Garden Inspired Art

 

Growing a garden for food and for viewing pleasure is only part of what gardens offer. I like keeping a camera close for the opportunity to capture moments for garden-inspired art. 

Close-up of Bumblebee & Chives

 (watercolor, gouache, watercolor pencil, white & gold ink pen.

For several days, I was captivated by the sight of a large, hairy bumblebee diligently working on the chive flowers. Its industrious nature and the beauty it brought to the garden were truly inspiring. 

Watch my Two Spotted Bumble Bee busy in the garden video here: 

https://youtu.be/nJhQYiQjUds

Two Spotted Bumblebee & Chives

watercolor paper 12" x 18"

watercolor, watercolor pencils, gouache, white & gold pen

Creating art from my own experiences is not just about visual discovery, but also about learning more about the subjects I depict. It's a journey of education and enlightenment. 

Honeybees and bumblebees are two distinct species of bees, each with its own unique skills and physical attributes. Honeybees are often mistaken for wasps and also build hives. Honeybees are the primary producers of the delicious honey that is meant to sustain the bee tribe during winter. Still, we rob the hard workers of their stash, whereas the bumblebee only stores enough for the Queen bee, because the rest of the tribe dies over the winter. 

Bumblebees can sting you more than once without dying, but are usually focused on efficiently doing their jobs as the best pollinators. They live primarily in underground nests and are significantly larger than honeybees, characterized by very hairy bodies. They can focus on one flower, gathering all the pollen deep within the flower and scoring on the treasured nectar that no one else can reach.  

I maintain wildflowers and grasses, while also intentionally growing flowers in my gardens to feed Mother Nature's creatures, which provides me with organic produce and creative pleasures. 

Read more about my Rock-n-Zen Gardens.

Let's remember to BEE KIND and GROW FLOWERS. The 250 types of bumblebees are struggling for survival, with many already extinct. Our food supply depends on them for the majority of pollination. It's our responsibility to support their survival. 

To read more about the variety of bumblebees and diagrams to identify your bumblebees.

More art-inspired bugs & Diptych Sunflower link here to view

• Cryptic bumblebee • Bombus cryptarum