The day was hot and hazy, but the water in the pond... deliciously cool. Our group of plein air painters gathered under the nearby oak tree at Harvest Fields after after exploring and experiencing the landscape. Our goal... to discover what moved us. None of us could get enough of the pond and its reflections, mirroring the moods of the ever-changing sky. I chose to paint this view from the base of the oak, where the shade and cool breezes kept me from sweltering in the afternoon sun. From here, the layers of wildflowers, shrubs, and surrounding trees embraced the pond and offered inviting glimpses of the cool water within. I couldn't resist a refreshing dip... could you?