#witch hazel

Seems like I was just celebrating the arrival of summer and - poof - it's gone, soon to be vanquished by the autumnal equinox. Already, in Central Appalachia's cool, shady hollows, sweet birch and witch hazel leaves have started to turn and drop, showering moss-covered boulders with their finest gold filigree. Based on the 2025 forecasts I've read, Central Appalachia is expected to have one of its best fall foliage seasons in recent years.

Photos above and below from a quick morning hike in the old hemlock woods along Little Laurel Run at Coopers Rock State Forest. NC-WV finally got some rain this weekend; the forest looked recharged and renewed. More rain coming this week!

Plant of the Day

Friday 6 March 2026

Flowering in late winter the large deciduous shrub Hamamelis × intermedia 'Jelena' (witch hazel) has beautiful, copper-orange coloured flowers. It is well suited to an acid to neutral, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. This cultivar was raised at the Kalmthout Arboretum, Belgium.

okay listen, I do not.like drawing human-like anatomy so i'm sorry if they look awkard but i think i did my best haha (sobs)

Here's something cool I did: a set of sketch cards for the Fleer Retro Looney Tunes trading card set from Upper Deck! These are original pieces of art randomly inserted into regular trading card packs! I'm such a longtime Looney Tunes fanatic, so it was a bit of a dream come true to get to work on an officially licensed Looney Tunes thing, and I had so much fun drawing these characters!