Monthly Archives: October 2014

A Snowflake Is Winter’s Butterfly

The only snowflakes we get to see here in the Perth Hills of Western Australia are the botanical kind but we do get to see them in Winter.  Our Snowflakes are native to Europe where they bloom in Summer – it’s a fun world!

Leucojum

Snowflakes – Helen Lock

This is the third pen and watercolour painting in my series on Western Australian weeds.  These beautiful Snowflakes (Leucojum Aestivum) were blooming a couple of months ago when I captured them on paper.  I just love the finger like tepals sporting green nail varnish.

Leucojum is a genus of bulbous plants native to Europe.  They grow here up to 60 cm tall in winter wet habitats.  They are a priority species for control in conservation areas.  So, another plant for us to contain but not only for the sake of indigenous plants but also for the safety of our children and animals as all parts are poisonous, especially the bulbs.

Poison is in everything, and no thing is without poison. The dosage makes it either a poison or a remedy.                                                                 – Paracelsus

How true!
🙂
Helen