I went to the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois on Labor Day and discovered this sycamore tree leaning toward the water (Lake Marmo). I loved the peeling bark and the way the branches grew, with prominent knobs, and changing direction quite abruptly.

Primroses are getting to be a yearly thing with me. Long before I’m even ready for winter to end, they appear in the grocery store and their bright colors cry out, “Buy me! Buy me!” I spend a long time picking out just the right two or three plants to bring home.

A couple of weeks ago I spent a peaceful hour at Garfield Park Conservatory’s Horticulture Hall. Few people were around, and I was able to grab a wrought iron chair and sit down to sketch. A man came up to me and said he wanted to get back into drawing. I was happy that my being relaxed enough to draw in public enabled someone else to express such a wish for himself.