Doc Magruder has quite a garden, huh?
On Pope Benedict's final day, before he is Pope Emeritus, and with 100 Cardinals from all over the world now at Vatican City...I am posting another flower from Doc's place...the Cardinal Flower (lobelia cardinalis).  This native American wildflower can be found in abundance along Wilson Creek in August, according to the good doctor.  I will have to put my fly rod up in August and look for the cardinals...surely they will have voted by then...

There is a wonderful old house in Banner Elk, NC that has been the subject of several of my paintings...it is a virtual treasure trove of artist ideas.  
The front of this beauty is nearly hidden from view by two tremendous Blue Spruce trees.  The closer you get to the front porch, the larger those trees grow.  This could be a mountain version of Downton Abbey.  I fantasize about some wonderful old parties that may have been held at this mansion...mountain style.

My latest painting is from that close-up perspective...right before you climb the steps and cross that wonderful porch.  Full length windows would allow you to peer into the party and see the guests and hear the music...maybe even a small trio from the Lees-McRae College just up the road.  
Alas, this lovely lady has long been abandoned and is showing her age and lack of attention.  Last year, a vagrant started a fire in the back of the house and nearly burned it to the ground.  It looks like the last time  someone had a party...it was Christmas.  I don't know the year, but they had lights stapled to her clapboard and gingerbread front posts.  This is "Blue Spruce." 


 I need to look up that history professor at Appalachian State and get the rest of the story...I'm hoping it's a doozie.

Well, not life and death...sorry for the alarm.
I just finished two new watercolors that feature flowers from Dr. Herbert Magruder's fantastic garden at Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.  
Doc Magruder has the most incredible garden of wild flowers, native American plants, waterfalls and walking paths...it is a mini-botanical garden that is absolutely wonderful.  Whenever I see him (Doc is a patron of mine) he always tells me what is blooming this morning or what is about to bloom next week or even in mid-April.  And each time, I have to say, "Doc, I'm really not a flower painter."
The painting above is, of course, a Calla Lilly.  While day lilies are in abundance in our area, the Calla comes from Africa and is not really suited to the cold weather at Grandfather Mountain, so Doc says.  Here is my dilemma.
I love to contrast the white-whites of watercolor paper with dark-darks, in this case a mixture of Lamp Black and Sap Green, to reach a deep dark rich green.  And, as you can see, when I, an amateur photographer at best, try to capture the finished painting, the green/black background shows reflections of light that are not apparent when you see the painting in person.

Likewise, the Jerusalem Artichoke (helianthus tuberose) a native American wildflower, photographs even worse...believe me, out of twenty attempts with various tilts and lights and contortions of the photographer...this is the best representation I could do.  In person, the background is a very rich green-black which contrasts and highlights the Cadmium Yellow Pale petals of these wildflowers found along the roadside as well as Doc's manicured Eden.

Like I told Doc when I started this project...I really don't paint flowers...what I should have said was...and I'll need a professional photographer to help me display the results.  Somebody call 9-1-1, please.