Sweet Geranium

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

‘Observe yon sweet geranium flower.
How straight upon its stalk it stands,
And tempts our violating hands,
Whilst the soft bud, as yet outspread,
Hangs down its pale declining head.
Yet soon as it is ripe to blow,
the stems shall rise, the head shall glow.’
_{Extract from ‘The Geranium’ by  RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN}