Senita Cactus

This Senita cactus watercolor painting is the first in a new series... more

by Marilyn Smith

Original - Sold

Price

$350

Dimensions

9.000 x 9.000 inches

Title

Senita Cactus

Artist

Marilyn Smith

Medium

Painting - Watercolor

Description

This Senita cactus watercolor painting is the first in a new series
I am working on that will include illustrations of several different blooms
on various cacti in the Arizona desert region of the Southwest.
I have always been fascinated with the beauty of these
wonderful flowers and their short life span.
In order to enjoy each and every type of bloom,
one has to be so aware of their surroundings as it is so easy to miss them.
Senita cacti can reach a height of 16 feet with a columnar trunk,
branching out from the base. Each stem or column will have
4 to 7 lengthwise ribs upon which the flower buds form.
The flowers appear only on the upper portion of the column,
sometimes well-hidden amongst the shaggy spines,
making them hard to see. Each flower is very tiny,
approximately 1-1/2 inches, and is usually in the peach to pink color range. The blooms open during the nighttime hours,
but remain open during the morning hours as well.
The spines on the Senita are concentrated,
mainly at the top of each of each column, thus,
giving it a shaggy appearance and also the ability to conceal the flowers.
Blooming generally takes place during the spring and
summer months from April to August.
After the flowers have faded, a red, plump, egg-shaped fruit forms.
Senita cacti are native to the Organ Pipe National Monument
area in southern Arizona.

Uploaded

April 5th, 2014