I’m gearing up for an event in early May. I get to draw botanical type things, live, in front of people! Here are some of my warm-up illustrations.
The first illustration is Kokiʻo ʻulaʻula. It’s an endangered, endemic Hawaiian plant. I had a plant once (that came with a red tag) and it’s flowers were so tiny and delicate. Unfortunately, the aphids tended this plant more than I did and they took it over. I hate when I go through periods of neglect and lose things that I really like.
I haven’t had much success with hibiscus in my yard. My neighbor on the other hand has beautiful plants, taller than the fence! They are constantly blooming in different shades from orange to pink to red! They are an introduced variety that is grown more popularly here in Hawaii. AND, he’s happy to spray his plants with chemicals. Which I don’t do, so all the bugs just hop on over the fence and enjoy my organic garden. I could go on about the hours I spend blasting aphids of my plants with jet streams of water…
The second illustration includes non-native Honohono orchids (Dendrobium anosmum). They smell SOOOOO freaking good right now. It seems like lots of people in my neighborhood grow these as well as coconut orchids. I can smell them everywhere as I walk the dog or jog around.
Also drawn are native Hawaiian Wiliwili flowers in two shades. Not currently blooming, but always fascinating, I love coming across these trees on hikes. They drop all their leaves before blooming, so the flower bunches brightly contrast the dark branches. Like hibiscus they can range in colors. From from green to white to yellow, corals and reds. I hope to catch some late this summer!
Posting this type of thing gives me major feelings of imposter syndrome. So I’m trying to just leave it up and not care too much. *whistles a tune*
