Is This a Protea?

© Ellen Blonder

Along with the anthurium (see other post from today), the cheese tray was adorned with this flower. I think Jackie said it was a "topika," but I couldn't find a reference to any such word. It looks like it's some kind of protea, perhaps, and she said it grows inland and at altitude in Kauai. Anyone know more?

Anthurium in My Sketchbook

© Ellen Blonder

My friend Jackie brought this to a dinner recently, garnishing a tray of cheese and crackers. I decided to try out my new Moleskine watercolor sketchbook paper with a painting of this. It's pretty impossible to capture the red to green transition.

Cosmos

© Ellen Blonder

My friend Roney brought me a beautiful bouquet of cosmos last week, and I thought they were worth a colored pencil sketch. Thanks, dear Roney!