While juggling a full-time job, I discovered pockets of free time on Friday mornings that begged to be filled with a creative pursuit. Drawing had been a passion of mine since childhood, and I had various options like oil painting, watercolors, or pencil sketches. However, serendipity led me to a botanical art class one Friday morning. My first subject was a ‘yatsude’ herbal leaf. Botanical art typically relies on photographs to capture intricate details, but this class offered a unique experience as we worked directly from the real, living specimens. This allowed me to witness the original textures and colors firsthand, creating a remarkable departure from the usual process of transcribing from photos.