Draw Your Plants to Learn Them

As gardeners we strive to learn as many plants as possible.  We learn by weeding around them, taking photos and notes, and simply working with them.  Another fabulous way to learn plants is to draw them.

When we draw a plant we're forced to look at the details. Are the leaves opposite or alternate? Are the leaves simple or complex? What shape are the leaves and how do the veins run through them? How many petals are on the flower? Are the flowers clustered or single? To draw a plant we're forced to study and understand it. 

Purchase a pretty sketchbook and draw a different plant each day. By the end of the year you'll have a plethora of plants in your mental collection.

To see me draw a cotoneaster branch, check out my video here.