Did you know hummingbird moths don't drink nectar from poppies?
(if you read my email skip to the next section)
Now you’re asking yourself why I put a hummingbird moth with a poppy. I will get to that in a minute. Let's talk about this composition first.
This was the last piece I made for my Desolation series. The only thing I knew that I wanted was a silo. When I was a child, my family made many trips from our home in Athens, GA to my grandparents' homes in Hickory, NC.
On these trips, we passed several silos. Some in full repair and some standing up out of stubbornness. I love seeing the silos. I think they are impression structures, so they became part of my series.
The charcoal field and tree line give an even bigger sense of sadness to the off centered roof of my silo. The details drawn in ink, especially the ladder, reinforce a sense of disrepair and neglect.
How did I decide to brighten this desolate scene with a hummingbird moth and poppies. Well, I had decided on hummingbird moths before the background was complete because they are great little pollinators. I just couldn't figure out what flower.
In my search for bright flowers, I found a picture of a poppy and knew that was the right flower. I however, did not make sure that hummingbird moths would even use poppies for nectar. But the decision was made. My heart was set on a solitary moth and brilliant red poppies.
Hummingbird moths, what are they? Hummingbird or moth?
It's hard to believe that this fuzzy little guy is a moth and not a hummingbird but it is a moth. Hummingbird moths not only look like hummingbirds but their wings can beat up to 80 times per second. They can also fly backwards and hover.
These speedy little guys are native to North America, Europe, and Asia. They have a very long proboscis and love nectar rich flowers. So fill your gardens with bee balm, phlox, and verbena to help support these beautiful pollinators.
The power of a poppy
Poppies or at least some varieties can be traced back to dinosaur days. That makes them a powerful plant. They have been able to prevent animals for centuries from eating them to the point of extinct.
They contain alkaloids that can be both harmful, if not treated with care, and helpful, if used for pain management.
They come in a variety of colors and will brighten any area where they are planted.
Poppies have been used since WWI as an emblem of remembrance of fallen soldiers. not just in the US but throughout many European countries as well.
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