[25] Today’s prompt is Arboreus Maximus
End the challenge in a big way by drawing the biggest tree in your neighborhood. For a mega-challenge, draw the biggest tree in your town, city, or region!

Big finish to this big & beautiful project! The Jack London Oak in the Frank H. Ogawa City Center Plaza is majestic. Srsly, it leaves you breathless. Walk under the canopy and be embraced by the long, graceful branches. Gaze into the woven heart of the trunk and try to trace how the branches twine and twist. Lie down and look up, tracing the path of each branch ou see. Spend 2 hours doing this. Feel renewed.

This tree was moved to this location in 1917 (it was already quite a large oak) and is an icon of the city of Oakland. Cathy and I sketched the Hands Off protest under the canopy. It has sheltered, delighted, and inspired Oakland for over a century.

I’m so thankful for this tree, for this project, for the wonderful partnership of Cathy Raingarden, and for the sponsorship of the Wild Wonder Foundation.

Also, today is Arbor Day! Do something wonderful for the trees in your life. Protect, preserve, promote.

Featured tree: Coast live oak ~ Quercus agrifolia
* Visit this tree in Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, CA. It’s so worth it.

Inspiration: There are some very old and very big trees out there! (If you are in the U.S., you can add a beloved old or large tree to the registry.)

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About the #ArborApril challenge

Join the month of drawing and journaling trees!

#ArborApril2025 is a combo challenge with #NatureJournalingApril, a month-long sketching & journaling challenge hosted by Cathy Raingarden, Kate Rutter, and the Wild Wonder Foundation. Each day in April, create a page in your sketchbook or nature journal based on the daily prompt from the prompt list. If you post on social media, use hashtags #ArborApril2025 and #NatureJournalingApril.

Posts & prompts will be on online at Instagram, Wonderland, Substack & Bluesky.