More Desert Beauties

It's April, it's spring and I'm being inspired by the gorgeous spring beauties around me. One of the biggest surprises here when I first saw it was the desert willow flower. Chilopsis linearis to be exact, a member of the catalpa family! Desert willows come in several varieties, some "wilder," some benefiting from a little domestication. This particular one came up voluntarily, next to the walk in front of our house. My husband thought it was too close, so I tried to move it. Of course that didn't work, but surprise! It came up again the next spring, same place. We decided to leave it, and it grew into the most gorgeous little tree that shaded the walk.  Last year, I took photos of the flowers that remind me of little orchids:

chilopsis linearis

Then last week, when I was looking for flower pix to paint from, I was stopped by this one.

Here's the quickie painting I did:

Desert Willow

Joy in the Morning

There's something -- actually, a lot of somethings -- about morning that just makes me smile. Sitting on the patio with my green tea, listening to the sights and sounds, being awed and entertained by all creation around me, I can't keep from smiling to myself. This morning, I had to run for the camera, thinking how inspiration for paintings was all around.

steel raven sculpture, yucca in bloom and acrobatic grackle (on street light)

The simplest things can make me smile when I am in that so-grateful-to-be-alive mode. If one looks at the details in his environment, inspiration just follows.

baby tomato plant, enjoying the morning sun
(it was a volunteer!)

white winged dove, warming himself in the sun
(look at those toes!)