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Over the past year, nature journaling has become one of my favorite ways to explore Arkansas with my family. What started as a simple way to sketch what we saw on hikes has grown into a meaningful practice that helps us slow down, pay attention and really connect with the places we visit – even if it’s just our own backyard.
Nature journaling helped us to be more aware over the last year. If we were following a prompt, we had something to look for, but it was also fun to make discoveries and realize, “Hey, this will fit perfectly into our nature journal!”
If you’re new to nature journaling, I shared everything you need to get started in my first article, from supplies to simple ideas you can try right away. You can read that here: Nature Journaling in Arkansas: A Creative Journey.
From there, I created a series of monthly prompts designed to help you notice the seasons as they unfold across Arkansas. Each month builds on the last, creating a visual record of the year through sketches, notes and creative observations.
Follow Along Month by Month
If you want to journal through the seasons, you can jump in at any point or work through the year in order:
- May Nature Journaling: Blooms, Birds and Busy Bees
- June Nature Journaling: Sun-Drenched Colors of Summer
- July Nature Journaling: Savor the Shade
- August Nature Journal: Golden Light and Summer’s Fade
- September Nature Journaling: Summer’s Slow Shift
- October Nature Journal: Crisp Air and Autumn Magic
- November Nature Journal: Quiet Transitions
- December Nature Journal
Each post includes a set of prompts along with simple ideas to help you turn your observations into drawings, paintings, collages or written reflections.
You’ll probably notice we missed a few months. Life got busy, and while our practice of nature journaling continued, during the late winter months, we definitely had to be a little more intentional. Arkansas is still so beautiful, but the cold and dark take their toll, and I found myself reading more and drawing less. But, that’s okay! Nature journaling should be fun and relaxing. When it feels like a chore, it’s time to take a break.
I hope you save this post and reference it often as you start your nature journaling practice. I’ve listed a handful of prompts for January through April that you can reference next winter and spring.
January
- Watch birds at a feeder and sketch their shapes and colors
- Look for animal tracks in mud or frost
- Study tree bark and branch patterns without leaves
- Observe frost on grass, fences, or car windows
- Take a short walk on a sunny afternoon and note the light and shadows
February
- Look for early buds on trees and shrubs
- Sketch moss, lichen, or ferns in shaded areas
- Watch for cardinals and other bright winter birds
- Observe rainy day patterns like puddles and ripples
- Search for the first hints of green pushing through the ground
March
- Go on a wildflower walk and sketch what you find
- Sketch blooming trees like dogwoods or redbuds
- Watch bees and early pollinators at work
- Sketch clouds during spring storms
- Start a small nature study of one tree as it begins to leaf out
April
- Visit a state park or trail known for wildflowers
- Listen for frogs and other amphibians near water
- Observe butterflies and insects in motion
- Sit outside and create a sound map of everything you hear
- Capture a landscape scene filled with fresh spring greens
A Year in the Making
One of the things I love most about nature journaling is that there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Your journal doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.
Over time, those pages begin to tell a story. A year of walks, seasons, small discoveries and quiet moments spent outdoors. Whether you fill every page or just pick it up every now and then, you’re creating something meaningful.
So, as spring begins again here in Arkansas, consider starting your own nature journal. You might be surprised at what you notice when you slow down and take a closer look.
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