Want to start a year-long art project?? A phenology wheel is a great way to mindfully observe the changes throughout the months and the seasons and express your observations creatively.
Phenology is a branch of science dealing with the relations between climate and periodic biological phenomena (such as bird migration or plant flowering), and periodic biological phenomena that are correlated with climatic conditions.
To start your phenology wheel, decide on your timescale. We’re going to start in January and end in December, but maybe you want to focus more specifically on the changes throughout one season.
Then, decide on your place. It can be your backyard, an open space you love, or the entirety of Douglas County!
Get into a routine. At regular time intervals, get outside and add sketches, weather data, observations, photos, whatever you can dream up onto your wheel (the examples below are from North Olympic Land Trust, Pinterest- Anne Forbes, and the BLM).
Have fun! In December, we’ll invite everyone to share their phenology wheels from 2024. But remember: the great thing about a wheel is that you can start whenever you want!
