33. RAINFOREST: dibujos de bosque

September 12, 2013 //

Heres a few more drawings that trace their origins back to rainforest medicines. Thank you to the forest peoples who understand the importance of ancient trees and the spirits that dwell within:

Who is laughing here?!

If you are not awake in the wee hours of the morning, you’re gonna miss the best part!

I know Bauhinia as a legume tree with pink orchid like flowers. In the tropics is a gnarly liana of a Bauhinia that climbs up to the sky people.

The chicharras are singing ji ji ji ji ji ji ji ji ji ji ji ji ji ji ji…

Then Orellana’s ship was swallowed by the great amazonian catfish. why!? Where did he go?

In the shadow of the sun, Indians chant for another round.

In the presence of indian medicine, songs are vibrations are rainbow arcs of energy that are inserted deep into one’s being. The goal is to open one’s eyes to the magic of this world. Know gratefulness and find kinship.

Categories Food and drug plants, mythology

32. INVERTEBRATES: Bee love

June 14, 2013 //

To get past our fear of flying insects it is important to meet them and say hello. Insect scientists group insects into different clans. One of the characteristics to observe is the kind of wings it has.

Bees are grouped with the wasps and ants. Some bees are named for their trades and the types of nests they build. Clay and mud, wooly hairs, bits of wood, green leaves. Bees are master builders and architects.

How social is the bee? Does it live in a little hole by itself, in a hole surrounded by other holes, or in a huge nest ?

If the bee collects pollen, where does she store it as she travels to the next flower?

How many babies in each little nursery cell? One to many?

What sort of structure? Is it waterproof? Who brings food to the young?

Some bees live as parasites on other bees. Survival and another day staring at flowers.

Not all flowers are quick to let go of their precious pollen. Some take just the right touch.

One time up in the mountains I thought the earth was rumbling and granite was shaking. Turns out it was a dead tree humming with activity.

The ovipositor is the egg laying device that sticks out the back of the abdomen of female bees and wasps. In some instances, It is modified into a stinger. Poison and power, life and birth.

Bees are awesome!

Funny thing is, it seems that once an idea is lit up in one’s mind, it does these loops and starts to show up everywhere. Yesterday, dreaming of bees, I came upon this scene.

Then this:

And here they were – at the edge of the sea. Rock rock Rockaway Beach! This ones in Pacifica. 2-3 foot shifty watery claws! GO!!!!!

Categories Insects, nature, science

31. INVERTEBRATES: larvae

April 15, 2013 //

Transformation and metamorphosis is part of the lifecycle for many invertebrates.

In the insects, males and females are often separate and distinct. They sometimes look very different from one another. In other groups of invertebrates like gastropods, hermaphroditism and sex change is common. Hormones and parts change to best adapt to prevailing conditions.

Changing from a plant eating land lubber to a nectar sipping flyer is never easy. Difficult is the process of settling down after floating for months, and surviving the mouths of whales and striped bass Well, follow the currents, let’s see what happens… Good luck!

Categories Uncategorized

30. ADVERTISEMENT: books

April 9, 2013 //

These images come from a gardening book I wrote called “In the Garden with Blue Butterflies”. It is a little bit ecology, a little botany, and all plant sciences. The book is available through Lulu.com.

Here is another preview for the book I drew some pictures for – “Rainforest Medicine Preserving Indigenous Science and Biodiversity in the Upper Amazon”. It is available through Amazon, Random House, and more.

Then the rainforests of Africa called. They said, “Give thanks to the forest, the forest is our mother!!” Where is Ejengi!?

Categories Uncategorized

29. INVERTEBRATES: rule

April 9, 2013 //

I did a talk for kids about animal taxonomy yesterday. We discussed some of the ways we group the different kinds of animals. This chart helped:

When I got home, I was inspired by the invertebrates again. They are so diverse and cool that they really deserve further study. The class I remember best from my undergraduate years was Invertebrate Zoology at UC Santa Cruz. Thanks Dr. Kerstin Wasson! Here’s some notes for my next lecture…