Thursday, September 12, 2013

Sorghum Harvest

Sorghum Harvest
Little Gem
6x8 oil on canvas, mounted
DAY TWELVE of the thirty day challenge



When I arrive at this point on my almost daily bicycle journey, I see a field of yellow sorghum nearly ready for harvest.  Here in the city of Albuquerque we have open spaces, some of which are part of the state park system.  The crop in this field is rotated yearly and is feed only for birds migrating from the north who winter in New Mexico.  We have Canada Geese, Sandhills Cranes, Snow Geese and others.

The scraggly trees are Cottonwoods, native to the bosque area of the river.   The trees are old and no longer regenerate by themselves because the river is dammed and doesn't flood anymore. They are now being replanted...just stick a live twig in the sand near the river, and than twig is soon a tree.

To purchase or bid on the auction, click here.

5 comments:

  1. Wow! Really, you can grow a tree like that? Very cool. I will have to remember that when we move there. I love the light in this Carol! Amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To grow a tree from a "stick", it must be green and alive. These sticks are plugged into the ground in the bosque very near the river where the ground water is only inches below the surface. The sticks"are staked and flooded until they grow roots which are very quickly in the ground water.

      It is amazing. Somebody had to be ingenious as flooding no longer occurs which was critical for the regeneration of the trees from the cottonwood seeds all over the ground.

      Delete
  2. I love the feeling of sun and shadow in this one. Great job with the colors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I realize how fortunate I am to be living so close to the river, the bosque, the open space areas, and the gorgeous flowering desert plants. The sorghum seed is planted along with sunflowers which are pure out of-the-tube cadmium yellow when flowering.

      Julie, thanks for your support. You always find wonderful things to say even when a particular painting doesn't happen to be my favorite.

      Delete

Awwwww thanks for writing to me. You know I love your messages!