Today's Flower . . .

. . . is Santan. The Santan blooms all year round in the Philippines. It can survive intense heat of summer (with 36 degrees heat!) and the rainy and stormy season! Last week, I took a picture of the Santan flowers in the garden of Denise. I was actually looking for something colorful for Denise and her group to paint. (I design and conduct non-formal art sessions with kids and adults upon request through the houndsinheaven studio) I promised Denise's group that we will do an on-the-spot painting of the Lantana flower but the Lantana I got the day before our painting session died! It might be amusing to note that in Pilipino "lanta na" means "faded or wilted" which is an apt word for the small Lantana that fades and wilts fast when you remove from the stem. So on the day of our painting session I went around Denise's huge garden scouting for a fresh Lantana without success but instead chanced upon this white and red Santan. . . .

No, we did not paint the Santan. Denise's group decided to do the Lantana which I sketched from memory. I'll try to post their work in my studio blog. Meanwhile, go check other painterly flowers in Today's Flowers!