Written by I have to admit that I just like the name of this flower, so today on our #NatureDoodlewash hike I’ve picked this ranunculus. I always end up mispronouncing it as redonculous which is admittedly ridiculous, but always makes me giggle. Though being outdoors is wonderful, it’s equally enjoyable to have a little indoor nature as well to brighten things up. That said, I’m not particularly good at keeping plants alive. During college, I always got plants for my apartment and no matter how hard I tried, they died within a few weeks. Looking back, it’s actually surprising I survived those years, so plants likely never stood a fair chance.
Even as an adult, I’m still not particularly good at taking care of things with leaves. When visiting more domesticated friends, I’m always in awe when they tell me about a plant they’ve had for years. I usually keep my distance just in case my mere presence would cause the treasured foliage to wilt. I admit, this is a redonculous fear on my part, but I can almost see it breathe a sigh of relief. Cut flowers are my preferred choice as they have a shelf life and nobody expects you to keep them alive forever. When someone brings them to dinner as a host gift instead of wine, it’s always a lovely treat. Assuming there’s still enough wine, of course.
We used to have a bouquet of fresh flowers regularly as we’d pick them up at the grocery store while getting food for the week. But lately that hasn’t been the case because apparently remembering to actually buy flowers is as difficult as remembering to water them. So despite the wonder and beauty found when bringing nature indoors, I’m most likely these days to enjoy it in its natural habitat. I guess this isn’t all bad. At least it gets me out of the house more.
Join me throughout the month of June on a virtual nature hike! Show everyone what you love most in nature with a watercolor sketch or painting and tag your images #NatureDoodlewash so we can all enjoy it with you! I’ll create a featured artist gallery of our global hike at the end of the month!
World Watercolor Month is coming in July! Click here to learn more!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Quinacridone Gold, Azo Orange, Pyrrol Red, Permanent Green Pale, Cobalt Teal, Ultramarine Blue and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink and second pen with sepia ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
Lovely! I can’t keep indoor plants alive either and outdoor ones it’s touch and go lol.
Haha! Glad to hear I’m not alone!! Thanks, Catherine! 😃💕
I love having cut flowers in the house and I’m always drawing them. Must dig up some of those watercolors- or, even better, make a new one. Your lovely ridiculous has inspired me, Charlie:-)
Yay!! That’s awesome! Definitely make a new one!! Hehe…I vote for that! 😉
My son looks at any plant I bring home and says, “Another innocent victim.” I do have a few succulents and a bamoo plant I’ve managed to keep on the counter for a few years.
Love your ranunculus – so many wonderful details. You are so very good at painting clear and silver surfaces.
Awww thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕hehe…love what your son says, that’s hilarious. And I, of course, can totally relate! Lol
Love your ranunculus and you are a darn good writer, you made my smile and giggle right along with you. 🙂 a bang-up job as usual. 🙂
Thanks Margaret! 😃💕So glad I could make you giggle! Hehe And happy you liked the doodlewash!
A redonculously good ridiculous you’ve doodlewashed there, Charlie! (I’ve a feeling that’s going to stick!!) What a simple but beautiful charm this would be to have on one’s counter or window sill. I love the reflections too.
I’m not especially good at keeping indoor plants alive either; my mother is the opposite, though. Even cut flowers seem to last forever in her care! As it happens, that’s something else I’m examining thoroughly with my conspiracy theorist magnifying glass. 😉
Thanks Jacob! Glad ya liked this! 😃Your mother must be a magician! Which is really cool actually!! I wonder what other super powers she’s hiding. Hmmm
Hmm! Maybe she nabbed a couple of your Oompa Loompas when you weren’t looking?
Argh! She likely did. Well….only a couple is okay I guess. 😉
This is so lovely! The little jar is perfect as well.
Thanks so much, Annie!! 😃💕
wine and flowers = perfect. charlie’s doodle wash ridonculously exquisite! 🙂
Hehe..:thanks Jodi!! 😊😃💕Let us hope we never have to choose between the two! Lol
I know. Because if I had to I sure would miss flowers. Lol!! 😝
The magnified stem in the jar of water! Wonderful sketch!!!
Aww thanks Jessica! 😃💕Glad you liked this! It was fun to doodlewash!
Loving the jar for a vase, great floral doodlewash, I can’t keep indoor plants …..but outdoors, is another story, it’s like a jungle out there, they love me!
Thanks Rebecca! Florals aren’t really my thing, so I’m glad you liked it! 😃💕 yay! Outdoor jungle, eh? That’s super impressive!
Flowers in the house are always a treat, and what a treat of a name as well! A perfect excuse for a doodlewash. (K)
It was! Hehe…thanks so much, Kerfe! 😃💕
LOL! You are redonculously adorable! <3 That's a lovely doodlewash of a ranunculus! If you really want to look for a plant you can't kill, try a snake plant (or the shorter version, "mother-in-law's tongue"). I had one in a windowless office and often forgot to water it and it stayed green the entire time it lived there. 😀
Awww shucks…😊😊hehe…you’re sweet. Thanks Teresa! 💕
I grow snake plants in water – they’ve lived there happily for decades.
That’s very interesting! I’ve never seen it grown in anything but soil before. I guess it proves that nothing can kill them…not too much or too little water. 😀
Nice sketch. I like the Doodlewash idea too. I don’t sketch much these days but my daughter does. Will rummage through her collection to see if she has something that fits. Just wondering if you are running this on FB too, ‘coz my blog is about travel and this kind of a post might not be a natural fit.
Thanks so much! I really just track these challenges on WordPress and Instagram, so that’s I’ll I’m doing for the #NatureDoodlewash one. But July is World Watercolor Month and I’ll be linking out via hashtag to most of the main social sites. You should join us in the World Watercolor Month Facebook group! 😃
Sure, will do that. All the best!
Painting flowers gives me the excuse to buy myself redonculous bouquets of color! 😉💐 Hehe! 🌿🌸 I’m not good keeping house plants alive either, Charlie! But a bouquet of flowers is a treat to enjoy with a glass of wine! Cheers! 💐🍷
Truly! I love a fresh bouquet …not old wine! Hehe…Thanks so much, Jill! 😃💕 glad you liked this! I was determined to force myself to trying painting flowers and not just bugs! Lol 🍷🍷Cheers!!
Very nice…I used to have a Christmas cactus and it only bloomed once a year around Thanksgiving…weird, huh…put a smile on my face reading this 🙂
Awww so glad this put a smile on your face! Thanks Tammy! 😃💕 And not too weird I guess considering the stores start Christmas now immediately after Halloween! Hehe
Hobby Lobby has fall stuff out already here in TN where I am and some Christmas on their shelves…WOW was all I could say
Lol…I love Christmas, but That’s just too early!!
For sure….lol
Love this and the name too.
Thanks so much!! Glad ya liked this post! 😃
Lovely doodlewashed! And i agree with Margaret: You are a good writer beside your extrem drawing/painting/doodlewashing talent! I do really admire how you cherish the ´small´things in life here.
Awww thanks so much for the wonderful compliment, Carsten. 😊😃I started college wanting to be a writer, but ended up in art classes instead. So I really appreciate that!
hehe we are siblings again – the only plant I’ve managed to keep alive is an African violet with a basin of water built into the pot. As long as I remember to fill the basin every month, it stays alive lol. This is one of my favorites of yours, Charlie. Love the glass and shadow beneath it almost as much as the flower itself. Wonderful work! <3
Thanks sis!!😃💕hehe….see, definitely separated at birth! And thanks for the tip…that’s the kind of plant for me! Assuming I still remember the monthly watering. 😊 And this was a fun one…a little way to cheat back into hard lines and man made objects! I love nature, but florals aren’t my fave thing to paint, so this was a good compromise!
You seem to do really well with whatever you try, Charlie. I still remember your buildings and fountains from last summer!
Awww thanks! Hoping to go back to some architecture in July!
Yay! Looking forward to this!
I think just to capture a flower in a painting is a wonderful thing! Your doodlewash is gorgeous Charlie. The flower, jar, reflections are so beautiful and light!
Thanks so much, Cathe!! 😃💕Flowers are normally my thing so I’m so thrilled you liked this!
So lovely !
So beautiful Charlie I love that jar you did great with the flower too! Awesome work! <3 😉
Awww thanks, Carolina!! Glad ya liked this one! 😃💕
😉 <3 Wish you a great day!
Really like this…especially the petal and reflection. I am with you on flowers … Left in my care they die from lack of warer or too much water!
I’m so glad to hear I’m not alone in that! Lol Thanks so much, Carmel! Glad you liked this! 😃💕