The Pink Azalea 22 x 28″ oil on gallery wrapped canvas

Cate and I like to take little side excursions on long road trips. On one such road trip to Detroit we found a waterfall on route, in Elkin, North Carolina. It was a bit of a hike. Thank goodness for our gym membership. The steep climb was challenging but not too much for us.  We could hear the falls approaching as we trekked the well worn trail to our destination. The waterfall was not a disappointment. We perched on the rocks in the middle of the rapids and just took in the sounds of nature.

As we explored the shores of the river rapids, there were these magic lanterns hanging down from vines on trees. They were like birds, delicate lifeforms as if from another galaxy. No, they were just a lovely variety of Pink Azaleas, called the Pinxter Flower. They are usually found next to streams and rivers. They seemed to be floating in midair. Their Stamens were particularly long and seemed determined to deliver their pistol to the birds and insects pollinating in the area. I decided to depict them as delicately and exotically as they appeared to Cate and I that perfect afternoon.