Written by Today we celebrate National Arbor Day, which is a day all about trees. For something a little different, I decided to doodlewash a little tree frog on a tree branch, to spotlight the importance of trees to the creatures with whom we share our planet. The Arbor Day Foundation was founded in 1972, to “inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.” This day is celebrated on the last Friday in April in the United States, though many states observe it at different times during the year, based on the best tree planting times in the area.
When I was a little kid I remember planting a tree in the backyard for Arbor Day and it was so cool to see that tree all grown up by the time I was in high school. At the time I wasn’t thinking about the sheer importance of trees on our little planet, nor did I have a real understanding of what the Arbor Day Foundation was all about. This little American tradition is actually part of a global initiative by the Foundation. For example, their Rain Forest Rescue® program is making important strides by supporting local partners and communities in their efforts to protect, sustain and restore tropical rain forests.
I mention all this, as I live in the city and can’t actually plant a tree, and thought perhaps others might be in the same place. If you’re lacking a yard and would like an alternate way to celebrate this day, I found a really cool way to do just that. By clicking here you can donate to the Rain Forest Rescue program and for every $10 you contribute, the Arbor Day Foundation will save a 2,500 square foot area (232 square meters) of rain forest in your name. Pretty cool and all for less than a couple Starbuck’s Grande Caffè Lattes! Today’s the day for all of us to celebrate in whatever way we can! So try something! You’re guaranteed to be as happy as a little frog in a tree if you do!
Still ONE DAY LEFT to join me in April by celebrating a National or International Day with a doodlewash! Tag your image #doodlewashaday and I’ll feature everyone who played along on doodlewash.com at the end of the month!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Quinacridone Gold, Burnt Sienna, Cobalt Teal, Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Green Pale, and Neutral Tint. Sennelier L’Aquarelle: Opera Rose. Lamy Safari Al Star pens with Platinum Carbon sepia ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
Your tree frog looks right at home on his branch. Great way to celebrate the day. Fantastic doodlewash!
Thanks so much Susan!! 💕😃 I started with a tree, but wasn’t feeling it so I switched to a frog. Hehe Glad you liked him!!
What a fabulous tree frog, Charlie! 🐸💕 And a good idea about the Rain Forest Rescue Program. Happy Friday! 🎉 Look forward to seeing what you have planned for May! 💕🎨👍
Thanks Jill!! Glad you liked my little frog!! 😃💕 And yeah…I always wish I could plant for Arbor Day, but haven’t had a yard in years! Hehe Hope you had an amazing Friday my friend! 😃
beautiful! I love your lime yellow green 🙂
I’ve planted 5 trees… 3 survived the droughts, so thats pretty good.
thank you for sharing the Arbor Day info Charlie !
Thanks so much Debi!! 💕😃 And yay! 3 out of 5 ain’t bad at all! Hehe…I use that same rule with my paintings actually. 😊hehe
You’re Welcome.
and there are some days, Charlie… if I find even ONE thing that looks ok; I will give myself a pat. so sad! lol
An awesome tree frog for Arbor day! One more day, and then we learn your next exciting adventure. You’re probably excited to know what it is too – right? LOL! 🙂
Thanks Jodi!! 💕😃 Glad you liked him!! And seriously?! Of course I’m excited to know what it is! Hahaha! Yep…true to fashion…we will all find out tomorrow at the same time! 😊
🙂
You know I think all your paintings are great, but you really nailed this one!
Awww thanks so much Lindsay! Appreciate that!! Friday’s are always rushed for me. So thrilled you liked how it turned out! 😃
Love your interpretation of this day. That tree frog looks great!
Thanks Teri!! 💕😃 Though I’d try to mix it up a bit. Glad you liked it!
Cutie pie!! I love frogs; tree frogs doubly so. Yours triply so! ❤️🐸
Hehe!! Yay!! A triply love is always the best kind!! 💕😃Thanks Teresa!!
What a great way to honor the day, I love your tree frog and your donation to the Rain Forest. ❤️😍
Thanks so much Sharon!! 💕😃Yeah…I wanted to try something a little different! And that cause is very important to me. Glad you liked this!
I love the frog one of my favorite water/tree animals. Their chorus in the evening is soothing for a good sleep!
Thanks!! And I don’t have them where I am, but remember that sound while camping. It is soothing! 😃
Aren’t you allowed to plant trees in your backyard, Charlie? I’m so fortunate to see and be surrounded by trees where I live. I’d be a tree, if I could; which one would be very hard to choose! I love your frog.
I don’t have a backyard or a front one! Hehe…city row home. Still have green space around me but it’s not mine. Glad you like my little frog, Janina! 💕😃
I’m glad you have some nature around you…perhaps the cemetery next door could plant some trees for you?!
They do! But they don’t take kindly to one planting them on their own! lol
Your little tree frog is very charming and attentive. He’s probably figuring out where he’d like a new tree planted. Great painting, Charlie. My favorite trees are ginkgo and Japanese maple. But I love all trees and have always wanted a tree house built in a big oak or sycamore.
Thanks so much Sharon!! 💕😃Glad ya liked him! He does seem to be plotting something! And ooooooo…yes!! you had me at tree house!! I never had one as a kid and still want one as an adult. 😊
Me too!
Gorgeous painting! You captured the eyes perfectly, and the slight turn of its head brings such personality to the portrait…lovely way to celebrate the day! Makes me want to be as happy as a little tree frog too…(insert tree frog chorus here*).
You just made me happy as a little frog with your comment, Haunani!! 💕😃 Thanks so much!! (And I can actually hear that chorus too! Hehe)
Wonderful as usual Charlie! <3 😉 I love your watercolor frog is very well done! I enjoyed to read the good message and your planting tree story! Thank you! I was debating today for the Arbor Day and The Peace Rose Day the rose is what I choose for my doodlewash here it is https://yesterdayafter.com/2016/04/29/national-peace-rose/
Cheers to the beautiful nature! <3
Thanks so much, Carolina!! Definitely cheers to that! 💕😃
Love this frog, and all the detail, he looks deep in thought?
Thanks Rebecca!! 💕😃Yep…he’s thinking about what the heck to start for a new adventure on Sunday! Lol Hopefully he’ll come up with something good and let me know! 😊Hehe
Love your interpretation of todays day 🙂 Your frog looks great :*
Awww thanks!! I’m so happy you liked him!! 💕😃
Love your thought!
Thanks so much!! Appreciate it!! 😃
You do have a way with animals! We’re all in this together, and trees are important to frogs as well as everything living.
I’m not doing a celebratory day today, but I want to thank you for all the fun this month Charlie…and I can’t wait to see what you come up with for May! (K)
Thanks Kerfe!! 💕😃I just really love animals…always have, but love nature as well of course.! Hehe And thanks so much for playing along! It’s been so fun to see what you’ll come up with. And it was all so cool!!! As ever, next month’s theme will likely surprise even me tomorrow! But I will be inviting people to play along at least once again! 😉
Wow, could he be any cuter??? So very sweet, love him, brilliant colors too Charlie! Dying to see what you come up with for May!
Thanks so much Laura! 💕😃 hehe…you and me both! Lol I don’t know what it is, but I just always do everything at the last minute. 😊
My husband loves these guys, they sing and sing on summer nights wherever there are lots of trees and we’ve often wondered what they look like! 😀 They can become quite loud at night!
Awww cool! I wish I lived somewhere where I could hear them! I miss that sound. Remember it when I was a kid! 😃
I didn’t know it was National Arbor Day yesterday, Charlie, it must be a US thing! Not knowing, I didn’t post a thing about trees. Today, still not knowing, I did post trees.It’s little coincidences like this that keep things ticking along just nicely!
Hehe… that’s awesome! cheers to coincidences! Love it Tom! 😉
Such great detail. Love this little green guy!
Awww thanks Carol! 💕😃Frogs are kind of cute in their own little way. Hehe… glad you liked mine!
How awesome! A nice way of marking a very worthy day – you’ve captured that big, watchful eye perfectly – and a reminder to get out amidst the greenery more. I get quite a few frogs coming to enjoy the pond (at least while it’s seal-less). I love your story about planting the tree… I did the same, many times! I had a conifer phase; when I was about eight I picked this random conifer from a garden centre, purely because it didn’t give an estimate as to how big it’d grow. It got bigger…and bigger… and bigger. It’s enormous now! Further fun came from seeing the bugs – yes, even the spiders – turning it into their new pad. Yay for trees!
Hehe! I’m now picturing this insanely enormous tree filled with spiders and it’s both terrifying and awesome!! That’s so cool! And glad you liked my little frog…I went to make a tree and got distracted by a little creature instead which should come as no surprise at all! Lol But definitely yay for trees!! 😃
Haha! Yes, I expect one day this gargantuan conifer will usurp the earth. 😉
Eye and underside of frog are especially well-painted.
Aww thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕