While staying in a one room air B&B in Azalea Park, I used to bike every morning along the Jay Blanchard Trail. It is a nice trail that is free of road traffic and runs along a winding river. I got to know who worked out every morning on the trail and we would acknowledge each other with a simple nod of the head. Azalea Park was nice enough but the sounds of airplanes landing made it unbearable each morning.
It is on this trail that I met artist James Chonody. He sets up a painting studio in one of the picnic gazebos and works on a painting while showing several dozen of his other works. I sketched him at work and saw him make a sale on the spot. He is a natural born salesman with a captivating story that elicits sympathy. He wanted to meet at FAVO last week, but his schedule fell apart.
I did this sketch of a quiet stream along the JAY Blanchard trail. I was captivated by the cypress knees which stick up in a crowded cluster. The trail itself can be seen to the left with a view of the railing which separated most bikers and runners from getting too close to the water. I slipped through a gap in the fence and hiked down with my bicycle. It was a beautiful peaceful day and I relaxed to study the unique shape of each of he knees.
Cypress knees are vertical growths from horizontal roots underground. They are believed to supply air to the plant structure. Since the trees are close to the water’s edge they can often be found under water and the knees grow upward to get air above the water’s surface.