My next door neighbor in back in Mt. Airy had some peonies by her front step. I relished watching the incremental progress these plants made each day while I walked past them on my way to teaching high school English. I knew that by the time these flowers bloomed, the school year would be cruising toward the finish line.

Ant Peony I is the first in a series, inspired by my own peonies in my front yard. I hope I'm not alone in this, but I find it so entertaining to watch insects and plants symbiotically interacting. 

I also finally pulled out my large sheets of 300 lb watercolor paper. This painting is pretty large, 24 x 18 inches and I submitted it to a regional juried exhibition...I hope it gets in!

The weather here in Elkins Park, Pa on Sunday, February 19th drew me, everyone else and their 10 best friends out of doors. I took my kids to Morris Arboretum, knowing that I'd see some early spring flowers like this Eranthis, but what I did not expect was to see this bee! 
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​Oh, pure joy!

This elegant wasp found its way into our kitchen sink earlier this summer.  It's pattern is so striking! And, I'll have you know that no one was stung in its removal from our house.  It actually remained quite calm during the time I photographed it and then took it outside with a cup.

These pollinators don't have the same celebrity profile of bees, but they help out the plants just the same. 

"Wasp" is about 4 x 4 inches.

The elegant scoliid wasp here is a neighbor who I met at Morris Arboretum a few weeks ago. He is a good pollinator.
​Is it day 29 already?!?
"Morris Neighbor" is 5 x 7 inches.