Don Balke: American Woodcock and Mayflower

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

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.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® commemorative cover for the Birds and Flowers of Canada - Nova Scotia, postmarked June 30, 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): XB05207

US$ Price: $1,250.00

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