Showy Lady's Slipper

I hope you all spent some moments today being aware of the great sacrifice made by so many who have tried and are trying to bring about peace. At 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month we stop and remember. "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me".

So, are you ready for tonight's botany lesson? Well, ready or not, here it comes.

The drawing above is of a flowering plant called "Showy Lady's Slipper". It's proper name is Cypripedium reginae. The Family name is Orchidaceae with a Subfamily name of Cypripedioideae. The Genus is Cypripedium and the Species is C. reginae.

This flower is also known as the Pink-and-white Lady's Slipper or the Queen's Lady Slipper. It is a rare terrestrial temperate orchid found in northern North America! You can tell that it is an orchid from the Family name of Orchidaceae.

The plant has probably always been rare due to its method of reproduction, but has become increasingly rare these days due to habitat loss and unscrupulous collectors. In most places where it grows it is a protected plant. Prince Edward Island, for example, made it their provincial flower in 1947, but it was so rare on the Island that they changed to another flower of the same family. The only province or U.S. state to rank this plant as secure is Ontario! That seems very strange since we have so much wetland draining and habitat destruction.

You will notice that in my drawing the "slipper" is more of a purple pink. The shade of the"slipper" varies from pinker pink to purple pink.




Next I want to show you a drawing I did of Betelhem, my newest foster child. Isn't she lovely? I just couldn't wait to try to draw her face once I saw her photograph. I haven't written to her yet, but plan to do so this weekend.

Her father is a subsistence farmer and her mother is self-employed, but that barely brings in enough for the family to live on. I do not yet know how many brothers or sisters she has. I will let you know more about her when I receive her first letter.

I am so happy -- I have five foster children now. They are all girls and they are all doing well in school. Isn't that fantastic? This is such a blessed way for single people to assist with the rearing of children. God is so good.

May peace be with you all.

Another Cactus Plant

I have another cactus drawing to show you. Drawing cacti is actually quite challenging as they require so much detail combined with the need to try to depict cactus needles with some measure of reality. I enjoy drawing them and so decided to try to draw Rebutia pygmaea. I am calling it "Pygmy" for short.

The Family name for this small cactus is Cactaceae; while Rebutia pygmaea is the scientific name. The Genus is Rebutia and comes from the name of a 19th century French cactus dealer and expert by the name of Monsieur P. Rebut.

This plant is native to the eastern side of the Andes in Bolivia and northern Argentina. I am not sure why just the eastern side, but that is what the botanists say!
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I have had a very busy day because my sister and her husband, from Tennessee, came to visit me today! They got here in time for us to go out for lunch where we loitered until 3 p.m. and then after visiting for a few more hours, they left to go back home!

I know this sounds strange, but since they have a parents' pass (their daughter works for an airline), they can fly up here in the morning and then return home in the evening at very little cost. They have done this on a number of occasions in the past and while I would enjoy having them stay longer, this seems to work well for them.

Now I need to get a few chores done before making it an early night. It has been a wonderful but tiring day and I am very grateful to God.

Peace be with you all.

Bethlehem

On Our Lady's Saturday (as I have mentioned previously, Catholics have a long tradition of honouring Our Lady on Saturdays), I would like to show you a new drawing of Our Blessed Mother. It also includes the baby Jesus and St. Joseph.

This is not an icon. It is just a simple drawing of the Holy Family in a traditional Christmas pose. I am calling it: "Bethlehem, Christmas 2009".

It is difficult for me to believe that we are already so close to Christmas. I haven't even started thinking about gifts, cards, etc.

Fortunately, I already have a couple of new drawings to use for cards: the one above and the one icon which I showed you a few weeks ago.

A dear friend of mine has chosen six different flower drawings of mine which he has asked me to make into Christmas cards for him. Surprisingly, they not only look good, they also look quite Christmas-y.

Actually, I have to correct something I said earlier -- I may not have started thinking about gifts for the few people in my life to whom I give gifts; however, I have already thought about a gift for myself! Actually, I have already given myself a birthday and Christmas gift! The gift is a new foster child -- a 9-year-old girl from Ethiopia by the name of Betelhem (pronounced Bethlehem). This is truly one of the best gifts I could have given myself. Everyone should be this kind to themselves. I will show you her photo soon -- she's lovely.

Peace be with you all.

Congo Cockatoo

Anyone who knows a bit about garden flowers will hear someone mention Impatiens and immediately think of something like the flowers pictured just below this text. These are Impatiens Timor (I have shown you this drawing previously).


However, there is a variety of Impatiens that is one of the most unusual members of the Genus and that is the type pictured at the top of this posting. Its name is Impatiens niamniamensis a.k.a. Congo Cockatoo or Parrot Plant.

This shrub, originally from tropical East Africa, is of the Family: Balsaminaceae; Genus: Impatiens and Species: niamniamensis. The origin of this plant has given rise to a third common name: African Queen.

The truly fantastic flowers produced are said to look like parrots. One commentator has said that they actually remind her more of candy corn! I think I agree with her!

The stems of this shrub can get so thick that after a while, the whole plant looks like a dark tropical tree. As I was researching this plant, I decided that it could have an additional common name of "Vampire Tree" as they only grow in full shade -- the sun burns their leaves!

Going from plants to people, I managed to bang my head today while working in the kitchen. In the process, I ended up with a small cut to my scalp which refuses to stop bleeding a small amount. Consequently, I decided to tie a clean rag around my head to prevent getting blood on anything. This has caused miz k.d. great consternation. She continues to sit and stare at me in an almost dog-like fashion. Turning her head first one way and then another before occasionally emitting a small, questioning meow. Nothing I say can convince her that everything is all right. I hope she gets tired soon and goes to sleep. Being starred at all the time can be disconcerting! Thank goodness I am not famous.

May peace be with you all.

Adonis and Loosestrife

I will give you a quick update on my health. At this point I am uncertain as to whether I had the flu or a very bad cold; however, what I have ended up with now is a sinus infection! I say "bah, humbug" to flu and cold season and I hope that I have paid my dues for this year. Fortunately, feeling poorly has not kept me from my art.

Tonight's first drawing is of Adonis annua. Family is Ranunculaceae; Genus is Adonis and Species is A. annua. This plant, native to Africa, Asia and Europe, has a pocketful of "nicknames". It is known as Peasant's-eye, Adonis' Flower, Autumn Adonis, Autumn Pheasant's eye, Blooddrops, Flos Adonis, Red Chamomile, Red Morocco, Rose-a-ruby and Soldiers-in-green. The most commonly used of these, however, is "Pheasant's-eye".

The Family name of Ranunculaceae means it is a member of the buttercup family. It is described in ancient documents as a"Eurasian herb cultivated for its deep red flowers with dark centers."





This next drawing is of one blossom from the "Alexander Yellow Loosestrife" plant.

Its proper name is Lysimachia punctata and the plant is native to Central Europe. It gets its name of Loosestrife from the superstition that the plant loosens or negates the anger or strife of wild beasts. A study of herbs published in 1597 noted that loosestrife was attached to the yokes of oxen to soothe their tempers "appeasing the strife and unrulinesse which falleth out among oxen at the plough."

Its genus name, Lysamachia alludes to this belief, for it is named for Lysimachus who was a general to Alexander the Great and ruled a quarter of Alexander's divided Empire upon Alexander's death. Lysimachus was said to have calmed a monstrous leopard by waving a herbal branch before it. Whether it was actually Loosestrife or not, the story has stuck.

So, there you have two more flower drawings. That's all I seem to be doing these days. I feel like I am in a bit of a rut. What I need is another project. Any ideas anyone wants to offer me? I am open to your ideas. I have projects that I am still working on but I have already done all the art work for them. Inspiration is what I need!

Peace be with you all.

Common Flower, Unusual Flower

First, a flu report: I am doing much better, but still have a ways to go. I am certainly able to do most things but find I have to rest a lot more. I have spent the weekend by myself in an effort to keep from infecting anyone else, but I should surely soon be past the contagious stage. Anyway, thanks for the concerns of those who sent get well messages.

Anyway, the first drawing tonight is of a very common garden flower -- possibly one of the most common -- a zinnia. Though the one I have drawn is a hybrid so it looks a bit different than the common variety.

The proper name of this one is "Zinnia x hybrida". The Family is Asteraceae; the Tribe is Heliantheae; and the Genus is Zinnia. Zinnias came originally from wildflowers found growing in the dry grasslands stretching from the American southwest to South America, but primarily in Mexico. Zinnias are especially favoured by butterflies. The name of the genus derives from the German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn who died in 1759 -- although what he had to do with discovering a Central and South American plant, I do not know.

I really like the way the half-grown bulb looks with all those tight layers of green getting ready to spread apart so the flower can escape.

This next flower is not a drawing at all, but a photograph I came across while looking for a photo of another flower.



This is an Anthurium scherzeria. I don't know how familiar you are with Anthuriums, but usually they have a large, coloured "leaf" with a flower spike sticking straight out in front. When I saw this poor, contorted version, I laughed out loud with delight. "What a crazy looking plant," I thought -- "I must have it for my collection." Then, the more I looked at it, the more I wanted to share it on my blog.

I look at something like this flower, and I am totally convinced that God has a true sense of delight in His creation. So often, as an artist, I see colours in nature that are totally unnecessary to the usefulness and function of plants, but which make us clap our hands in pleasure. I think of a hillside in springtime, for example, that would work just as well if the grass was a dull brown instead of bright green -- but not only is the grass green, the hillside is also filled with thousands of different, colourful flowers that make it look like an artist has painted it. And each flower is exquisite in its perfection and loveliness. It really makes me grateful that I have eyes to see and especially sensitive to the burden of those who are blind. Oops, I am preaching again!

Sorry this is so late tonight, but I have been watching movies about saints on EWTN all evening. They are having some wonderful films in honour of All Saints Day.

Well, it is time for me to return to my resting.

May peace be with you all.

Trees and More Trees

Well, I cannot hide from it any longer -- I have the flu. I don't know which kind of flu, but I have the usual symptoms. I have actually had it since the beginning of the week, but just kept telling myself that it was a simple, old-fashioned cold, but I could only pretend for so long.

Actually, considering all the symptoms I have, I am not feeling all that bad at the moment -- unless I try to stand up and walk around that is! No, seriously, I am feeling well enough to post this blog.

As you can see from the title, this posting is all about trees. Those of you who have been reading my blog for the past couple of years know how I feel about trees. I am literally a tree-hugger. I even talk to trees. I have drawn many trees over the years -- some good and some terrible, but the one above is a recent re-drawing of an Acacia tree which I am very fond of. It isn't great, but it pleases the artist in me. You may remember seeing this tree some months ago with a man sitting under it. I have since removed the man and re-drawn the whole scene.

The remainder of this posting consists of a few of the hundreds of photos of trees that I have collected. You do know that I collect photographs of trees, don't you? I am sure no one is surprised at that!


This first photo is of a tree in early morning. Trees and light create some of the most soul-satisfying images we humans can gaze upon. I praise God each time I see such a scene as this.


Here is an old tree in all its Autumn glory. Imagine sitting underneath this tree, leaning against the trunk and looking up. I would have to sing a hymn of praise.



Finally we have these ancient trees, part of some roadway (you can see the road at the left edge of the photo). Who knows what these trees saw when they were young. Yet, in comparison to the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane, several of which are 2000 years old, these trees aren't old at all.

I have lots more photos of trees I thought about posting, but I wanted to keep this short so I can get back to resting and recovering. Hopefully, I will still feel like posting on Sunday. I think I will.

Peace be with you all.