Don Balke (North Carolina, B. 1933) "American Woodcock and Mayflower" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor on Illustration Board.
Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.
This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood commemorative cover for the Birds and Flowers of Canada - Nova Scotia, postmarked June 30, 1978. AMERICAN WOODCOCK Philohela minor The Woodcock's day is spent dozing in a well-concealed ground nest, but as the cloak of night falls over the woodland, he springs awake to hunt. In a single night the Woodcock may consume half his weight in earthworms. When full, he takes to the air for a daring performance designed to dazzle the female. If the moon is full, the Woodcock may stage an all-night show. Once the courting ritual is over, however, the male Woodcock has little to do with family life. The female lays three to four eggs with brown spots in a nest of leaves and twigs -- and she continues to watch over her fluffy chicks until they can fly. When the young are grown and summer is at an end, the Woodcocks head south to their winter home. MAYFLOWER Epigaea repens It seems likely that the Mayflower derives its name from the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America. After a hard winter, the Pilgrims, no doubt, came upon this delicate bloomer and named it after their ship. The Mayflower, or Trailing Arbutus, is a delightful woodland native of Canada and the northern United States. It bears trailing hairy stems, green leaves, and clusters of white or pink flowers of sweet fragrance. The plant spreads in thick mats and prefers a home beneath a pine tree. Here, fallen pine needles and leaves protect its evergreen foliage throughout the Canadian winter. One of the welcome heralds of spring, the Mayflower blossoms often appear while there is still snow on the ground.
Image Size: 13.5 x 14 in.
Overall Size: 14 x 17 in.
Unframed.
(B05207)
Condition
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