Passion Flower

Legend has it that in 1620 a Jesuit priest in Peru came across the plant we now know as passion flower.

The flowers are 7.6 cm (3 in.) in diameter, opening from flat oval buds and flowering from summer to early fall. The ten petals (actually five petals and five sepals) are usually white but may also be red or purple. In front of the petals are fine, colorful filaments that are purple at the base, white in the middle and blue at the tip.

The ancient Aztecs reportedly used passionflower as a sedative and pain reliever. Today herbalists also recommend it as a sedative and antispasmodic agent.

Passionflower has been used for anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, epilepsy, and other conditions of hyperactivity, as well as high blood pressure. Passionflower also is included in many pain formulas when discomfort is caused by muscle tension and emotional turmoil.

Charro Ricardo’s Victory Salute

The very essence of the Mexican experience is exemplified by the culture of the charro, or Mexican cowboy. It is a rich legacy of tradition and valor, of honor and custom, of war and peace.

Each competitor is dressed in the traditional suit (traje) of the charro. On his head, is the wide brim sombrero, which protects him from the sun and acts as a helmet. The brim, also serves a shock absorber, to shield the head and neck if the charro is thrown to the ground. The body fitting suit is more than vanity. It’s made that way, to insure there is no flapping cloth to be caught by the horns of steers. His chaps are the same. The botinas, or little boots he rides with, protect his feet from the stirrups. On his botinas, he has his spurs.

Cala de Caballo; (Horse reining) a charro gallops his horse the length of the lienzo, and slides to a stop. He then rapidly pivots the horse on each hind leg; for a minimum of three revolutions in both directions. Then he does two half turns, after which the Charro backs the horse down the lienzo. This was what a seller did to show a prospective buyer, how well his horse was trained.

Charreada is sometime called the national sport of Mexico, but it is more then that, it is a tradition. This is because the relationship between men and horses is an integral part of the Mexican psyche, as exhibited in their language. A gentleman in Mexico is called a caballero or horseman.

Ricardo has just won the Cala de Caballo and this is his acknowledgement to the crowd.
If you like Rodeo, you’ll love Charreada.

For sale 80x65cm Framed, matt and non glare glass. Contact Artist

The Bandit

Bandit-masked raccoons are a familiar sight just about everywhere, because they will eat just about anything. These ubiquitous mammals are found in forests, marshes, prairies, and even in cities.

An adaptable feeder, raccoons will eat almost anything—fish, mice, insects, stolen eggs, and human trash. Raccoons sometimes "wash" their food, rapidly dunking it in water before eating.

These ring-tailed animals are equally opportunistic when it comes to choosing a den site. They may inhabit a tree hole, fallen log, or a house's attic. Females have one to seven cubs in early summer. The young raccoons often spend the first two months or so of their lives high in a tree hole. Later, mother and children move to the ground when the cubs begin to explore on their own.

For sale Unframed 28.5cm x 38.5. Contact artist.

Hibiscus

Seeing the Hibiscus blooming outside our apartment made me draw this pretty blossom.
Little did I know that the Hibiscus which is part of the family Malvales, and the most important member of this family is cotton. Apparently several species of Hibiscus produce fibers. It is also a relative to Okra!

For sale $150 45x38 cm Black Frame, cream matt and non glare glass