Last year I kept noticing what are called phenology wheels pop up in my social media feeds. I learned they’re simply a visual representation of what is happening month by month in the natural world around you.
Every one of them is beautiful but I particularly enjoyed the one fellow artist, Rebecca Morris created. I watched it from its stark beginning to the end when it became what you see here. A beautiful and glorious representation of flora and fauna in her beloved State of California.
She is someone who inspires me. You can follow her on Instagram and be inspired too.
“Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Fighting with my desire to have a completed project right now, I was hesitant to show you how bare the page, but here it is. Imperfect and incomplete. That’s the thing with a year long project. It takes a year to get it done. And you have to start somewhere.
One of the aspects of a phenology wheel that appeals to me is the flexibility. You can track and record whatever you want. I’ve been curious about lunar cycles so I’m including that in my wheel. I started with one for the entire year in the middle of the journal then opted to add monthly ones too.
I’m also going to incorporate pages dedicated to nature. Whatever captures my interest and want to learn more about.
Last year I grew a garden outdoors in the ground and encountered so much I didn’t know or understand. I learned a lot but didn’t record it and this year I wish I had. So that’s part of what’s keeping me motivated to do it this year.
I’ll be glad I did.
And for you, dear reader, it’s not too late. Find a journal (or buy a new one) that you love. Skip the first few pages (if you need to overcome that fear of messing up a new book) and draw a circle. You can search online for a template to trace or copy. Or just free hand draw or use a ruler.
And once a month or once a day, add to it. A little entry every day leads to a big picture in the end.
I bet you’ll be glad you did. Onward!