Not much sketching going on around here. Yesterday I drew a mugshot of one of the culprits: the live oak trees that line our long drive have been very full of catkins, releasing pollen into the air — and covering our red pickup truck with a fine yellow dust.
Heavy head and sinus headaches, but Springtime is still gorgeous! I found these photos from the Texas Wildflowers group on Facebook (taken by Paul Nolan Broussard) — bluebonnet time is just beginning (a bit late this year) and I hope to be out there in a week or so to sketch some.
I love springtime too. Although, when I lived in Houston, my allergies were the worst they have ever been in the spring due to the pine pollen. We had more pine trees in Houston than hardwoods. The yellow green pollen would cover everything. Every morning when I went to work, I feel I was fairly useless for the first hour as all I could do was sneeze and blow my nose. I hope you are feeling peppy enough again soon to sketch those beautiful bluebonnets—how I miss those!
ReplyDeleteHere on “the farm”, we are surrounded by both loblolly pines and various oak trees — a meeting of the piney woods and post oak savanna. Plenty of pollen to go around!
DeleteThere doesn’t seem to be any natural areas of bluebonnets growing here, though we have Indian paintbrush and primrose. I’m planning on day trips to Independence, Chappell Hill, and Brenham for wildflower sketching!
We have a south pasture that used to be a horse arena and is now where our daughter and son-in-law have planted fruit trees. Along one side is a sunny area that Bill promised not to mow if I want to try growing a wildflower patch. Maybe I will one day have my own bluebonnets!
Oh, Vicky! I cannot say I'm jealous of that allergy-head! I am allergic to pine pollen! I stayed with my auntie in Atlanta for a few months and I woke up one morning with yellow skies. I was in bed for a week! East of the Cascades here in Oregon is pine. Douglas fir doesn't bother me! It is messy, but not sickening!
DeleteYour sketch is wonderful! It is amazing how much pollen things like that can produce! I do hope your bluebonnets develop and spread. I know that our lupin - very similar - like undisturbed ground. The wild lupin smells peppery and I love it! <3. Kathleen
Texas bluebonnets are a variety of lupine so they are related to those in your area.
DeleteI first reacted to the heavy yellow dusting of pollen in the Ozark mountains years ago — I guess it can be everywhere, but worth the momentary discomfort for the beauty of the trees!