Olive Tree Autumn Colouring

The olive tree, Olea europaea, has been cultivated around the Mediterranean for thousands of years. It is an evergreen tree adapted to sunny summers and mild, wetter winters. Orchard trees are often kept about 3 to 10 metres tall, with a broad crown of narrow grey-green leaves. The trunk becomes thick, twisted and hollow with age. Small cream flowers open in spring, usually helped by wind pollination, and oval olives enlarge through summer. They may be harvested green or allowed to darken purple-black in autumn and winter. Olive trees grow slowly but can live for many centuries. Some famous old specimens are believed to be more than a thousand years old, although exact ages are hard to prove. Hollows in veteran olives shelter insects, lizards and small birds such as little owls. Ladybugs search leaves for aphids, while autumn olives feed birds that disperse seeds. The picture shows an owl safely tucked into a hollow, a ladybug, many fruits and a harvest basket. Fresh olives picked from a tree taste extremely bitter and must be cured by knowledgeable adults before they are food. Children should not climb ancient hollow branches or disturb nesting animals. Caring for old trunks, soil and surrounding wildflowers protects both the crop and the grove's biodiversity. Colour the narrow leaves sage green or silvery blue-green, making their undersides lighter. Olives can be yellow-green, emerald, rosy purple or deep violet-black to show different ripeness. Leave a tiny highlight on each oval fruit. Use layered tan, warm grey and soft brown on the gnarled trunk, following every twist with curved strokes. A little owl may be sandy brown and cream with golden eyes, while the ladybug can be red, orange or yellow with dark spots. Give the basket honey-brown bands, the stone wall pale beige and distant hills muted green or lavender. The autumn ground may combine straw gold with patches of fresh grass. Keep the sky clear blue after the first rains. Work patiently around the many small leaves, but leave some uncoloured highlights so the crown looks silvery and airy. The finished page should feel calm and ancient, with a productive tree sharing its hollow and branches with helpful wildlife.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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