Meet Zzzee, the native pollinator bee!

I paint bees to remind us that in central Pennsylvania, there are over 430 species of wild pollinator bees. In the last six years they have decreased in number by one third. (source: Lopez-Uride Lab at Penn State University).

What can you do to help? 

Protecting our most vulnerable pollinators requires focusing on native, wild populations. You can support them in your own backyard by:

• Planting native wildflowers that bloom continuously from spring to fall. 
• Leaving small patches of land “untidy”, as many native bees nest in the ground or in hollow stems.
• Reducing or eliminating pesticide use in your garden. 

Zzzee is available painted on fieldstone or walnut. 

Please contact me for price. Considerable discount if I don’t have to mail him! I’d rather spend my time painting than packaging and posting. : )

We had a delightful family outing on Sunday at the Craigshead House in Carlisle, PA! We were enchanted with Margaret Young’, also known as the Falconry Girl’s, presentation! She became immersed in falconry after seeing a presentation with raptors, and then a short time later, she read the book My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craigshead George. The section on Jean’s brother Sam Craigshead and his falcon “Frightful” led her to explore falconry with her dad.  She acquired her first bird at fourteen years of age -  an American kestrel named Millennium.

More people attended the presentation than expected and it was very hot day. It was obvious that her falcon was shy and reluctant to perform for the audience, but in spite of that, she entertained and educated with flair. She explained the of history falconry, her journey  and experience as an apprentice and the extensive testing required to obtain a license. At the end of her presentation she answered questions. 

Her current “Ambassador Team” of raptors include a Harris’s Hawk, Gyrfalcon hybrid, her Peregrine Falcon, Lanor Falcon and Great Horned Owl. We were able to view them very closely. 

When Margaret isn’t sharing her love of falconry, she is pursuing her career in as a stringed instrument repair tech and musical instrument and syles teacher at Meadowbrook Music in Blandon, PA. She teaches violin/fiddle, piano, bodram, hardingfele, and bagpipe, She is currently learning Uilleiann pipes.  In 2024 she came in second at the Scottish  Fiddling Revival US National Championship! 

Plan to make several wreaths to share with friends!

I've been painting luna moths for years but began in earnest when the pandamic broke out in 2020. The luna moth inspires us to have faith as we move through the dark hours of our lives. I painted this luna tile for my youngest daughter and she recently had it inserted when she had cement poured on her porch. 
You can read more about the luna and it's symbolism on my scrap book pages below.

If you've ever seen a luna moth, you know what a sacred thrill it is! Sighting are rare as their life spans are very short. They have no mouths and are unable to eat, living only seven to ten days. Their sole purpose is to reproduce. They are nocturnal and most often sighted between 10 pm and 2 am. in the eastern half of North America. 
There are both male and female luna moths. The color of the males is more vibrant, they have a thinner abdomen and their antennae are wider and more feathery. The females have a more bloated as they carry between 400 and 600 unfertilized eggs. They lay them on the underside of leaves in small groups of less than ten, preferring birch, sweet gum, walnut and hickory trees.
Whether you see a luna in it's natural environment, or a reproduction, may you be guided to trust your inner wisdom to lead you to the light!

Brown Trout on Granite, 10” x 4.5” x 1”, $150.00 + shipping, e -mail mikell@mikellyouell.com for more info

Beneath the surface of our springs and streams, brown trout move through waters that have shaped our community for generations. Their presence speaks to the enduring relationship between land, water, and those who call this place, our Big Spring in Newville, PA, home.

Recently, I completed this painting of a brown trout on a piece of exquisite brown-flecked granite. As I worked, I found myself thinking not only about the beauty of this remarkable fish but also about the symbolism it carries.
Brown trout are often associated with resilience, adaptability, and wisdom gained through experience. Brown trout are known for their ability to navigate changing environments while remaining deeply connected to the cold, flowing waters they call home.
For centuries, trout have appeared in folklore and storytelling as symbols of knowledge, intuition, and life's journey. The brown trout, in particular, seems to embody the spirit of the seasoned traveler—one who has learned the currents, weathered challenges, and discovered where to find shelter when waters run rough.
Anglers often speak of brown trout with a special respect. They are cautious, clever, and elusive. A large brown trout is rarely caught by accident. It survives through awareness and experience. In this way, the brown trout reminds us that wisdom is often quiet rather than loud.
Living in Pennsylvania, I have long appreciated our cold springs, streams, and rivers. Healthy trout populations are signs of healthy waters. Brown trout depend upon clean, well-oxygenated streams and rivers, making them ambassadors for the places they inhabit. Their presence reminds us that the health of our waterways is connected to the health of our communities.
As I painted this trout on granite, I was struck by the partnership between fish and stone. The granite speaks of permanence and endurance.  The trout represents movement, adaptation, and life's continual flow. Together they tell a story about balancing strength with flexibility—a lesson nature teaches again and again.
Perhaps that is why the brown trout continues to capture our imagination. It invites us to move through life with patience and to trust the wisdom gathered along the journey. Like the trout swimming beneath the surface, some of life's greatest treasures are found not in rushing forward, but in learning to move gracefully with the current.​

The spectacular iris flower comes in almost every color of the rainbow. For that reason, she is named after the Iris, the Greek Goddess of the Rainbow.

The goddess Iris was considered to be the messenger between the sea and sky. Thaumus the Wonderous, her father, was associated with the sea, and her mother, Elektra the Amber, was a nymph of the clouds. The goddess is credited with carrying water from the sea to fill the clouds, and she carried messages between the gods and goddesses in the heavens, particularly Hera, to the people on earth. She had golden wings, and it is said iris flowers spring up every time her feet touch the earth. Eiris, another word very similar to iris, means messenger. She represents both. 

Deep purple iris are often planted on the graves of women. Seeing the the flowers, Iris would accompany the women’s souls  from earth to heaven. 

The colors of the iris send messages based on the language of flowers (scroll down to find color symbolism in the violet and rose blog posts) and her petals and sepals are also symbolic. The three petals, or standards, of the iris reach upward and represent wisdom, faith and courage. The three sepals, pointing downward, symbolize faith, hope and love. 

The Iris was highly prized in Egypt, in particular by King Thutmose III,  considered by many to be the greatest ruler of ancient Egypt. He was an enthusiastic gardener, and when Egypt conquered Syria, he found them growing in abundance. He brought them back to Egypt and they came to be associated with the renewal of life. He was said to have coveted the iris the way some people coveted gold. 

Some of the most popular iris are bearded, dwarf, Japanese, Siberian, Louisiana and Dutch. Do you have a favorite? I hope you’ll enjoy the many types and colors of iris this spring. 

My grandmother grew tulips in many colors of the rainbow next to her wrap around porch on her farm in Greencastle, Indiana. She passed years ago, but this poem by Lisa Schroeder reminds me of her.

As a child, tulips reminded me of my grandmother and the promise of spring! The varieties are delightful from the huge Emperor tulips, classic Dutch, double tulips, fringed, flared, parrot and more. All colors from pristine white to deep black, and every color in between are available, with some having two or more colors!  Tulips planted around a home were thought to provide protection from curses and evil spirits, and bring prosperity and luck.

They originated in Central Asia and Turkey, and were associated turbans and protection. I always thought they came from the Netherlands, but they didn’t arrive there until the 17th century, and were a symbol of wealth and status. There was a period during 1636 and 1637, called the Dutch Golden Age, when the prices for exotic and rare tulip varieties skyrocketed.  One of the most expensive bulbs was compared to the price of a brownstone home in New York City. The ‘mania’ was short lived and the collapse of the bubble  had economic repercussions long after the brief period of madness.  

Many of you know I research topics for my workshops and topics using the alphabet. When I got to H as I was researching tulips, I was surprised to learn of the Hunger Winter. Tulips were used as food in attempts to stay alive, but tens of thousands died, and many suffered long term health issues for the rest of their lives. Actress Audrey Hepburn was a teenager living in the Netherlands during the winder of 1944  - 1945. She suffered from malnutrition and hardships as a result of the famine. 

The deaths during the hunger winter resulted from a variety of factors. It was a harsh and brutal winter, and the Germans requisitioned food from the Netherlands to support their war efforts, depleting the food supply for the Dutch population. Allied forces implemented a blockade to German occupied territories, and bombings and military action in the area greatly impacted transporting food. ​