One of the great things about being a working artist is that there are times when I can take a breather and do some of the other things that give me great pleasure. One of those things is working in my yard.

Lately, I’ve been working on streamlining the amount of time it takes to keep up with all my plantings. I enjoy having plants that “take care of themselves”. With all the varying weather conditions in Texas, it can take some time to figure out which ones can survive the heat and drought, which require “weathering” in the winter, and which are simply unsuited. This year I’ve been focusing on adding some “native” plantings.

When I draw, I pull a lot of my gardening work into my imagery. There are almost always plants, flowers, or trees in almost all my work. God’s creativity is boundless and it is a joy to plant something and watch it grow and thrive. I’m grateful that God gives us this bit of insight into how He must feel all the time.