Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

Black ink sketch and Windsor & Newton watercolour on DalerRowney 300gsm - 8" x 12" unframed

While the vibrant, strong sunflower is a recognized worldwide for its beauty, it is also an important source of food. Sunflower oil is a valued and healthy vegetable oil and sunflower seeds are enjoyed as a healthy, tasty snack and nutritious ingredient to many foods.

ITEM ID : SunflowersHelianthusAnnuus 
PRICE - R350.00 including postage in South Africa

A Crow's Dream

Corvus capensis (Cape crow, Black crow) - W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 
- 12" x 8" Unframed 

To build a nest 

with twigs unrest 

lying here, lying there 

to lay some eggs 

and breed some chicks 

to teach them how to click 

to swing in the branches 

and spy through the arches 

to bathe in the poodles 

all cool bathed rooms 

in search of green woods 

fully loaded with ripened fruits 

all life did I stood 

for life and livelihood 

my nest my homes 

one for one crow-hus 

same straws yet new nest 

next time I breast 

sweet life, luxurious breeze 

small problems everything within reach 

friends of mine 

plenty and more 

we dine together 

that is where we gather 

we dirt eat to purify the earth 

our souls divine burn the heaps holy 

Yet I dream of cages untold 

where parrots feed on milk and grains 

mellow fruits are ripe and ready 

anytime to taste without buddies. 

- lalitha iyer  

ITEM ID : ACrow'sDream 

PRICE - R350.00 including postage in South Africa

Whitefronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) SOLD

That little bird has chosen his shelter.
Above it are the stars and the deep heaven of worlds.
Yet he is rocking himself to sleep without caring for tomorrow's lodging,
calmly clinging to his little twig,
and leaving God to think for him.
- Martin Luther

W&N watercolours on Visual 200gsm - 12" x 8" - unframed (SOLD)

The White-fronted Bee-eater, Merops bullockoides (endemic to Africa), is a species of bee-eater widely distributed in sub-equatorial Africa. They have a distinctive white forehead, a square tail and a bright red patch on their throat. They nest in small colonies, digging holes in cliffs or earthen banks but can usually be seen in low trees waiting for passing insects from which they hunt either by making quick hawking flights or gliding down before hovering briefly to catch insects.
From "Wikipedia"

Rooikeelbyvreter [Afrikaans]; Sitembandayi (generic term for non-Carmine bee-eaters) [Kwangali]; Muhladzanhu, Muhlagambu (generic terms for bee-eater) [Tsonga]; Morôkapula (generic term for bee-eater) [Tswana]; Witkapbijeneter [Dutch]; Guêpier à front blanc [French]; Weißstirnspint, Weißstirn-Bienenfresser [German]; Abelharuco-de-testa-branca [Portuguese]

These birds are monogamous, strongly gregarious colonial nesters. It has one of the most complicated societies of all birds, with each colony comprising a number of groups, known as clans, each clan containing 3-6 "families", each containing one breeding pair and 1-5 helpers. The nest is built by both sexes and sometimes a helper, consisting of a tunnel 1 - 2m long, ending in an oval chamber. The burrow is usually dug into riverbanks or gullies by moving sand with its bill or, if it finds a more serious obstacle, using a bicycling action with its feet. (Oh, how CUTE!)
Info from "Bidodiversity Explorer"

“Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings.”

Thank you to the buyer!