First of all, thank you so much for your good wishes and thoughts. My health issue is an ongoing one, annoying and incapacitating at times but not lifethreatening, for which I'm deeply grateful. I've reminded myself of that especially this week, as we across the gardening blogosphere have had thoughts and prayers focused on our dear blogging bud Katie, who is fighting a serious illness. We send her much love, virtual tulips and healing thoughts across the time zones, states, provinces, countries, continents. (#fightkatie!) The sun is out here in lovely Nova Scotia this morning, so I hope that when it wakes on the far West Coast, it streams in Katie's window and helps her healing.
Two of my favourite things in the world are plants, and the pollinators that help their life cycles, especially bees. A third favourite thing is botanical/nature art. I can't draw or paint. At ALL. But I have a huge appreciation for and love of good botanical themed artwork, from the time of Pierre-Joseph Redoute to the artists of today.
Through the wonderful world of the Internet, I've found some amazing garden artists who blog, and have been following a few of them faithfully over the past several years. One of my favourites, and this week's Spotlight on Saturday choice, is Valerie Littlewood of Pencil and Leaf. I don't remember exactly when I discovered her blog, or by which means--I always figure it's synchronicity when I tumble upon a new blog that really hits me in the heart--but I love her work and especially her current area of interest.
Lately, Valerie has been combining two of my favourite things in her recent work: bees and plants. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of bees (one of my favourite twitter-peeps is @HelpSaveBees) , and it's even less of a secret to the wider world that bees of all kinds, both wild and domestic, bumble and honey, are in trouble due to a number of factors. So I figure anything that educates us more about these gentle, essential creatures and about what we can do to help save bees, is a very, very good thing. So I hope you'll buzz on over to Valerie's site, check out her paintings and sketches and her Flickr page of more of her work.
I have been a fan of Valerie's blog for sometime too Jodi... great choice to spotlight! Is this a new meme? I do hope your friend Katie will overcome her battle as a strong winner! A wonderful heartfelt post... spotlighting a person and an insect that you love and hope will carry on ... and Valerie too... what a talent! I hope that you are feeling better! I am sorry to read that you have to deal with an ongoing chronic condition. I hope the sunny weather stays to help you feel better each day. Carol
ReplyDeleteDear Jodi, I do hope that someone has sent you tulips just like the ones you have pictured.
ReplyDeleteIt is so good to raise awareness of the plight of bees - essential to our very survival.
Oh, you've chosen a great one to highlight this week, Jodi. I love Valerie's site. Her sketches, drawings, and paintings are absolutely riveting.
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling better this weekend!
Oh, how lovely! I shall dash over and check out her blog immediately. What a clever and magical blog name!
ReplyDeleteThere's drawing bees, and then there's drawing bees like that. Nice find!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you telling us about Valerie and after commenting here, I will visit her blog.
ReplyDeleteNow I am concerned about Katie and will see if I can send her some good wishes, via #fightkatie
We garden bloggers like to be a support system and I see she lives on the west coast, as do I.
How lovely. She is very talented.
ReplyDeleteI took a peek over at her blog - magical! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteAh, this is a good one. Valerie is a fellow-Floridian who does us proud with her drawings. I love the bees and plants she does... actually all of her drawings cause me to marvel at her talent! This is a good one to highlight. Nice to hear the sun is out in NS... Meems
ReplyDeleteHi Jodi, thank you for your comment on dulse. I find it very interesting that you go and get your own dulse. I wish I could! I am intrigued because I read that people in Ireland harvest dulce and sell it on the market.
ReplyDeleteLike you I love this natural artwork, drawing and painting. Val Webb is another wonderful artist. http://valwebb.wordpress.com
We always had a few beehives. At the moment we have two hives of the tiny native bee Trigona carboniara. It builds its hives in a different manner then the normal honey bee. It is a non stinging bee, when it swarms one can walk through the swarm, without being stung.
My best wishes for a happy springtime. T.
Thank You, Jodi, for turning us onto this great blog. I also love botanical art and bees especially. Great pick.
ReplyDeleteCindee
I can't wait to go and explore this one Jodi - thank you for sharing it. Best wishes for feeling better soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jodi for writing about this beautiful Blog.
ReplyDeleteVery lovely pictures and great information.
Gisela
I hope you feeling better by now Jodi and that your friends Katie is able to recover from her illness. Thanks for choosing Valerie's blog this week. Ishall enjoy reading it.
ReplyDeleteblushes and says thankyou :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling us about Valerie's blog. I am a bee lover,too, and I will enjoy her site. I hope you are feeling better, and my thoughts and well-wishes go out to your friend Katie as well.
ReplyDeleteI have loved Valerie's blog also. She is amazingly talented.
ReplyDeleteI really hope that you are feeling better soon.
Sending virtual well wishes to Katie.
Jen
What a talented artist she is! Thanks for sharing another great blog/blogger with us. I'm off to visit her.
ReplyDeletePencil and Leaf has been on my list almost since I started blogging on blotanical. One can get almost lost in her drawings!
ReplyDeleteI have visited Valerie's Pencil and Leaf (love the name) and I love her work! That sketch with the coloured bee is so very beautiful. Ah, to be so talented.
ReplyDeleteMe too, I love the work of Valerie.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun site! I'm not so great at wandering the blogosphere, so it's fun to have something like this pointed out. I'll go visit for sure.
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog via the UGLY discussion and was randomly flicking through your great posts. I have become a follower when I noticed your mention of Katie. I am a reader of hers and am following her recovery too. Small world. I am in Tasmania Australia.
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