Sketching at Bay View Nursery

Sketching while standing in the greenhouse cactus garden.

I found a tropical blue cactus at Bayview Farm and Garden on Whidbey Island today. Had to look it up to find out the actual name, though. 

Pilosocereus azureus, native to Brazil in semi-tropical areas, forms arborescent specimens to 20' in height. Beautiful blue stems with golden spines along ribs. White nocturnal flowers that are pollinated by bats and sphinx moths. Beautiful specimen for landscape or patio in temperate areas. Requires porous cactus soil with adequate drainage. Bright light to full sun with ample airflow. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch. Protect from frost.

Cloudstone Sculpture Park

Urban Sketchers Seattle joined Whidbey Island Sketchers at a thought provoking location today.

Cloudstone Sculpture Park showcases the art of Hank Nelson. Surrounded by nature you will find works of carved stone, cast bronze, cast iron, monumental steel, and earthworks.

On Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound area of Washington, residents deeply care about indigenous trees, ground cover, watersheds, shorelines, and wildlife. While maintaining eco-stewardship Nelson creates synergistic relationships between the land and his hundred sculptures. Serpentine pathways lead visitors past great pyramids, monumental steel structures, story filled ruins, and spell binding carved stone totems. Conceptual works urge visitors to take care of our planet and our people.-quoted from Cloudstone website

The Sculptors at their work

Cloud/Stone, Earth/Sky, Man/Nature, Transience/Eternity, Growth/Decay--This place kept showing me the idea that such disparate concepts might be able to coexist.

Surrounded by shapes

Going for Green

Going for Green  Original Watercolor en Plein Air Size of artwork 11"x15" Framed & matted 16"x20" 

Painted on location during the 5th Annual US Open Plein Air Event on Whidbey Island. If it hasn't sold yet, you may see it this weekend and other work from the event on display until September 15. They'll be closed on Monday for Labor Day, but open on Tuesday. For more information please go to http://www.pacificnorthwestartschool.com/events.html

See my post about this experience en plein air. https://michelecooper.blogspot.com/2010/08/perils-of-plein-air.html

The title has a double meaning.

1. It refers to the variations of color in the landscape.

2.“Going for Green” refers to the jersey won in cycling competitions.

The green jersey, or maillot vert, is worn by the rider that has accrued the most points during the race. Points are awarded based on the positions that riders finish each stage as well as their performance during intermediate sprints within stages.