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Ariane’s Art Challenge: Tropics

I’m feeling a little on top of my work load and am so happy to be able to take a day to draw a little piece for our art challenge which Ariane called for this weekend. Thank you so much Ariane. πŸ˜€

The challenge is Tropic and I was looking around my home and decided there’s a tropical feel here.

The warm country plants are still inside and some orchids, like this cymbidium, are just about to bloom.

While some orchids, like this phalaenopsis have been blooming for weeks.
I like growing orchids in the house. I put them outside completely ignoring them from May to September and then take them inside and they bloom for me each year.

So you all know about my garage/studio conversion and my quick trips to thrift stores to pick up a thing or two, and, on one trip, I found this huge pot for $7 and instantly had an idea.

I decided to plant up a large tropical planter for the studio, (which has to stay in the house for now).

Here it is.
It’s planted up with a $20 majestic palm from IKEA, and four $10 plants; two peace lilies and two kangaroo ferns. (They all like the high humidity that the palm does)

I love the planter in the living room for now, but am looking forward to having this greenness in the studio.

But wait, since this is an art challenge, I decided to paint a pair of colourful European bee eaters on a 101 yr old Chopin study.

I like these little guys. They sometimes venture into the UK but are such tropical little flowers that they tend to stay further south.

Thank you so much for hosting Ariane. Please pop over to out Rose’s place for more tropical inspiration. I’ll be by to visit everyone as soon as I can. πŸ˜€

Comments: 24

  • Susan

    February 18, 2017
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    Great looking studio space. Love the new greenery you have added. Getting orchids to re-bloom is impressive and the long bloom time is glorious. Your red shiny car glistens like new. Thrift store finds work well on so many levels. Re-purposing items is so satisfying. The tropic art theme inspires warmth, color and light. Lovely inspiration.

  • February 18, 2017
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    Your bee eaters are beautiful .. Do they eat bees? Love those orchids V such lovely colours. Well done with the pot purchase .. πŸ˜€

  • February 18, 2017
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    Veronica, beautiful post about Tropic. I think… why most of of us think about plants when we have to do something about Tropics?… Perhaps because Rousseau (the painter) used tropical plants in some of his paintings? (is just an idea πŸ™‚ Have a nice sunday!!!!

    • February 18, 2017
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      Roberto, I have thought about Rousseau, too, and wanted to talk about him. But then I decided to tell about the brave women, the female researchers…
      πŸ˜‰

  • February 18, 2017
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    so fun that you made a tropical planter.
    we get bargains and then spent money taking them to the next step. Your planter full of plants, my walnut table that needed lots of money to buy supplies to strip, sand and finish it πŸ˜‰

    your birds are wonderful.

  • February 19, 2017
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    Heaven! Veronica, Dear!
    Your garage-transformation! What a stubborn will you have, what an outcome!
    I love that red, old barn cupboard filled with vintage clay pots… my ever wanna be gardener heart’s melting,
    even when you’ll find another solution. And even that pillow with corals *sigh*. So, your huge planter
    with tropical plants turns every room into a palm house! Looks great!

    So thank you very much, dear Veronica,
    for finding time for ‘playing’: Your bee eaters are wonderful! Never saw one in real, but there are some in the
    warmer south of Germany (I am in the north), i read, but not now. Now they hibernate in Africa πŸ˜‰

    Love, Ariane. Rose

  • February 19, 2017
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    Your Chopin bee eaters are magnificent!

  • February 19, 2017
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    Such loveliness!

  • February 19, 2017
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    Always inspiring to see your drawings on music paper. Love it. – eric

  • February 19, 2017
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    Tropic greens in your studio will be amazing!
    Great bargain hunting and decorating.

  • February 19, 2017
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    I love those colourful birds on the sheet music. My wife and eldest son are musicians. Bet they would love this too.

  • February 23, 2017
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    i am envious of your orchids …. i have successfully killed two without even trying

  • March 2, 2017
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    good tip on those orchids, i’ll say. i never tried this, they do die on me, poort things (many plants die on me…). so, your green fingers throughout your post do impress me. wholly! good luck with the conversion, you are courageous!! n?

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