Don Balke: Common Loon and Pitcher Plant

Artist: Don Balke
1932 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1978
Image Size: 14 by 13.5 inches
Overall Size: 17 by 14 inches
Medium: Water Color on Cold Press Illustration Board

COMMON LOON Gauia immer
The far-carrying cry of the Loon sounds like the hollow laughter of a hysterical woman, its spine-tingling call heightened by the loneliness of the lake, and the echo from the silent north woods. Yet, the Loon is not really a mysterious and ghostly bird. In fact, he is one of the more wily and skillful swimmers in the bird kingdom. There are few birds as fascinating to watch. The Loon's diving, for instance, is unique: slowly the body submerges under the surface until only the neck and head swish through the water like a submarine's periscope. Suddenly, the head also disappears. Underwater, the Loon can almost fly.

PITCHER PLANT Sarracenia purpurea
The Pitcher Plant, with its rosettes of water-holding leaves, is one of the most intriguing Canadian flowers. The purpose of its leafy receptacles is to catch and drown insects; the more palatable parts of the insect being eventually digested by the leaves. Similar to Venus's flytrap which also entraps insects, the Pitcher Plant is ideal in natural or man-made bogs or in low, moist ground, especially around pools and streams. Its leaves are mottled and deeply veined, usually bronze or purple, and its flowers, which appear in early summer, may be purple or dark red.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® commemorative cover for the Birds and Flowers of Canada - Newfoundland, cancelled March 31, 1978.

Artwork Copyright © 1978 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB05175

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