Sketches from Zilker Botanical Garden

Last weekend, I visited Zilker Botanical Garden in Downtown Austin. This garden is Austin's best kept secret. I was not aware that right in the heart of the large Zilker Park, is a wonderfully maintained garden. There is no entrance or parking fees. That's how it was last Saturday. Here are two plant sketches from the visit.

Osage Orange tree

I have walked passed this tree several times wondering what this fruit was. I had never seen something like this. On the outside, it is textures to resemble the human brain. It took me some googling to find that this tree is also called Hedge Apple tree and is found in Texas. I have not dared to cut open the fruit and I have one sitting on my table. I read that the fruit keeps pests and bugs away.

EDM # 246 - Draw a glove

EDM # 233 - Draw your favorite drink

Like a lot of people in the world, my favorite drink is a steaming cup of coffee. Just plain old coffee with milk - that is the way it is consumed in South India. Coffee brewed in a traditional south Indian filter lends a lot of flavor.

EDM # 235: Draw a butterfly

In Spring this year, we visited Johnson City, Padernales Falls and Wildseed Farms. Wildseed Farms was awash with large doses of Red Poppy flowers. My primary aim of going to these places was to see the famed Texas Blue Bonnets. But the Blue Bonnet season was just coming to a close. The area in and around Wildseed Farms has some wonderful Lavender Farms and Vineyards. Texas Wine comes from these vineyards. Wildseed Farms also has a small Butterfly Farm. There were a lot of these Black and Yellow butterflies.

EDM # 245: Draw something October

October is the month of leaves and acorn. Here in Texas, we do not get to see Fall Colors in October. A lot of trees begin their shedding season, though.

Draceana Lemon Lime

Snake Plant aka Mother-in-laws tongue

Yucca

Yucca seems to be a common ornamental plant in Texas. This time of the year is flowering time for the Yucca. There are several species of Yucca and I fail to identify this species.

Agave

This again is a sketch from India. I spotted large Agave's growing in the wild. There seems to be several types of Agave's.

Potted plants - Unknown plant

This is a sketch from my recent visit to India. I could'nt identify the plant, but it looked colorful in a blue pot.

Taro Plant

Potted Plants - Aglaonema

Wildflowers - Goldenrod

Goldenrods have been in bloom since mid september. Their bright golden yellow contrats so well with the green foliage and seems like an instant attraction.

EDM # 244 - Draw the oldest thing in your refrigerator

This salad spray is yet to see its last days. There are times when all that I like to eat are salads. This spray made its entry into our refrigerator during one such periods.

Potted Plants - 1

I have begun to sketch a lot of plants, of late. Here are a bunch of them, which are from my trip to India last month.

From left:
Aglaonema - This one is widely popular as a container plant. In South East Asia and China, they are considered as Lucky Plants.

I do not know the name of the plant in the middle. The leaves have purplish pink veins.

Extreme right is Coleus Aromaticus. I had planted a small stem cutting during one of my trips to India and it seemed to have survived well. The leaves are fleshy and people back home use the leaves to make a tea. The leaves have an oregano like flavor and are used to unlock blocked sinuses.

Oak Acorn and Wild mushroom

Acorn

Wildflowers - Gay Feather

A small open tract of land near my apartment has a rich display of Texas Wildflowers all thorugh spring, summer and autumn. This time of the year, Gay Feathers have been blooming. The flowers look more taller and slender than my sketch.

EDM # 238 - Draw something from a first aid kit

EDM # 239: Draw the last thing you bought

EDM # 239: Draw something that scared you

Injections and vaccine shots scared me for most part of my childhood. I grew up in a small town in India where cholera outbreaks were rampant. Cholera shots were mandatory and schools were required to ensure that every child had been vaccinated. Cholera shots are painful. The arm swells up for 3 days.