OHC More Nature Study Book 3 - Dogwood Study

More Nature Study Book 3
Dogwood Study

“But when spring comes, these bud scales change their duties, and by rapid growth become four beautiful white or pinkish bracts which we call the dogwood flower.”
Handbook of Nature Study 

Inside Preparation Work:

• Read pages 680-682 in the Handbook of Nature Study (Lesson 188). Read through the lesson for suggested observations for your outdoor time.
• View this video for more information: Briar Patch: The Dogwood Tree. You may also like to view these pages: Pacific Dogwood (western U.S.) and Flowering Dogwood (eastern U.S.) 

Outdoor Hour Time:

• Enjoy your outdoor time for this challenge looking for blooming trees. Spend a few minutes observing the colors of the blooms and look for any insect visitors. If appropriate, gather a leaf and a blossom to sketch in your nature journal. 
•  This is the perfect time to begin a year-long tree study. For ideas on how to get started, see this entry: Year-Long Tree Study. 
• If you have a dogwood to view up close, use a few of the lesson ideas to make careful observations. Look at the bark, the flowers, and the arrangement of the flowers on the branches. 
• Advanced study: Bring along your sketching supplies and sketch or watercolor the bracts and flowers. 

Follow-Up Activity:

• Take a few minutes to sketch your tree, the flower, the leaf, the bark, or fruit of your tree. You can use this website’s images as a reference for your drawing: Identifying Dogwood Trees (They call the bracts “petals” but otherwise this is a very good page.) Ebook Users: There is a notebook page and two coloring pages included in the ebook for your dogwood study. There is also a notebook page for any flowering tree. 
• Advanced study: Complete a nature journal entry for your dogwood or other blooming tree. Ebook users: There is a notebook page to complete using a field guide or the internet. 
• Advanced study: Find out what hardiness zone you live in: National Gardening Association. Read the list of trees that grow in your hardiness zone: TreeLink. Pick a tree from your zone list and do additional research. Record your findings in your nature journal. 

Additional links:

• Clare Walker Leslie’s Guide to Sketching Trees –Excellent printable resource 
• Find out when Arbor Day is in your state: Arbor Day Foundation 
• Other Blooming Tree Ideas: Spring Blooming Trees 

Don't forget to share your Spring Splendor Walk blog entries with the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival. All entries done in April are eligible for the next edition. The deadline for entries is 4/29/12 and you can send them directly to me: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com.