This colourful garden landscape was painted in watercolour with some pastel and the original painting was 27 inches tall x 9 1/2 inches wide.
Painted on sunny afternoons in July 2009, the Furcraea which is in the middle of the painting above the pink mesembryanthemums is in flower. Growing on the end of the flower branches are the new bulblets completely formed with roots and all, ready to form new plants as they drop to the ground. Once it has flowered the parent plant dies, but often remains there with the bulblets on it for another year or so unless it is chopped or blown down. It takes many years before the new plants are able to flower, but when they do many of the Furcraea in the area, that are ready, will flower that year. I am told that it is something to do with the humidity and temperature in the early Spring. But it is a relatively rare occurrence, happening only once every fifteen to twenty years. It is a relative of the Agave and when flowering can be as tall as 40 feet but is usually about 6 to 7 metres.
Full size print image 27 tall x 9 ½ inches wide (approx).
Half size print image 15 ¾ tall x 5 ½ inches wide (approx).
Ref: FurcraeaPorthcressaCottages
Location: Porthcressa, St Marys, Isles of Scilly
Artist Stephen Morris
