Creative Joys of June: Studio Inspiration & Birdsong
- Laura Leeder
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
"Gardening is how I relax. It's another form of creating and playing with colors." – Oscar de la Renta
As we near the official start of summer, the garden has entered one of its most rewarding phases. The last of the peonies have finished their glorious show, and now my mock orange shrubs are just beginning to open, releasing their sweet fragrance into the air. The roses are in full bloom, while the delphiniums I planted two years ago—one deep pink, the other a striking blue—are rising tall in the back garden like elegant towers of colour.
Lately, I’ve been bringing a bit of this outdoor beauty inside.
Branches of variegated boxwood, with their cream-edged leaves, look lovely on their own in a simple vase.
When paired with a few garden flowers, they become elegant, long-lasting arrangements that brighten every corner of the house.
Moments That Inspire
These peaceful mornings spent in the garden, or walking through the yard with my yorkie Gabby at my side, are where I find much of the inspiration for my art.
Recently, I’ve been lucky enough to witness a touching display of parenting in nature: a blue jay mother gently guiding her young fledgling around my yard. While I worked nearby, I watched her introduce the little one to the birdbaths, the feeders, and the safety of the big maple tree. She even coaxed her youngster to fly to a branch where I had placed a peanut, just above my head. It took a few patient moments—and much encouragement—but the little one made the leap. It was such a quiet but meaningful moment to witness.
"Some believe that seeing a blue jay can be a reminder to find beauty in the little things and to appreciate the present moment."
I’ve also seen a mother sparrow show her three young ones how to bathe and drink from the water in my backyard. Their tiny wings fluttered as they tried to balance on the edge of the birdbath, eventually discovering the flat rock in the middle where they could safely perch and watch their mother dip into the water. She led them to the feeders, the shrubs, and finally to the seed ring in the back corner—introducing them to the best of the garden.
And just yesterday, I spotted a familiar face: the mother squirrel I’ve been feeding for a while. She brought her two little ones into the front yard maple trees, pausing just long enough for me to notice. These quiet encounters, these invitations into the rhythm of nature, feel like gifts—and I try to carry their essence into the studio with me.
In the Studio
Now that I’ve tamed most of the yard—trimming trees and shrubs, fertilizing the flower beds, and tackling the weeding—I’m turning my attention back to a few new bird paintings I’ve started and look forward to sharing soon. The quiet time spent working outdoors has allowed new ideas to percolate, and I’m excited to see where they take my art this season.
These longer, lighter days invite more time for creative exploration—and more time outdoors for gathering ideas and reflecting before I paint.
As we settle into this sweet space between spring and summer, I hope you, too, are able to pause and enjoy the beauty around you.
Wishing you peaceful moments and joyful inspiration,
🌿 Laura
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