21 December 2012

Cover their feet in pollen

Noeline Grant, Bird of Paradise painting


Last October, I saw this spectacular video through twitter:


Birds of Paradise Project Trailer


I then went at Google images looking for bird of paradise paintings. I didn't find birds-birds of paradise, I found flowers-birds of paradise paintings.


Marcia Baldwin, Bird of Paradise painting



« The [Bird of Paradise] flowers stand above the foliage at the tips of long stalks. The hard, beak-like sheath from which the flower emerges is termed the spathe.»


« This is placed perpendicular to the stem, which gives it the appearance of a bird's head and beak; it makes a durable perch for holding the sunbirds which pollinate the flowers.»


Cathy Sheeter, Sunbird painting


« The flowers, which emerge one at a time from the spathe, consist of three brilliant orange sepals and three purplish-blue petals. Two of the blue petals are joined together to form an arrow-like nectary.»



Bobbye West-Thompson, Bird of Paradise painting


« When the sunbirds sit to drink the nectar, the petals open to cover their feet in pollen.»


Text source: Strelitzia reginae



 Alan Krug, Bird of Paradise painting


 Arena Shawn, Bird of Paradise painting in watercolor


 Faith Te, orange Bird of Paradise painting


 Jacqueline Gnott, Bird of Paradise painting


 Marcia Baldwin, Bird of Paradise painting

 Patti Windhorst, Bird of Paradise painting


 Paul Danielczyk, Bird of Paradise painting


 Rich Moyers, Bird of Paradise painting


 Tania Knudsen, Bird of Paradise painting


WouterZArtZ, Bird of Paradise flower drawn on the ipad using paper 53 app