today’s Poetry Friday roundup is over at Kathryn Apel’s blog.
Last year, I started exploring nature journaling. I’m not very good at drawing or painting. But I still wanted to try. No one needed to see my drawings, but I wanted to give it a go. I started with John Muir Laws’ books and online resources and Clare Walker Leslie’s books.
In order to keep myself going in the colder months, I signed up for some nature journaling classes through my local Parks and Recreation department. They have helped me explore more about nature journaling, they’ve been a big part of filling my well, and they’ve helped produce more book ideas (which was never the goal, but it’s been a nice bonus).
While the focus of the classes isn’t photography or writing, I still do a little bit of both as we take walks through the parks. This is one of my photos and haiku created during a workshop.
What I’m Reading
I’m reading THE THICKET by Kasey Jueds. It was recommended to me in a poetry group I’m a part of, and I’m loving it! The language is so rich.
8 Comments
Kathryn Apel
I was fascinated by woodpeckers chipping away when I was in America. But I did not know they actually bored a hole into a tree like this. Wow. That is … impressive… Though perhaps not so good for the health of the tree? (As your open wound would seem to affirm.)
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
The same tree has other holes and the tree has sealed the wound–not completely–there’s still holes there, but bark is now covering them. This one was pretty fresh.
PATRICIA J FRANZ
Marcie,
I don’t know which I love more: the color and texture of your tree or the words you have carved out of this image; both are beautiful! I am certainly enjoying your nature walks! Thank you!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much for your kind words!
Molly Hogan
I’m so intrigued by the idea of nature journaling. I often wander and take photos and this definitely enriches my writing. Still, there’s something about the idea of sketching that is alluring–especially if my drawing attemps remain hidden in my notebooks! lol I’m definitely going to check out the sites you shared. Thank you!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, no one but my husband has seen my nature sketching/journaling. It’s pretty rough. But I keep trying. I take the photos because often they are better than my sketching. 🙂
Mary Lee
I can definitely see (and often feel) the connection between looking closely to sketch (or take a photo) and writing!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes! Thank you so much, Mary Lee!