Description
Artist Statement
I spotted these amazing flowers growing on the side of the road- the bright orange was just so eye catching that I knew these beauties would make it into a painting!
Flowering prolifically they are a real attraction to honeyeaters. I had fun with this colour combination, reminding me of a little retro wallpaper!
Botanical Description
This bright red, pink or orange flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia / Eucalyptus ficifolia) is a species of small straggly tree that typically grows to a height of 10m and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia.
Although it has a restricted distribution in the wild it is one of the most commonly planted ornamental eucalypts. Flowering occurs from December to May. It grows in sandy soil in low forest on slopes and is restricted to a sub-coastal distribution south-east of Perth, east of Mount Frankland, Walpole and the Stirling Range.
The yellow-faced honeyeater (Caligavis chrysops) is a small to medium-sized bird with a comparatively short-bill for a honeyeater, having probably adapted to a diet of flies, spiders, and beetles, as well as nectar and pollen from flowering plants.